Yeah, it is all of those things but it is also very comfortable and very, very well mannered. That is why I hesitate to knock the bike at all because it is great at being what it is, and the is a gentle, cushy bike. We may like the C-14 and think of it as better but that is more of an emotional response, and the ST has proven itself to be extremely reliable in use by police all over the world.
Until that nasty tank- slapper situation raised its ugly head at least.
It is like a GoldWing, which is also a superb bike. Even more history and an even more reliable bike, at least I believe so, but boring like driving an Olds 98. But I do recognize that those very attributes can be benefits to some people and lends itself to long distance riding extremely well. About a third of the bikes in the Ironbutt rally are OldWings and with good reason. I have only ever seen one C-14 participate.
I have not ridden one, but just about EVERY person who reports back that has ridden it compared to a C14 says it is boring, slow, and underwhelming. Nothing about it was as good as a C14. I think the only people who bought them (after the C14 came out in 2008) were doing so ONLY because they were a Honda (brand loyalty).