I agree, except that I am not really looking for a lot of new tech. I have had two ST1100's and currently have an ST1300. I have always been of the opinion, with both models, that all that they are really missing from the factory is heated grips, cruise control and whatever accessory power plug was the fashion of the day. I always felt it was pretty sad that Honda didn't make these things available as factory options on a motorcycle that was specifically designed for cross-continent touring.
Ditto. I like my tourers. I went walkabout for a possible change of bike in the future (what is left of it) and tried the BMWs 1250RT and K1600GT. Neither of them fitted. Seat too wide for pillion, legroom too cramped for me. Even with the highest seat, it felt like my knees were under my chin. Dream bubble burst. I cannot bring myself to go back to a chain drive and really dont like the look and feel of the NT1100. I did sit on it, and it didn't do anything for me.
Honda had heated grips and power socket as optional extras for the 1300. Cruise control - I can do without that. I often use it in the car. I am a very nervous passenger and don't like to be driven when the driver doesn't show that they have spotted the things that I have seen. So the car driving me at a constant 70mph when I would have lifted slightly ? I've 'watched' myself doing this - and in fact when I cancelled the cruise control I only wanted to slow a couple of mph - but my brain was telling me that 70mph was too fast for comfort and it made me feel out of control, event hough 68/69 was just fine.
So I watched myself on the bike. I'm always making minor adjustements to my throttle. Balance, bumps, gravel, getting the line wrong, avoiding potholes, ..... I can't see when I would ever need a cruise control. But then I live in the Yorkshire Dales. Even the Romans couldn't manage straight roads here !
As for satnav and TFT screen - no thanks. I like the Analogue speedo and rev counter.
Lets be frank about this. I'm getting old.
Now where the hell is the kick start, the choke and the reserve tank ? And I still fancy going back to a sidecar combination !