I appreciate all the recommendations but I don't think many of you read my requirements, you're just listing bikes you personally like. However some of the recommendations look pretty good and I'll be researching them Monday when I'm at the office.
Yamaha V-Star 1100
* Very reliable
* In expensive
*No crouching
* Has power
*Seats 2
*Comfortable
Was motorcycle magazine, "Motorcycle of the Year"
Like you, my requirements have changed over time. I went from superbikes to cruisers. I have Ducati 900 super sport (one sexy bike by the way), but I hardly ever ride it, partly because its not as comfortable as the yamaha, and partly because i feel like it brings out the wild side in me (not a good thing when it comes to motorcycles and i have kids).
So when i ride, i take the v-star. My wife loves it, and actually nags me for rides. The vstar, is comfortable, reliable, inexpensive, and safer to ride in my opinion.
robr:
If you do a little search and some negotiation, you can get a vstar 1100 for $4-5k or even less.
You can get a vstar 650 for $2-3k.
Here is few 1100 you might be able to get $4k and 650 that you might be able to get for $2k.
http://boston.craigslist.org/search/mcy?query=yamaha+star&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max
Pick yourself up a nice BMW... like the R1200 RT.
http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/bikes/bike.jsp?b=r1200rt
-Wick
How's the V Max compare to the V Star 650 in areas other than performance? Can you ride 2 UP? I've seen comments that indicate you can't, but I've seen pics where it clearly has a back seat. It seems that one might be able to find a V Max for somewhere in between the price of the V Star 650 and 1100.
I've read a lot about the 650 the past few days and the only thing that makes me a bit wary is over and over I've read reviews that discuss lack of power when trying to make a quick pass on a highway, or when riding 2-UP.
Wife and I talked, we're going to revisit this next year at tax return time. But I'm definitely not a full leathers guy. Long jeans, boots, leather jacket and full helmet will likely be as far as I'll go.
V-max is a pure BEAST. It's also got some sort of cool WORKING vortex swirling intake system.
I think the V Star 650 is the winner, I called my insurance company today to get a ballpark ($270/year, that's without taking any coverage off during winter), now I just need to convince the wife. She was all for it when I sold the NSX, but like I said, she's having second thoughts and I'm trying to learn to be more patient even in a car.
It's strage, I typically have no dead line to be anywhere and realize that some idiot driver causing me to make an extra red light will only cost me a minute or two, but it's very difficult for me to rationalize that and be patient vs. my automatic response of feeling like everyone on these over-crowded roads is an obsticle intentionally placed to slow me down.
I've tried driving the past few days without letting them get to me, with some success but clearly this is something that's going to require a lot of work to overcome my programmed emotional response. I think if I can accomplish this though, it'll help make me a better person as well as happier and safer.