Based on your description of the V star, I think that you will be very happy with the America or Speedmaster. Plenty of power in stock form, and if you do the same mods to it that you did to the V Star, then there's even more. I had a loaner bike once, it was an 1100 V Star, and it wasn't much better than you described, it vibrated a ton. I thought it sat too low to the ground also. And it was uncomfortable.
I think my bike is one I will own for a lifetime.
