Reliable, torquey, fun bike !!

I've gone through a few bikes since I got back into riding two years ago. I had a Sportster Roadster 1200 then a 1200L Sportster. I then bought a used Kawasaki Concours 1400 which I liked a lot but it was so darned uncomfortable and, while a great machine, it had no personality or soul. Several f...riends had V-Stars -- 950s, 1100s and 1300s. I test rode their bikes in addition to a bunch of other privately offered bikes and settled on either a used 2007 Roadstar or the bike I ended up, a leftover 2012. I've had it for about four months and 2,600 miles. It's a great looking bike, it's quiet and I like the amount of power it offers. I generally ride conservatively but have a habit of accelerating quickly. My bike is averaging 43 mpg. One addition I'd really like would be hazard lamps (or four-ways). The only annoyance I have is that when cruising around 40 - 50 mph, it's hard to tell if the bike should be in fourth or fifth gear. Sometimes I end up going back and forth. Overall, the bike has been fun and definitely suits my riding style more than the Concours or the Sportsters. The Sportsters, while wonderful bikes, couldn't be comfortably operated on the highway for any length of time. The Concours, although a road-going rocketship, was always all about the motor; great bike but no personality and some less-than-well-thought-out details (like faulty TPM sensors, too-thin control levers, saddlebags that had to be opened with the key). In addition to the Sportsters and the Concours, I've also owned two Yamahas when I was younger and, because of this, have always had a soft spot for them. I like the overall build quality and some of the cruiser details: the thick, chromed control levers, the rigid, upright windshield and the upright seating position. I'm rating value as "good" only because I'm amazed at how expensive bikes have become. My next bike may be a Yamaha Stryker -- sharp looking bike and it'll be fun to try a raked out cruiser. Read Full Review