Why do motorcycles need such huge engines?
Because industry has conditioned us to demand that bigger is always better. That being said, I do love the 1832cc boxer flat six in my 2001 Honda Gold Wing. It is supposed to take the bike up to 60 mph in under 4 seconds, though I have yet to prove that!
And as for the price, which was even more than my Fit, hell, you only live once.
Honda is also very comparable in price with it's Wing, when looking at the BMW K1200LT and Harley's top tourers. Nobody else has a tourer that comes close.
And as mentioned, Honda quality, reliablility and their great shaft drive is all hard to beat.
And it will go 400 km on 20 of it's 25 litres of gas.
As for the new VFR, if my wife didn't love to ride as much as me, it would be high on my list of a sport tourer, but replacing the Wing would be a tough one.