JOG, are you trying to get me to admit to some sort of hidden agenda?  Maybe "...I want it sparkly enough to attract small children but fast enough to outrun the 'To Catch a Predator' crew...."

If you want to participate, read the original post for the criteria.  If you don't actually have any suggestions for a midsize cruiser which will have a 300-400 mile a day range then just refrain from posting.

Anyone have any experience with the Triumph American to recommend/discredit it?

Steamy on the subject of the Triumphs,  I prefer the Speedmaster over the America. Performance-wise they are much the same,it's just that the America has too much brightwork for my taste and looks too much like a Hurley Divotson copy. The Triumph is THE bike I'd have if not a Savage. It's not fast and not a true "twisties" scooter but it's stable and heavy enough to be a good interstate cruiser if needed and still a fun ride on the two-lane runs.

Like any scoot,the Triumphs need a little tweaking to make it your own but off the rack you can ride easy 300+ mile days. One friend and his lady did a couple of "Iron Butt" runs last year,him on his HD Soft-tail and her on an older 790cc Triumph Speedmaster. She didn't get as tired or as saddle-sore as he did!

Remember...this opinion and $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee at McD's

Older Kawasaki VN800, any of the 3 flavors. Best metric middleweight twins, bar none. The 900s are just the same engines with belt drive, fuel injection and a slight overbore (and hideous fenders, seats, bars, and shiny bits).

The 800A is a road burner, I blew out the speedometer drive on my 99 once and the speedometer itself once, wide open, needle pegged (140+). But, and it's a big but, mine was putting out close to 60hp at the rear wheel courtesy of a LOT of modifications...

The 800B is a sofa on wheels, doesn't handle at all compared to an A or a Savage since it has same size wheels on both ends. Once you get used to the slower steering response of a short wide tire, 130/90-16 front, it's a very good bike. With a 150/80-16 rear it absorbs road issues beautifully (and you can run wide whites with NO hunting for them).

800 Drifter is the best looking, retains the most value and is the hardest to find. With a 2 up seat it looks horrid, solo seat, especially the high mount version, it looks like a modernized Scout.

You can easily make a Savage a 3-400 mile a day bike with bar, seat and foot peg work. Swap the pegs for floor boards, use a large (K model) sprung solo seat, VS800 Intruder rear shocks, and taller wider handlebar.

That said, if you liked the Virago, get a V-star. Same basic engine, modernized, in a whole lot more comfortable chassis.

After buying my my first Savage in 1988 & riding it until '95, I bought another in 2001 & a 3rd one in 2005 that I still have. In Nov. 2009 I bought a V-Star 950T for longer rides. The 950 has 16k maintenance intervals & has proven to be a very reliable bike..It now has 24K on it.

Before I bought it I went to every dealer & set on every bike I was interested in. This was the one that fit me best. Price wasn't a consideration at the time. I could have picked a $20,000 bike if I wanted but none of them were what I wanted . The most important thing is to get the machine that suits you.

My buddy bought a C50 4 months before I bought my 950. When it was 15 months old we were on a ride to the Three Twisted Sisters & stopped at Destination Cycles in Kerrvile where he traded for a 950T. The C50 required maintenance every 6k & was a royol pain in the azz to do. He saved $1200 in maintenance costs alone by geting the 950. He has 34,000 miles on his now riding to work every day.

Check the maintenance costs & insurance costs on any bike you are interested in. Bikes under 1000cc get a break, & HDs costs more to insure because they are stolen more often. At least that is what my agent told me when I was shopping for my new bike.

BTW, It only cost me $7 a year to add my wife to my Savage insurance, which has full coverage, & I was told that will be less when they get her MSF certificate.

I've thought about what I want, eventually. My wife and I decided to not ride together until our daughter leaves home. We want to spread out our chances of leaving an orphan. One thing I do notice now is a trend toward a smaller, less comfortable seat for the passenger, even on some nice cruisers. I don't know the ratio, but there are several older folks on here with spouses who crave comfort more than sporty looks. I'm sorry I don't really have a favorite, but I would take the wife along and let her  try out her perch if you intend to ride double.    

I've got my eye on the Suzuki DR650 and DRZ400, maybe even a DRZ400SM with the funky little tires. Then my S40 would have a bud to hang with in the garage. Maybe later a Ninja 300 or 650.

yeah, I have been looking at the Bolt too, it's definitely in the running with the VStar 950 and the Vulcan 900.

I rode someone's Star 1300 recently and it seemed pretty big; the owner, as well as another follow in the group who was on his 1300 Star said that they've owned them for 3 years have spent nearly $4000 in repairs on them and the dealer still can't find out how to fix an issue with the lifters that causes a "ticking" noise when it's warmed up.

It seems to just be on the 1300 though from what Yamaha says.