Not sure how I feel about this move to drive-by-wire. I figure it was inevitable. But I've had the experience of rats chewing into my ST1300 wiring (where it couldn't be seen) such that the bike would unpredictably have starting problems. It's hard to anticipate what kind of behavior might result from this or some other compromise to the wiring between the throttle control and the ECU.
My reasons for going to the NT from the ST still stand vis-a-vis the FJR. The latter is 70 pounds heavier (comparing the specs on the Honda and Yamaha site) and is unlikely to get particularly good gas mileage. I have to drive at least 25 miles before I hit any roads where the speed limit is more than 60 MPH, and then only if I'm traveling north. Otherwise it's more like 50+ miles.
There are a couple of things the ST is still better at vs. the FJR - cruising range and warranty. If I were in the market for something in this class I would have to consider the FJR. I agree Honda has traditionally neglected both ST's for years at a time. The ST1100 was basically unchanged for all its model years, as has been the 1300.
A couple of footnotes about the ST1300, from my experience:
I bought my first one in November 2002. I bought an extended factory warranty for $400 through hondadirectline.com, for a total of 7 years of coverage. About two weeks short of having had the bike for three years (to wit: in Nov. 2005) I totaled it. So I went and got another one. Because I had not yet entered the coverage period of the extended warranty, it was transferred to the new bike. Had I not traded it in last year it would still be under warranty for the next month or so. As it turned out I never needed it.
When I bought the replacement ST1300 I considered both the Concours 14 and the FJR. But the relative warranty situation and range was important to me then. And of course I was already used to the ST.
