My dad shot a Bear Alaskan till about the mid 90s (the kind w/ 4 wheels)... when I finally made him buy a new bow... which was an XI Legend.. that he's still shooting today.

As far as new bows w/ a long a-a... I'd prolly look at the Martin Scepter 3 or Cougar... of course they also have several nice recurves/longbows.