Pieter Huizinga wrote:It seems to be a well known trait of the boxer engine. Mine doesn't really "shake" when stationary, but if you open the throttle you do feel the bike lean sideways.
That "torque lean" is quite normal on them flat-2/boxer engines, takes some practice to get used to it though, working the throttle while leaned or manoeuvring through narrow spaces (i.e. filtering) is not a good idea...
The power plants of the ST series (as well longitudinal engines) compensates by rotating modules in opposing directions; engine turning this, clutch and mains-shaft the other direction, prop-shaft rotates counter-, the alternator turning clockwise, etc...
By this there is only a barely, faint noticeable momentum when whacking the throttle...
So the particular R1200C was kinda defective, handlebars were oscillating like +/-5cm while standing in idle...
As for your other observations, obviously a naked bike is nowhere an ST-type bike. A cruiser is no sports machine. I don't even have a screen on it. The bike will go up to 180 km/h (and not in an eternity but rather agile) and I did that a couple of times, but it is not very comfortable sitting in the frontal wind at those speeds. Also the ST will w/o problem go much faster than 180 I think.
The ST1100 could do 230~240... a 1300 probably 260...
Cruisers are a completely different breed and target group...
On that VT1100 I was approaching at ~120 in 4th, had to wait for free sight ahead, shifted to 3rd and opened the throttle... and that V-2 just ran out of breath at ~4000rpm... me still staring at the drivers door of the car I tried to pass there...
Do the same with the 1100 V-4 of the ST and that thing unleashes, like an afterburner kicking in... would have gunned by that car with 150~160...
That said, my idea of a biker's vacation is to avoid motorways. With all respect to those of you who "go for a drive of 400 miles and back", that's not my idea of relaxation.

M/ways are also not my cup of tea... despite that on the ST one can do >160kph/100mph for hours and days... its just too boring...
Thus I use them only for fast liaison stages, getting out the city, quickly passing dense traffic industrial/populated areas or crossing though dull flatlands ASAP...
I don't even like major federal roads, boring, straight, too much traffic... I'm more into B, C and D-routes in the outbacks... varying landscapes and falling from one turn right into the next (which is why I've no use for a cruise control, not even an throttle-lock (one rest since >10 years in the shelf...))
The voyage is the destination and that... and there I still can do enjoyable 4~600km/250~370miles a day on the ST...
Keep tires down, ATGATT, STOC# 637 (Sept.'97), PanEuro# 42 (Oct.'97), candy glory red '92 (sold), re-furbed '94 (wicked), strawberry '00 (daily)