In 2005, Ducati started exporting the 999R in earnest to satisfy the AMA homolgation requirements (the year before, just 50 were sold). For $29,995, this motorcycle was just about as close to a WSBK bike you could get.
It’d be easy to second guess if the 999R was worth the $7,000 premium over the 999S. Journalists at the time resoundingly said yes, thanks to the race-bred engine with a larger bore, new head design, and titanium valves. At the time, it was the most powerful production V-Twin motor ever – pushing 134.1 horsepower and 76.5 lb-ft at the rear wheel (and Motorcycle USA said that with a Power Commander and exhaust you could see an additional 20 ponies). This was probably the ultimate traack toy of the time, though with the limited production numbers and insane MSRP, many of these bikes were just tucked away in collections. For more on the 999R, check out this First Ride from Sport Rider.
This specific example (VIN: zdm1ub5wx5b013307) has all the R goodies plus a Termignoni exhaust, Sato rearsets, a duplicate set of fairings, and it has all the service records over its healthy 15,000 miles of life – no stagnant collection/display time for this ride! Find this 999R for sale here on Craigslist in Pleasant Hill, California for $11,500.