Not necessarily "Poor" design in some cases, but dated design or cost effective design alternatives do take their toll...after all, they HAVE had over 30 years to get the V-Twin angle down pat, most R&D cycles are 4-5 year events, the final product being the best compromise the MOCO can muster, based on sales, marketing, bean counters, shareholders and a bit of Corporate management (or mis...). Certainly there has been an infusion of much needed technology to keep pace, but if you had a patented design and clients that will beat you up if you do one thing that breaks the linkage to tradition for better or worse, something will suffer. The buying public has changed tastes, yet their marketing is only now turning the corner on trying to cater it to those potential buyers, hopefully not too late.