Bike Shopping

Been trying to decide on a bike lately... It will be a sort of gift to myself upon my return from Iraq early next year. I was originally considering the Victory Vegas Jackpot, but lately, I've been warming up to the idea of a Harley V-Rod. I think I'm going to go with a used bike that is a couple of years old as this will be my first road bike. I figure if I save a few grand on the purchase price, and maybe get a few upgrades that were inevitably installed by the previous owner, it would hurt a little less if I were to make a rookie mistake. This is just what I'm thinking right now - who know's how this decision will evolve during the course of this deployment? I plan to post an update on my selection progress as I trudge through the months in the desert.
-Marc