Considered the sv and kawi's 650 lines?
Less aggressive ergos
Good commuters
Good midrange torque
Does very well 2up
Can be modded pretty well for hard baggage
Very good on the track
In your price range $$$$
Me and my wife rode the Shadow for years before I got the HD bug. I wouldn't track one, but hey... I have coached full dress HD's on track and baggers too. Sure... they drug hard parts, but smiled just as big at the end of the day as the jap bike riders.
My wife and I has also done a few Sun. rides on the newgen 250. 300lbs is the stated weight limit of the 250, but meh... we broke that nearly 100lbs and did just fine in a group of 600s. There was no hard acceleration, but everything was just fine. You will want steel lines in the front, upgraded front springs and at least put the rear ramp preload at the highest setting for 2up riding on a 250. ijs
