They absolutely could. I think that's the result of what happens when a brilliant engineering staff is run by an excellent business group. Like Harley Davidson, Honda recognizes who the Gold Wing market is and they sell a ton of them. I'm sure the vast majority of Gold Wing buyers rarely use more than 50% of the power they have on tap. They expect the engines to last for up to 200,000 miles, I even heard of one passing 500,000. Honda knows their target and they hit it squarely on the button.
On the other hand you have Triumph. I have no idea what they envisioned when they built the Rocket. Its was so unlike anything else out there nobody quite knew what to make of it. That it has developed such a cult following speaks to what a strange bunch motorcycle riders actually are. In any area of performance or comfort you can find a better bike, but nothing quite puts it together like the Rocket. And, it doesn't sell in big enough numbers for anyone to try to copy it, so we continue to have a rather unique machine.