The bike I never wanted, was the best bike I've have ever owned.
LOL
that is some story
I have a same same but different story
my wife had come into some money through a family estate
she wanted to go on a holiday to Africa, but I wasn't keen at all to go
we were sitting on the front patio one evening watching the sun set over the hills when a brand new 1098 rode down our quiet little street
I jumped to my feet and ran to the road to see it go past
when I sat back down my wife inquired as to what it was that made me get all hot under the collar
after I had told her it was the latest offering from Ducati, something I had never seen in the flesh until that very moment, she said something that will ring in my ears until the day I die!
"If I buy you one, will you come to Africa with me?"
I knew she was serious by the tone of her voice
My answer, "you buy me a 1098 and I will go wherever you want"
so- off we go to the Ducati shop, but I was stuck between a rock and a hard place
I had an 02 Suzuki GSXR 1000, but they would not trade it for a new Ducati
OK, no worries
keep the Gixer and have a 1098 as well
then my conscience kicked in
My wife is buying me another bike, but neither one is very good for a pillion
oh look, an ST3
Our friends had an ST3 that they had just shipped to Europe and back (to Australia)
even took it to the Isle Of Man TT, it never missed a beat
But it's not very good looking, an ugly duckling even
The bike shop had an ST3 as a demo, so we took it for a scoot, not bad
wife did complain that there was no "Ducati sound" cos it had standard mufflers on it
so we ordered an ST3s with panniers, top box and a DP muffler kit.
that was 11 years ago
I sold my Gixer about 4 years ago to gather up some extra cash for a car purchase
I still have the ST3s
It's still an ugly duckling
but I love her
oh, I almost forgot the trip to Africa
Had a fantastic 6 week holiday
wasn't so bad after all