Realistically Speaking...How much $$$ would I actually need.

Duc_Z09

Maintenance on a Duc is valve clearance check/shimming every 7500 miles, plus the usual crap you get on any bike. This is where the "unreliability" reputation comes in... usually from people who don't like to keep up with maintenance and in almost every case have never owned a Duc.

Minsu: Make sure you get one with an aluminum tank (848 corse SE might have that if I remember correctly, but the 1198SP definitely does). The only real issue with these bikes is the plastic tanks (not even made by Ducati) deforming over time because of an ethanol reaction.

__________________
2009 370z #206 (all mods are Home Depot)
2009 Ducati 848 (full Ohlins, Termignoni, etc)
2003 Grand Cherokee (long arms, big tires, 4.56, lockers)