Lol, aren't we the BOF's 
First we want practicality, then reliability, now legality... this rebel biker image is starting to slide... 
That's why this is a riders club. We ride rather than doing fancy dress and who's got the biggest whatever. We've rebelled against people who say they are rebels

My dad took me to some Aprillia new model launch last week. Some plastic missile the Guzzi dealer is going to sell. My first thought was that it had no chain guard, pillion pegs but no seat, an aftermarket exhaust (Do you buy them without a silencer now and pick one from the dealers catalogue?) and a small number plate. All MOT failures in my mind, although my pillion peg one was a seat but no pegs, so could be different. Maybe they expect it to be a wreck before it hits 3 years old?
There wasn't a single bike in that Guzzi/Aprillia/Benelli showroom I'd have done a straight swap from the Bonneville for unless I was allowed to take the new bike straight round to a shop selling Bonnevilles or Teneres or assorted 5-15 year old bikes so I could have a bike and the cash difference. Sad innit.
As stated many times before, I very much doubt there are many manufacturers who care what we think, we are way harder to please than the people who'll buy this sort of thing as jewellry. Any bets on the average age/value at a TC meet? I'm guessing we are a factor of 10 different from the carpark at Devils Bridge on a bank holiday never mind a HOG/Wing-ding thing.
Andy