Ducati Fanatics.

[zzr pilot]

proper syntax can only add to the eloquent rendering of the written word.....

[motomodo]

Well, at least he capitalized.

[atypical1]

proper syntax can only add to the eloquent rendering of the written word.....

Funny, I think that his colloquial style added quite a bit to his paragraph and added a touch of "realism" to it. Sort of like he was just chatting with a group of friends.

[ZED]

Alright!  What's all this then?  Carry on, nothing to see here.  Keep going about your business.

OK then, back on topic.  Here's the bike that started the thread; the Cagiva Canyon 500.  It does look kind of like a multi.  

[atypical1]

I see more F series BMW than MTS.

[ZED]

It definitely has some BMW resemblance.  The Red one looks more like a cross between the Ducati ST line and the BMW F650GS.  If it had the ugly raised fender, it would definitely look like it spawned the F650GS.

[ToadRide]

Wow. That's a nice looking bike. Zed. Where can he get one in Canada?

[atadaskew]

That bike is different than the Grand Canyon. The version that started this whole thing has a Ducati L-twin motor.  This one has (I believe) a Rotax 500cc single.  Very similar to the Pegaso and the BMW F.
Of course, I'm sure I'll be corrected here.
But, the look IS similar.

[ZED]

I haven't seen a Canyon for sale in Canada.  I have seen a Ducati Elephant or two for sale though.  (the KLR-like Ducati)  I looked at a couple of dealers on the net and couldn't find the nice blue one that I had seen last year though.  Still, they do exist up here.  There is a local dealer here in Calgary (where I got mine) that has a good ear to the ground for good Ducatis and may be able to help if someone is seriously looking.

However, one has to recognize that it's an older Italian bike.  Some of the rumors seem to be true.  While my Ducati starts beautifully and purrs, I've talked to people that have had the older Ducati Dual-Sports.  One guy I met in Utah said that he couldn't get the damn thing to start unless you parked at the top of a long hill. (tough in Utah I suspect).  

If it was me I'd go with a KLR as a Dual-Sport.  They're cheap and reliable.  Oh, wait, that's what I have.  If the guy's really insistant on older Ducati version, then they are available, just harder to find.  

As for the picture I posted, that's what I found in a google search.  Those that wish to can debate the precise lineage.  I don't know the bike personally (look at the link for source and photo credit)