[alanmcorcoran]

I don't know anything about any of the bikes you are looking at (except I have sat on a shadow and almost bought one.) However, here are a few things I wish I'd paid some more attention to before I upgraded:

1) Insurance (may not be a factor. My new bike cost a lot more to insure than the GZ.)
2) Cruising range (dhgeyer mentioned this.) Very important to me. My bike's is on the low side. Esp in town.
3) Octane gas recommended. Mine needs 91 or better.
4) Heat generated (my bike gets pretty hot on the chrome surfaces. This may be the case in general. The Strat is a lot hotter than the GZ.)

Here are other things I did pay attention to that were also important:

1) storage/hard luggage
2) smoothness of engine/lack of vibration (mine purrs like a little kitty... ok, maybe a BIG kitty)
3) Drive (I like belt drive.)
4) Fuel Injection
5) seat height (I can put both feet flat on the ground.)
6) engine rpm sweet spot - My bike really feels good at 65-70 @ 3000 RPM's. It's a nice solid purr. Some bikes are working extra hard at this speed and shake and whine.
7) Quiet. (I don't need to impress the neighbors with how much noise I can make.)

Good luck and enjoy your new bike!