This is where I started too. My wife and I started looking in November last year and finally found what we wanted in May. We sat on everything we could find HDs, Wings, Valkyrie,and the Venture was the most comfortable for the two of us. We are both large and everything else seamed cramped. We picked up the bike out of state and drive it home, the only issue is it gets up to 80 mph very fast if you don't watch it. We have gone on two long trips and are very happy with it. I have not had any mechanical problems, I think we have but 6000 miles on it this year.
Joel