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The Brutale is a beaut...I love them. As for maintenance, Ducs aren't so bad. The motorcycle crowd makes a big deal since you have to adjust valves and belts at 6K and 12K, and it is about $600 and $1K respectively. But coming from Porsche land, that's pretty cheap. Plus the vibe of the air cooled v-twin is pretty intoxicating. The torque is down low, right where you want it. Don't rule out a used Monster...I'd pick up a new S2R in a heartbeat if I had extra money lying around.
I got my Triumph despite the I4 engine. Yeah, it likes to rev, but it has been tuned to get a bit more midrange than its original incarnation. But what attracted me to the bike other than the audacious looks (and bright ('hey I can see you" colors) is the race-capable chassis and suspension. With a good pilot aboard (ie not me...at least not yet) the Triumph will eat any Monster's lunch on the track.
I've read varying reviews on the 599...none on the 919 since I wasn't looking to go that big. Lots of people like the 599, some less so. It is a fairly small/low bike though. I know that I really don't fit on my Monster 620, and I would have a tougher time on the 599. The 919 is probably bigger.
As for buying, I think used from a dealer can be a good way to go, especially if you can get some warranty coverage. Here is another area where the Ducs and Triumphs outpace the Japanese bikes...2 year unlimited warranty on a Duc and Triumph, 1 year on Japanese bikes. The amount of wiggle room on new bikes is fairly small unless they are leftovers from last year. Where you can make it up is on accessories, getting service thrown in for free, discount of stuff, etc.
If they are asking $7K for a used '04 919, I'd probably say you'll pay that OTD and see what happens. It really depends on how hot the bike is. For instance right now the Duc S2R bikes are just hitting the floor, and you will pay MSRP...period. Even other models are going for close to that unless they are a leftover.
Do yourself a favor and go to Oceanside Ducati/Aprilia. They are a highly recommended shop on the Duc boards. See what they've got...
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