Well, I'm into the big tourers, and have an '04 Honda Goldwing. I also have an 83 Yamaha Virago 920 that was what I bought as my first motorcycle.

As for conservative riders having too much power, this is no big deal. My Goldwing has far more power than I'll ever use. It is nice to know it's on tap though, if I need it to get out of any bad situations. As with anything, it requires common sense to be safe on a big bike.

If you're wanting to get more into highway cruising without the big bike, the Honda ST1300 may be worth a look. Their only caveat is that they are not as common. The ST1300 has an electrically adjustable windshield, so you can set the height up right where you want it. The 1300 engine is solid, and has plenty of zip. It's alot lighter than my wing, although it will weigh more than a naked 650. However, it'll be better balanced, which has alot more to do with how light the bike feels on the road. When I first hopped on my old 84 GL1200 Aspencade, it felt like it weighed half what the Virago did, yet it weighed nearly double. IIRC, the luggage is removable on the ST, so you don't always have to tote it around. Handling is excellent, as it does lean more towards the sporting side of motorcycles. I haven't owned one personally, but have heard nothing but positive.

If you are looking for inexpensive and used, the Kawasaki Concourse would also be worth a look. I'd like to add one of these to my garage as well. They've been around a long time, are nearly bulletproof, and are a good mix of sport and touring.