General, I've found that in most cases where ABS on a bike should be used, the rider has no business being... I think it's an over-rated feature manufacturers are using to sell bikes, just like cars manu's, and most other special features of that nature - like Volvo's collision's system, and merc and such forth. But then again, I'm the kind of guy that like's carbs, likes to do my own maintenance, and I don't have a computer science degree, and believes a machine should have as little wiring on it as possible. Give me explosions, and metal on metal action (with a little oil in between there... )
And that's kind of hard to find in a bigger bike these days. But if I were to upsize, as you are, this is how I would go about it:
1.) What is the purpose of the bike? Long-legged tourer, hot looking speed machine, slow-speed aesthetic and auditory acausting mental impact machine (a small-dick device used to get attention
).... etc.
2.) Forget about features, they just muddle the decision. Forget about engine size, it has nothing to do with the equation. Anything bigger than a 250 will be beyond gratuiously fast for the road. For the drag stip or race track it's a different story.
3.) Ride a lot of bikes, and whichever speaks to you with a certain characteristic, remember that one. For instance, you like the comfort of the FZ1, but is there a different bike out there with styling that you prefer? Bigger winshield? Etc, etc.
4.) Based off of having designed your own dream bike, in your mind, stealing features from bikes which exist, plan out what costs for the aftermarkets are going to be, and then pick a bike based on how close it is to your dream.
or you can take option 2. Buy a bike with intention of selling it in a year and "sampling" another one...
I did this for 3 years, learned a lot about what I like in a bike...
Here are some trends I've discovered about bikes:
1.) Super sports are beautiful to look at, and a dream on the track, but oh heavens are they uncomfortable for most people. (I personally prefer the riding position for long trips, but hey....
)
2.) Cruisers are a waste of money because they are for show. You can get a more comfortable, more capable, and reliable bike in the form of a Versys, Vstrom, Weestrom (650), GS800, etc,etc...
3.) Most fellows with a brain tend to throw styling out the window and go for function, because it's impossible to make a bike beautiful and comfortale at the same time, at least that's what major manu's have seemed to communicate in the past.... Only exception is the Connie 1400..
My .02, hope it helps.
