If you are considering a Ducati Purchase you should research what it takes to keep it on the road. All motorcycles require maintanance. Things like oil changes and routine maintenance occur at simialr intervals from one brand to the next. The Ducati is a great bike assembled with the top of the line parts when you invest in the right models. They also use a engine valve system that is different than most bikes. If you buy a yamaha you will probably have a 16,000 miles valve clearance maintenance. As the engine runs parts wear and shims are used to close the gaps so the valves open to the correct setting. On a Ducati this must be done more often usually around 6000 miles. On some bikes you can do the adjustment yourself by opening covers aligning timing marks and adjusting rocker actuators or replacing shims. On a Ducati you are best off to have the shop do it unless you know someone that has experience that can lead you through it. If you make a mistake it can get real expensive real fast and parts shipped from italy can take a long time to get to the US. Ducati uses this valve system called desmo as it prevents valve float due to valve spring resonances. They don not have a valve spring they use a rocker to open and another to close the valve. A small spring is employed to ensure a tight seal at the valve during starting only. Ducati is trying to make a two cylinder 90 degree twin competiitive with a four cylinder engine. with no valve float you have in theory no red line and that is how there race bikes can run at 18,000 rpm or higher. In practice the street bikes are limited by the ECU to a range that will allow them to give you a warranty. The japanese 4 cylinder engines use a cam over the valve with a shim bucket to eliminate the rocker arm and hopefully eliminate valvle float up to redline. If you have a Ducati with two valves per cylinder like the supersport the valve adjustment is around $300 plus parts. If you have a four valve per cylinder superbike you can double it. If you ride 15000 miles a year you will need two of these a year and one early next spring. If you are on a Yamaha you will not need any. The Yamaha might not come with top shelf suspension that is fully adjjstable and may not handle as well or have the cool factor of an italian mistress but it will cost less as a daily commuter.  I only bring my Ducati out for special occassions and use my daily ride for most of my riding. Aftermarket parts can extend the valve adjustment interval and the new Ducatis have taken steps to reduce the time it takes the shop to do the valave adjustments and extended the interval to 8000 miles. If you are considering a used Duacti superbike like the ,748, 916, 996, 998 you need to be aware that some poor quality chrome on the rockers in some of these engines would flake off and get into the oil system. Chrome particles destroyed many Ducati engines over the years. Also watch for cracked frame welds at the steering head area, they are not a great stunt bike for wheelies. Also look for cracked welds on the swingarms. Also check for recalls, the single sided swingarm bearings had some problems on the older bikes and a recall was done to replace the swingarms.  Good luck, get educated then bid confidently.