When you say it handles like ****, how do you mean? When my steering bearings were shot, the Brinelling had the steering feeling like it had a detent in the center -- played havoc with slow speed steering. If your's is similar, you really haven't got a lot of choices. If it isn't notchy, then you might just need to re-lube and adjust -- a lot less work and money than replacement. If it is notchy, then I recommend finding the money to have the dealer change them. It's not a small task, requiring complete disassembly of the front end and more.
Yes, it is notched. It's noticeable when the bike is on the centerstand and the front wheel is off the ground.
When I say it handles like ****, I mean it doesn't hold a line through a corner well, there is too much effort to turn in (I think; I don't have another Concours to compare to), and in general just doesn't feel planted in cornering. My last bike had bad steering bearings with similar symptoms (the tires were also bad on that one).
The problem is worse in the rain. The bike slips and slides around on a corner in the rain, and I don't know why. It does have a small oil leak; is it possible that the oil residue that's caught in the belly pan is stirred up by water coming off the road, thrown at the rear tire, and causing the sliding?
Either way, I do plan to give the bike to the dealer to change the bearings. I have a feeling there will be a big improvement in handling after it's done.