I really, really love mine, but if I were to do it over again, I'd avoid the 1998 -- its single-phase electrical system was a one-year-only thing, and it's a real PITA to source electrical bits.
Regulators can be had aftermarket for around $130-$150 and the OEM Ducati stator is $85 because I just bought one. The '98 definitely needs to have the regulator relocated if it hasn't been already, and the few stator spacers that were recalled should already been taken care of. I bought my '98 new and it went through a stator and regulator swap with the stator recall at 11k. The replacement regulator was not relocated and fried in 4k. The relocated and aftermaket regulator is still doing well at 52k. Unfortunately, the stator is grounded to the engine and I am in the process of changing it. I actually bought the wife a '98 ST2. With so many people afraid of this year, they are usually quite reasonibly priced. I only have about $2600 in the wife's after selling all the accessories we didn't want.
I really like my ST2. I've done a SaddleSore 1000 on it (19 hours and 43 minuntes) and it really likes the mountain twisties....
