A good second bike

Hey guys,
I'm not sure if this is the right forum or the general discussion one, so I'm cross posting. I'm a somewhat experienced rider. I have ridden 250cc bikes for about 4 years between 2001 and 2005 and off and on since then. However, they have all been cruisers. I'm looking to get a second bike. I'm in love with the new 848 evo dark. However, this is a sportbike.

I had a few questions in this regard:
- The riding position is quite different from that on a cruiser. Is that a big deal?
- Is this a good second bike? If not, would a cbr600rr or an r6 be a good next bike?
- Anything else I should know?

Thanks!  

The Ducati will be about as different from your 250cc cruiser as chalk and cheese, not the least of which will be the riding position. The seat height will be about 10 inches (250mm) higher, putting you in a much different position for bike control, especially at slower speeds. The gearing on the V-twin Ducatis is very tall, requiring some clutch/throttle finesse when taking off from a stop.

To tell you the truth, with your experience you would be much better off starting on a less-committed bike on your introduction to sportbikes. The Suzuki SV650 or GSX650F, or Yamaha FZ6R, or Kawasaki Ninja 650R would be superior choices, allowing you to become accustomed to the riding position, handling, and powerbands of more sport-oriented motorcycles.