Thanks everyone for your input.
I'd like to hear what any of the ladies think of 2012 if any have had time with one. I'm lucky (so folks tell me) in that I'm not short, about 5'8", and far from being a twig... gotta love Scandinavian bloodlines.
Sat on a 2011 last summer, and it felt okay, I could get the balls of my feet on the ground. But having not ridden in forever, it felt foreign to me. I can always lower it, for my first few months to a year, until I'm feeling solid on handling a bike again.
I did ride dirt many years ago, on a little 125cc when I was young and bullet proof (or so I thought at the time). Fast forward 30 years, and I'm hoping to get into riding again. Going to take my rider course for beginners, and the intermediate once I choose a bike. I live in the boonies, so I have lots of non Freeway/Interstate roads to toddle around on. Not to mention a church down the way with a nice open parking lot to safely practice on. Have a friend that just bought a 2011, and he's offered to let me ride it, but at this time I'm not willing to risk his shiny new bike to my lack of recent riding time.
Once I feel good about it, I hope to do some longer distance exploring/camping of back roads, forest service roads, and maybe even a bit of 2 track. I like to fly fish and do a bit of photography, not to mention just seeing things and areas that not everyone can get to, or bothers with.
Thanks again everyone, I'll be keeping an eye on this and looking forward to tmcgee's thoughts on the 2012.
Val