It's pretty easy to sit in the relative comfort of our homes or offices and play motorcycle designer while being unencumbered by any of the constraints motor vehicle manufacturers have to deal with.
The governments of virtually every civilized nation have laws, rules, and regulations regarding vehicles sold there, many of which are exclusive to their country alone. Here in the US, the EPA alone has an enormous impact on the design of motor vehicles. How many of us are aware of the stringent noise standards that must be complied to? The noise standards alone are becoming more strict every year, let alone the emissions standards, safety standards, and God only knows whatever other bureaucratic nonsense manufacturers have to deal with.
What seem to us as changes that are minute, when combined with corporate and government involvement, are usually a BIG deal. Couple that with the whims of consumers and you have a monumental task trying to balance it all.
After riding Harleys for decades, I, for one, am astounded at the magnificent machine called the Concours that KHI is producing. A 100 hp/lt, exceptionally dependable, stylish motorcycle that is more capable than 99.999% of it's riders. No small feat. Think about it.
With the exception of cruise control (a creature comfort, not a necessity ), and a few other "inconveniences", where else can I find this much bang for the buck? How much power is enough? If the Gen III comes out with 25 more hp, in short order there will be cries for more. I will probably never know how fast my bike will go. The vast majority of C14 owners won't either. Buffeting, high beam indicators that are too bright, etc, etc, all sound like Cadillac problems that can, for the most part, be overcome or dealt with.
I think if God himself designed a motorcycle some would have complaints about it.
Just my .02 .........
