To be honest: over here nobody stops and stares at a 916, very common over here and not very expensive either.
They have their reputation built on races but not on the street (unlike blades and gixers for example).

It's not a bike that flatters your riding and it's a bit like old 911's:

Very quick in the right hands, toss in most hands

Oh, and the RSV mille is lighter, more powerfull, faster and more reliable