Can't find a conventional mid size bike for me...

[Alexander]

That Honda 919 looks like the real deal but it is not available in Sweden. <sigh>

[Earthling789]

Originally Posted by honeys money

Kawasaki Vulcon 1500 Classic, messed up and sold mine, wish I had it back.

My brother-in-law has one of the big Vulcan classics... nice bike on the open road, but around town it's cumbersome and feels like you've got a couple of anchors hanging off each side... poor balance in my opinion at speeds below 10mph, but it could just be the riding position that I'm not use to...

I thought I'd not like my VT1100, but after a few minute of test ride, I was sold on it.. comfortable and plenty of room to stretch out, cruises nice on the back-roads, in-town, and on the Interstate, even when 2-up! Power is more than enough for a cruiser, although my VT700 is faster off the line... I do wish it had ABS (locked the rear more than once)

[kacealraid]

Very picky on what ride you want, aren't you haha. Sadly, almost all the new mid-size vehicles are missing at least 1 or 2 of the factors you want in a ride. ABS doesn't show up on a shaft-driven machine until you get something in the 1300s. You can get them in the mid-range, but they're on sport/sport-tour models with chain drives. You're pretty much out of luck on the "perfect mid-size," unless you build one.

[ZackDaniels]

Originally Posted by Alexander

That Honda 919 looks like the real deal but it is not available in Sweden. <sigh>

If the 919 rubbed you right then you're pretty much in the same boat I was before settling in on the V-Max. Difference was I was looking for performance before function and have never been too keen on the look and riding position of most standards.

Since your desires are similar but not identical here's some other lines I was looking at:
SV1000, Tuono, Speed Triple, Z1000, BMW r1100/1150/1200r

I forget about ABS or lack there of on any of them as it wasn't a concern for me. Just throwing them out as comparable bikes.

They and the 919 all fell short for me for one reason or another, but they were all considered at length. I was preset on a V-Max from jump in all it's carberated, high maintenance, spaceship looking, terrible handling glory so they didn't have a lot of a chance with me. They were all close enough to get a long linger though.

Most of what disqualified them for me was their stock riding positions (easily changed with pegs and handlebars), their overly sporty looks (not as big of a concern for you), or their lack of horsepower (not a concern at all for you). So even though I didn't you may end up calling one perfect.

Here's my ergo specs on each as a 5' 10" fella.

Images courtesy of Motorcycle Ergonomics Which takes some of the guess work out of this stuff if you've never heard of it.

[ZackDaniels]

Originally Posted by Alexander

Thanks again.
I did try the FZ8 and like my XJ6 is so much less tight and precise compared to the Shadow.

You're going to feel this way about any standard I would think. They don't have the rake a typical cruiser has and they handle differently. They rely more on lean and position than handle bars, but if you handle accordingly you can make the same turns you can with a cruiser. Just takes practice and a bit of relearning on how you handle the bike.

I popped on a Goldwing for a quick trip after being the on the max for a few months. My first turn on the wing I almost stayed straight long enough to hit a curb on the other side of the street! I went from using almost no handle bars to having to use almost all handle bars and for a few seconds of 'why isn't this thing turning????' it really tossed me for a loop.

:edit:
I've been on alllll kinds of bikes and I haven't sat on one the first time and said 'this is perfect!'. Everything short of building your own will likely require compromise in one respect or another and require a bit of getting familiar. Identify what it is you don't like about something that's really close to what you want and look at what after market stuff exists to get it even closer.

[Goat Regime]

How about some thing from Triumph? They seem to offer a variety of bikes with decent power and different riding styles, although I'm not certain about ABS and shaft drive..are there sport tourers, supersports or the like with shaft drive? Seems like most of them are chain.

I've heard a lot of good things about the Street Triple (naked Daytona 675), as well as the Speed Triple.

[John Hopkins]

Yeah..it's that mid size thing I'm not sure of because you said the VT750 is too small..Ok bigger bike, what about a Yamaha MT-01, you can pick up a 5 year old one for about a quarter of the new price..

John.

[vzshadow]

I think you should consider the NT. It's a great bike. I enjoy mine quite a bit.

[gmck]

How about the adventure bikes like the V Strom? _

[Doorman]

I don't understand why you bought the bike in the first place if it's not comfortable, too small to sit on, and don't like the styling! Maybe it's because you're just not comfortable on a cruiser?