I like the general feel of the *Indian Sportster* now that the Harley version is no longer what the Sportster once was. I've got no use for the liquid cooling, You're spot-on about the bar risers [and/or seat level,] and I can well do without alloy rims if I need to change a flat during a trip. At nignt. In rain or sleet.
Of the bigger bikes? Classic Indian or BMW R9T. Smaller ones? Indian Enfield, maybe- hey, they're 12 volt now!
Well there’a always the old fashioned way of changing tires, of course, which is easier with non-alloy wheels, but run-flat technology has been with us for decades and would make so, so much sense for a motorcycle. Its handling changes so drastically when it incurs a flat — let alone the hassles of fixing it (which you only get a chance to do if you remember in a split second what the MSF taught you about what to do when a flat is incurred). I don’t believe in being tuff for the sake of being tuff when it’s in an area that proper preparation can help. As for the other hardware on the bikes, anything can be customized if you don’t like what comes off the factory floor.