I want a 696 but I'm scared of the price tag

[jdubbs32584]

The 620/695 is 370lbs and 30 inches....

With a shaved seat like I have, you can lower it a little more.

[Centerline]

I sat on a 696 at the dealer today and really liked it.  I currently ride a ninja 250 and am in the market for my next bike.  I sat on a 696 and a ninja 650 side by side and found the 696 to be a better physical fit for me.  I'm a bit of a petite rider and appreciate the slightly lower seat height and weight.  But I'm having such a hard time swallowing the price tag.  It's almost $3k more than the ninja 650.  I've never had a bike as expensive as the Ducati and I'm getting a little sick to my stomach thinking about possibly dropping it, or messing it up. 

I don't really care about cc's and horsepower - I ride a ninja 250 and am pretty pleased with it.  So I don't care if the 696 can beat the 650 on the track.  My requirements are: fuel injection, smooth handling at highway speeds, and short seat/lightweight.  If Kawasaki makes their next 250 fuel injected I just might stick with 250s.  So how can I justify the price of the 696 when the equivalent japanese bikes are so much less dough?

If you want some help for your sticker shock, just walk into the nearest Harley dealership and look around at all the pretty bikes and their pricetags and make sure you ask some service price questions while you are there.
Also, your statement "equivalent Japanese bikes are so much less dough".......uhh, there ARE NO equivalent Japanese bikes to the Monster lineup.

[zLoki]

No offense intended but you dont walk into a Ferrari dealer and complain about the price, but you can, when you walk into a Honda dealer.

If you're not into cars, a Ferrari means nothing more than an Accord does, same for a motorcycle and pretty much everything else in life.  It a question of what you are into and it sounds like your requirement is basic transport.  For that get a Japanese bike, you wont go wrong there.
[moto]