That's my main problem with the specs. OK, so a Honda will be (hopefully) very reliable, BUT at the same (to a few KGs) weight as a 1200GS it's not going to work for many people. If it weighed the same and had more power, I could see the point; if it weighed the same with a full, larger tank I could see the point; if power were roughly the same but it weighed less, I could see the point. I guess they're banking on DTC selling the bike over everything else.

For me, it's too heavy for real off road (my F800 isn't exactly light, although it is less than the new AT!), it isn't spec'd enough to compete with road tourers (no cruise control etc) and it doesn't seem flash enough (electronics wise - fancy suspension etc) for bragging rights down the pub. I'm a little confused who this might be for? I read somewhere that someone else felt they'd made a bike "just good enough", without really going overboard. When the new Fireblade came out in the '90's, the low weight changed the face of the sports bike - I appreciate 'off road' bikes take more punishment, but to have not really shown any interest at all about addressing this aspect of a new bike is a real disappointment.

Still, perhaps they'll be a smaller cc version in the future

I doubt this, however. Fewer cc's cost the same to produce, but sell for less. The economics of the situation say this is unlikely to happen.