I really appreciate having separate front and rear systems when I need a little trail braking in a curve.
Ditto, runs like on rails through all corners with that technique... with a pretty fast speed
Proper use of rear/trail brake also makes the ride way smoother, calms the suspension (thus higher corner speed), eliminating any slack/bump in the drive train, etc...
Seems for us an ABS-I/TCS model would be the beST
STill the narrow 110/80 front tire for agility and precise steering, independent front and rear brakes plus the
minor improvement of having an ABS...
(I only fear of getting completely overboard with ABS aboard, brain getting lazy and that... probably better to maintain the active mental respect of the matter, I think I'm riding more foresighted and defensive without it...)
On a sport bike under heavy braking the weight transfer is such that the rear wheel has so little weight on it (or none at all) that it contributes very little stopping power anyway, and tends to lock up very easily. The difference between using it and not using it isn't all that significant.
Well, the instructors on every motorcycle safety/perfection training I attended differ on that...
When not talking about a "stoppie", balacing on the front wheel only, even a little, gentle trail braking (even only 5%) is stabilizing largely, eliminating the swing/wobble of the bike trying to "swing" around the head bearings...
Sure, it does take practice how to operate your brakes accordingly, but that's what those trainings are for...
Having both models (STD and ABSII) you will not believe the difference in stopping power from the calipers of the ABSII until you ride one - not the ABS system, just the improved calipers and pads.
Ridden both I see the actual difference/benefit only in "not having to think/sense"...
You can go like 120mph with that ABS-II/CBS and just
hammer on the front lever plus
stomp your heel on the pedal of the rear brakes, and the machine will do the rest...
An independent, non-ABS requires a little more sensitivity, start slightly on the rear first, then grab the front brake, wait for the forward weight-shift and then
full pressure on the front...
And within all this you've to look out/consider all kinds of stuff on the deck there, white-lines, tar-snakes, oil-spill, etc...
And ABS is also not the total life-saver, had an acquittance with a black '96 ABS-II/CBS who went down heavily... dumb bra in a small sedan pulling out an alley, he grabs into them binders, not considering the steel tramway rail in the road... he and the bike skidded down the road for like 150~200 ft...
And in reality, you do not notice the 'linked brakes'
Well, I did... took me quite a while to adjust to that CBS thing and the changed behaviour of the bike...
And due the shorter pipe-runs/lower liquid volume the standard brakes feel just way more precise...
... but then I ride like an old man.
LOL! I'D like to see that live... :lol: