[Redkite2]

Give yourself time and practice as advised. As said, it's all in your right hand. Don't change your bike - any bike will seem a bit daunting to a new rider , just get some relaxed riding experience under your belt. The S2R is a friendly bike to ride, just don't whack open the throttle. Try and relax and use the controls gently and smoothly. Respect it, but don't be scared of it, have fun.

 

[Redkite2]

and yes, this is the first and only motorcycle i've ever sat on. This probably paints an even worse/more reckless picture, but I haven't even ridden a bicycle in 10-15 years! It took a couple hours of just sitting on the motorcycle this weekend and lifting my feet onto the pegs to get used to balancing the bike.

My wife has finally admitted the only reason she supported me doing this now (at 26yrs old) is because she doesn't want me to have a midlife crisis in my 40s and get my first bike then since i will not have youthful reflexes nor skills at that point in my life (and i wont heal as easily, lol)

So you're a complete novice? Well nothing wrong with that we were all there once, but now you're making me nervous [laugh]. Unless you're exaggerating your situation a little, I would revise my 2 cents worth from my earlier post and I would say put the Ducati in the shed for a bit, get an old bike or scooter, and\or get yourself on some sort of course asap.
There's more to riding a bike than being able to manage the controls and if you go out on busy roads you need to be aware of whats going on around you, and be able to react coolly and quickly to situations that will arise - just looking over your shoulder before changing road position\making a turn etc. will save your life on a daily basis but it's difficult to do as a beginner if you can't yet handle\balance the machine properly and your going to get yourself into all sorts of trouble.
I don't want to go all melodramatic on you but you need to actually be around at 40 to enjoy your midlife crisis. Again, get yourself some sort of training [thumbsup]

In Holland you don't get to ride without an instructor until:
a: you've passed your theory exam
b: you pass a riding skills exam (bike control).
c: you pass the practical (riding on public roads) test.

When you've done that you've learnt enough to keep yourself alive, but you're not yet a competent rider