Thanks guys. Your experiences are what I was looking for. Think I'll go with the Avon. I've run the Avon AV46 for years on my Sabre. Avon on the rear, Michelin Pilot road on the front. Thing handles like it was made in 2005 instead of 1985 clear up to 152 mph, 65,000 miles later.
I've discovered that the front tire is the culprit in determining how heavy a bike handles. If you look at most of the top handling sport tourers out there, most of them run no bigger than 120's on the front. Even the new BMW sixer runs a 120 front and a 190 rear. That front tire makes 90% of the difference in how a bike handles.
We also discovered last year when my brother's rear Avon became a may-pop slick 2000 miles from home that these bikes don't seem to notice whether there's a radial or a bias ply on the rear. He couldn't tell any difference in handling with the radial front and bias rear, which was the only tire we could find (a Kenda at a Harley shop) in Sheridan, WY that would fit the thing.
So, since the GT rears are no longer available, I think the the combo I'm going to run (if that Pilot GT front ever wears out) is a Michelin Pilot Road III 110/80ZR-18
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/28/396/35276/ITEM/Michelin-Pilot-Road-3-Front-Tire.aspx?WT.ac=RichAutoCompleteand Avon Venom 160/80HB-16 rear.