Your friends have bucks...$$$$$$$$$$$$$

A group of sensible mature sport bike riders.
My ST had its work cut out on the mountain twisties keeping up. I think a couple of them let me pass so the "older guy on the sport tourer" could feel good for a few minutes

They lean so far and with such ease. You can really zoom, zoom.
The Ducati is just over half the weight of my ST with 70 more hp
BUT
I was the guy carrying the zip ties and knife when the Dukle had something that got loose

Not much carrying room on a Ducati.