Not much to say after Jools analysis. I didn't realise it when I wrote the original post but the MS is the top selling Ducati model of all (year to Sept 30th) according to page 24 of the DMH Group quarterly report September 30 2003 at 
  http://www.ducati.com/company/investor_relation.jhtml  Clearly the MS family is going to play a big part in the future plans of Ducati - I'm personally just glad that the company had the balls  to back such an innovative design as the MS. If only they could make it salt resistant ! 
 Nick 
 PS  It also explains why there are 800 huggers on back order (so I heard) 
 [Edited on 8-11-2003 by nicksp]