i feel like i'm betraying the love affairs i've had with a few of my bikes but, here goes...
'01 duc996s. it's overall combination of stability in accelerating, braking and handling can't be beat.
i knew i was gonna love it when, during the break-in period, i negotiated a turn with a hefty handful of throttle. the front lofted about six inches at the apex and just hung there until lightly touching down upon exit. no head shake, no change of line, no drama. THAT was my initiation into the magic of ducati.
no bike i've ridden aggressively has the poise of the duc. surgically placing it amidst half-a-dozen other bikes buried in t1-t2 traffic, it does exactly what i ask of it and amazes me every time i ask it to go above and beyond.
ironically, i've gone faster on another brand. that bike doesn't give me the confidence i have with the duc when things get dicey, tho'.