I applaud you for attempting to write an unbiased review. The points where I have contention with the article are many-fold, however.
A point on the weight, I am an out of shape female at a whopping five feet tall (5'1" if you round up) and with a little practice, I can back into and out of spaces without having to hop off on a basically stock (I too added the extra gauges and a new exhaust) 2008 standard R3. When it comes to weight while moving, the R3 is so well balanced that I find little trepidation passing a drunk 18-wheeler at night. The heft helps me feel safer, rather than wobbly.
Your disappointment over the anti-theft systems is understandable in that everyone wants to protect a large investment, but according to theft data in the U.S.; the Rocket 3 is in the top ten LEAST stolen and vandalized motorcycles nationwide. In fact, I believe it was third on the list.
When it comes to disappointing demographic responses, this bike was one that helped an entire new breed of muscle-bike carve out a niche in the American psyche. In effect, it created it's own demographic in a culture of hard-core traditionalists. Impressive? I think so.
Cornering, ah, cornering. That subject where so many people seem to believe that any lean angle that doesn't make your shoulder scrape pavement means that it is unsatisfactory. Yes, many bikes out perform this one in corners, but I have yet to be on one that feels so effortless in a turn after carefully choosing your line. Let us be honest here, you should still be just as particular in choosing a line on the "leaning machines" out there, or one day you will never get vertical again. AND, good luck enjoying those twisties on a rice rocket when those twisties are are on a road a hundred miles from your house. The comfort I find on the R3 is unparalleled when you want to do a road trip that ends in a canyon.
Shocks....
How many velvety smooth shocks are are there stock on a bike this big? Moot point for me.
You pointed out that on the R3, "Touring is limited by rider and pillion comfort problems," that is true. so far, the only time I have been comfortable after an hour and a half of riding was on a Harley Softail. Say what you wish, but I think that half their popularity is due to the comfort of their stock seats. Motorcycles are not comfortable unless you are willing to spend money on a custom seat that may or may not match the look of your bike depending on the individual requirement of your specific anatomy.
All in all, I feel your article is more subjective than objective in it's lack of specific data (or relate-able experience) for many of it's conclusions and is rather dry if you were going for a subjective overview in the first place. Hope some of this was relevant, and best of luck in your future articles.
