If you are young and have good wrists and a good back, with no trouble getting out of bed in the morning, you will likely quickly get used to a sportbike with lower handlebars. They are designed so your chest is less like a sail in the wind, for racing or a racing look on the street.
I take a longer trip once a year, and one year a bunch of sportbike riders went with us- they broke off from the group on the twistier roads, and 3 out of 4 got speeding tickets. They often sit upright on the long straight sections, with just one hand on the throttle, to rest their wrists and backs. They are definitely not as comfortable as a Honda Gold Wing, especially for a passenger, but a lot of motorcycle riding is emotions, and getting what makes your heart beat a little faster. If a car pulls out in front of you, a sportbike or a light scooter will turn faster than a cruiser or tourer.
One of the options for a Gold Wing is an airbag: