[Backonaboxer]

Where will the displacement race take us? Nowhere, lake a dog chasing it's tail. My '11 Classic is the sweet spot for me. ESA, ASC, ABS, 88 ft. lbs. and dripping with style.

More money, more to break and diminishing returns after that

 

[Backonaboxer]

I love the boxer engine.
I'm not sure that sentiment carries throughout the market. BMW makes a couple nice bikes in that engine size with the F series. I've ridden the F650GS twin and it's a great bike for people that aren't BIG. Fuel is carried under the seat, weight is under 400 lbs. There's very little not to like about the bike for it's intended use. Though not as smooth, it's actually geared better for highway use than my Tiger 800, not to mention way better fuel economy.

 

[Backonaboxer]

There seems to be a trend amongst bike manufacturers to make bikes small enough for hobbits, it makes it really difficult to find a bike built for a full grown adult.

I think the problem/issue is the range of sizes found in the current crop of riders. I'm 75. At 5'7", 165 lbs. I was considered "average" 50 years ago. My 35 y.o. son is 5'11", 185.
While I can still manage a recently owned Tiger 800 XRX or my R, I prefer my Bonneville. So it's really relative. If you look at bikes from the 60's and 70's, they are much smaller than most bikes today. Only recently, as veteran riders are struggling with 500+ lb. bikes, have manufactures listened to a desire for lighter/smaller.