Have to agree with Henners,the standard tyre on a 996R + 998R is a 190.
Maybe he just prefers the 180 so it might just be a simple reason.
Just fitted a 180 onto my 998R,definately falls into turns a lot easier.
Plus i can get right off the edge of a 180 so it helps my ego.:D

what I meant was ...
 

that it looked like it was on from the start of it's life. ie: 2500 miles.

P&H did first 2 services on my bike with previous owner. I bought the bike 1 year (600 miles) after the last service and did 500 (very gentle) miles since so a lot of the things that I am picking up now should have probably been showing at the last service and sorted then under warranty but weren't.
- 1 Fork seal blown
- Too much play in head race just needed tightening
- Previous service boy over tightened the oil filter and the alternator shaft cover (to the point of actually breaking the cover and leaving it that way!). Obviously not using a torque wrench then.
- They did not notice a big freeplay on the main drive shaft which I was easily noticeable doing the front sprocket retaining plate. This is an obvious assembly issue which I will now struggle to get fixed under warranty since warranty has just expired.

May be some of those problems were not apparent a year ago but some obvious things were certainly missed. I have been complaining a lot about the servicing level of Ducatis. Some of the garages out there charge you a little fortune and sound like they did a lot but actually don't do that much to your bike. Out of curiosity next time they tell you that the valve clearance is OK, ask to see the values they got for tolerances.

As long as the bike keeps going, customers are happy, the day they break down, they blame the legendary Ducati unreliability. Are you able to tell if your TPS is not quite adjusted, your throttle body synchro a little off? Exactely, that is how they get away with it!

I am still convinced that the best Ducati servicing will be from independant passionate specialists & dealers/garages that have experience with racing Ducatis. They have the rigourous & passionate approach of doing a good job and Ducatis need that.

couldn't agree more with you pguenet! Most of us find out the hard way. Oh, ok it's only me then :D