John, Figured my first post here should be of some benefit so here goes... I was in the exact same position. I was looking at a Triumph Thruxton. Beautiful bike, great name, no question right. I ended finding one a ways away from my house and needed to trailer it home. So long story short, I go to my local u-haul (which happens to be a bike dealer) and I see this beautiful bike on the lot. Turns out it an RE Continental GT. After
for a bit, I talked to the sales guy and ended up buying. So glad I did!
RE gets a bad rap for being made in India. But think about it, one of the reasons these bikes are made in India is because the market is there. If RE had such a big problem with reliability they wouldn't be outselling Harley and Triumph world wide. The other thing to consider is the simplicity of the Continental. If you have a few wrenches and a little bit of mechanical inclination you can fix just about anything on the bike. Where as most modern bikes have a too many bells and whistles and complicated parts, the Continental is beautifully simple.
Obviously, there is a lot to consider with your commute and how you will use the bike, riding position, etc. But if you are looking for a bike with a ton character thats just plane fun to ride, the Continental is it! I love mine, I cant stop riding it. And the little things that aren't perfect make it feel like a vintage bike. Thats just me though, I would rather feel the road than fall asleep while I ride. Shoot me a message if you have any additional questions. Glad to help!