Personally, I don't know why, if one had a choice between 2 identical bikes. 08' Airbag and ABS for $19799 and a 10' NON ABS for around $22000. Why would you choose the 2010 model?
Honda stopped making the Goldwing in 2009. The 2010 models are nothing more than a 2008 model with TPSM and XM radio. Otherwise is is the exact same bike and probably manufactured less than a year apart.
The only down side is once you drive it off the lot, it becomes a 2 year old bike. This would be a problem if it were a car or truck but this is a Goldwing that you plan on owning for a long time. It really doesn't matter. If you pulled up to someone, they are still going to ask you "Hey, what year model is that wing" and unless you tell them, they won't know the difference.
As for me, the difference is in the pocket book. I saved about $7k by buying the 08' instead of the 2010 model. But in reality, had I decided that nothing less than a 2010 will do, I would have wound up buying a non ABS, Non Airbag and probably no navigation. When it comes to buying a current year wing, it's a little hard to swallow the inflated prices for these extras.
But with the 08' , you are getting a top of the line, all the bells and whistles, fully loaded out Goldwing for the price of a base model plain Jane Wing in a 10' model.
This was the demon I was facing when it was time to buy my Wing. I really wanted a 2010 model just because it was the latest and greatest. But thank god I researched it for a month or so first. Because once I saw the bigger picture and had all the facts in front of me, I knew the 2010 purchase would have been the wrong move and would have cost me $7k more for the exact same bike.
Do your homework and make an informed decision. Don't make a "knee jerk" purchase. If your happy with a lower tier wing with no ABS, ect, for in the $22k range, then go for it. But if you want everything including ABS and Airbag for in the $19K range, get the 08' and never look back. There are a ton of 08' models BRAND NEW 0 miles on them just sitting there. I know, I bought one and saw a dozen more sitting in the warehouse.
Check out Sunrise Honda in Shawnee Oklahoma, they have them in every 08' color they came in that year. $19,799 08' Airbag, ABS, Navigation, Premium Audio, Comfort.