[Che dolce tuono]

Thank-you for the incredibly balanced, measured, thoughtful and enthusiastic review. It assures me I've made the right decision. I've got another 3 or 4 months to go before I pick up my white 899. I have to wait until the spring and spring showers wash all the salt off of the roads. I traded in my Triumph Daytona 675R (2011) for the 899. I had an 848 (2010) before the Daytona but it was stolen (from my condo underground garage in 2011). Before the 848, I rode a Monster 695 (2007). I'm dying to get back on a Ducati. I test drove an 1199 and I could feel the Ducati fever in my blood start to burn. As you mentioned, these are rider's bikes--the connection that one feels with the bike is thrilling--the sense of communication/dialogue with it is uncanny. The Daytona was a superb bike. I had no complaints whatsoever about it (and it was great on the race track) but the Ducati spoke to me. And I wanted the ABS and traction control. I will, as always, use the bike for everything (hence my desire for ABS & Traction control--just in case) but I live for the track.