Having put thousands of miles on an '89 and '02 Wing over a 9 year period, I believe they are awesome rides. I suffered lots of pipe envy when out with my HD riding buds, but other than that, almost flawless performance and loads of complements. With the necessary suspension upgrades, they handle as well as any sport bike.
This bike is geared to a younger market. At best a weekend trip bike. The removal of the tour pack will change the handling characteristics a lot. The Goldwings tend to be top heavy, so that is a real plus. I wonder if it has been lowered any and whether it uses the same tires as the stock wing?
I'm not going to badmouth these bikes, because I like all types of motorcycles. They're just a tool and each has it's strengths and weaknesses, regardless of who makes them. If my wallet and garage were big enough, it would be full of all types. Just do it on two wheels baby!