I have a 2007 V-Star Custom. It is responsive, good-looking, gets 50+ MPG, reliable. No problems with it. If I were going to redesign it, the only thing I would do would be to add a 6th gear. Everyone compares their bikes to a Harley for sound. If that is the most important thing to you, use the $8,000 you save in initial cost and the $3000 in gas you'll save and buy some new pipes! Or, you can buy 2 V-Stars for the price of one Harley.