NC Nitro, were there bikes in those pics? I didnt notice any? Wait let me look again.... nope still dont see any bikes. Can you post some more so that I may try to find the bikes you are speaking of?
I have been a mortocycle nut ever since I was a kid. The first opportunity I had to buy one I did. I love all motorcycles for what they were built for. I dont think you could find a better cruiser than a Harley Heritage Classic or Honda VTX 1800. If you want a fast as hell standard you can get a Yamaha Warrior or the Harley V-rod. On the sport bike scene the new R1 is just KICK ASS but I dont think there will ever be a bike that can knock the Hayabusa out of first place on styling, comfort and top speed. In the handling dept, it cannot hold a candle to todays crotch rockets but then, it was never meant to compete on the track.
All motorcycles can be made to be loud. You dont think the guys that race their sportsbikes with those huge can mufflers (or rather megaphones) dont want their bikes to be loud? Of course they do. Its just a very annoying high pitched WAIL rather then the low grumbling power strokes of a v-twin.
There are many great things about all types of bikes. Its all about what your into. If I had the budget to buy what I want, I'd have a huge garage filled with a full dress Harley Heritage Classic Cruiser, a Ducati Monster, a Buell Firebolt, a Yamaha R1, a Honda VTX1800, a Honda Goldwing, a Suzuki Hayabusa 1300 Limited, and a Triumph Bonneville T100. There are a few more I'd love to have but I just can't think of the model names right now.