Unfortunately, my experiences with my first 800ss have taught me:
  1. Don't bother with salvage.
 2. Don't buy a Ducati without the red key
 3. Never buy another new Ducati until they drop the ridiculous integrated ecu/immobiliser thing (especially as they carry no weight with insurance companies) 
 I bought the first bike at what I considered to be a bargain price of £1700. Except when you add the cost of the replacement clocks, ecu and ignition etc the total comes to pretty well £3k. My latest acquisition cost me £3100 with 800 miles, DP pipes, original pipes, stands, cover and Optimate. 
 So, I cocked up expensively with the first bike but, came up trumps with the 3rd.  
  [Edited on 21-4-2006 by twpd]