the following bikes have been considered (all prices in GBP)
twins
Suzuki TL1000R
this is a 1998 L-twin with 134hp but originally had a really bad rear shock, however many can be found with rebuilt engines and aftermarket shocks. However the asking price is around 4k - too much for the mileage - and you can get better stuff for less.
Honda VTR SP1
the sports production version of the Firestorm, with better everything, also 130hp engine L-twin, but not easy to find one for less than 5k, which Is 848 money.
Ducati 848
which is still my N1 pick, however they are often overpriced (for 2007 bikes) at well over 5k starting (up to 9k for some 2012 EVO, same as new). Mind you, you can get a 1098 for 5k, and im on a strict budget. Also, while they are amazing rider bikes, they are tiring for long distances, so a 1k mile trip is not a great idea.
And the maintenance is expensive, although not as much as some urban myths go.
Guzzi 1100 Sport
a beauty, the sound of a Harley, the style of a café racer, and a decent 90hp, make for a super-solid and comfy long-distance bike that can also handle traffic. they are ridiculously overengineered and indestructible, but it's stone-age tech and frankly not worth the 4k asking price and the fact that I'd have to get out of England to actually buy one.
Aprilia RSV Factory or RSV R
dirt cheap, you get an amazing frame, amazing suspensions, amazing breaks, plus gorgeous design for 3k, but they are built to race and to race only, they engine is completely empty down low.
pretty much everything else was also considered; ZX6R for being super comfy at both speeds and in traffic, a reasonable amount of power that won't kill you, and dirt cheap at around 1600 GBP, my N2 pick. Same for the 2007/2008 CBR600R, which however does cost more.
triumph Daytona 675 3-cylinder as being the best of the 4-inline 600s due to it A. not being a 4-inline and B. not being a 600, more torque, better power range, a great chassis, lightweight, and my N3 pick. However they start around 4k and frankly if I am going to get a bike like that I might as well go the whole hog and buy a 848/1098.
I entertained the idea of going back to the superblackbird or to other big stuff like the fireblade or gsxr1000 but im too old for that, they are dangerous bikes that need 100% concentration to ride.
I would not have minded riding again my GPZ900R but they are considered collectors items these days and the asking price of 4k + is insane.
if it's not totally clear already, I can ride. this will not be my first bike.
so, in the end I picked a bike that is not my N1, N2 or N3 pick. why?
the falco has just the right amount of power, and power delivery. it's a twin, so good torque, and while I don't want a racing engine as the RSV, the detuned version would do me just fine. it's got decently modern frame and suspensions, a pillion seat, it's agile enough to work well in traffic, but has a comfortable riding position for long hauls. it's cheap, in good conditions, and it's not a bike where everything is pushed to the limit and likely to suffer a catastrophic failure - although it's nowhere near the tank that the guzzi is.
And finally, it's got those looks that don't make people want to steal it.
I swear, the only think really stopping me from buying a 848 or a 1098 is that I KNOW it's gonna get stolen, and my heart just cannot afford that to happen again.