Thinking about buying a Tuono - need your opinions

I'm going to have the month of august free and plan to buy a bike and tour all over the states. I plan to hit Oshkosh WI for the Airventure airshow, then see some frinds and do some dirt riding in Denver (I have a MX bike waiting for me there), then off to NorCal, then will make my way down to SoCal.

The trick is I don't have a bike ready to go and don't have time to put the TL in order so I'm in the market for a bike. I'll probably have to sell it at the end of the trip though (tuition:banghead).

So, I'm thinking a Tuono would preserve the V-twin torque and sporty nature that I love about the TL while probably being a bit more comfortable. My budget is about $5k max though, but the biggest consideration is whether i'd be able to re-sell quickly without loosing much (I don't ask much huh?). Benifit is the bike can be most anywhere as I'll fly-and-ride.

I spotted this http://hartford.craigslist.org/mcy/1265840288.html and the price certainly seems good. I'd really like your comments on the bike in general and specifically how easy/hard it would be to re-sell (probably in SoCal, though I could deliver anywhere west of the rockies I imagine) for around $4k.

Lastly - luggage. Does anyone make a rear rack for the Tuono that would allow fitment of my Givi-knockoff top case? Also, I have a pair of soft saddle bags (pretty standard wedge-shaped nelson riggs units - used them on the TL and 919) - any reason I wouldn't be able to toss them on the Tuono? What about a tank bag? The Tuono is plastic right? I see that Renntech makes a rack - does anyone in the states stock them?

BikePilot;

Do a search on this site for luggage and touring comments and don't forget to check something like Kelly's Blue Book for resale. There are those that tour on the Tuono and enjoy it, but, with the miles you are going to log, I have serious reservations about the wisdom of your choice, no offense.

I spent a good deal of my life in Illinois and just returned last month from Wisconsin. I have repeatedly traveled to the south west (where I now live - So. California) and back (by auto!) , and it is a long, long way. --And, you plan to travel the length of the CA coast? Whoa!

I've done 1k+ mile days on the TL1000S (lowish clipons) and a 9k mile tour (south FL to Denver to the Black Hills of SD to the Badlands to Tail of the Dragon back to FL) on a stock 919 last summer so my touring preferences are definitely abnormal The point is well taken though, the alternative I've got in mind if I feel more conservative is a Bandit 1250S, but I worry it may be a bit too bland.

I searched for luggage options here and didn't find anything but the Venturack and Renntech mentioned. The latter would probably work with a hard case if I bought a givi baseplate to fix to it. Ideally I'd like a Givi rear rack, but haven't found one available. I could just go with softluggage (something like speedpack), but the security of a hard case is handy when touring (can go pee without worrying about someone snagging my laptop for example..)

You're amazing!

Perhaps you might check out this site, http://www.advrider.com/, if only for the slide show of adventure riders having a blast! I get mesmerized just seeing all these wonderful people going everywhere on a cycle and having great fun. The site is divided up by manufacturer and there may be lots of luggage discussion here more than at most sites. Maybe you can find some solutions there.

Yes, the T.'s tank is not metal.

You're welcome to a stay or holdover here if you make it down to the Newport Beach/San Diego area. John Wayne (SNA) airport is 10 minutes from my home and the Ducati/Aprilia dealerships in the area are within 20 minutes.