Since it is a twin, vibrations are noticed, but they are neither intrusive or annoying, just omnipresent at highway speeds. Handling is very good and very stable, but the steering is slow, and one MO staffer commented that he found it necessary to hang way off the bike in order to keep up with the other two twins. Since its debut in 1995, BMW has not made any significant powertrain changes on the new-generation Boxer. That's good and bad news, because we wish they'd do something about the clunky tranny. Shifting must be made with solid, Teutonic authority.
ABS is standard.
It is an excellent sport-touring and commuter bike, able to send you off to work or the store before ripping off 500 mile days while throwing in a little canyon carving to spice up the journey.