I like the brakes on my '09, but I also have ABS. My ST had no ABS and a very similar linked brake system to my GL including the proprtioning valve. Other than the increase in weight between the two bikes (166 lb) the braking perfomance wasn't a huge difference. After hopping on the ST from the Vulcan (less than 50#difference) I expected the brakes on the ST would scared the heck out of me. No way. The front binder on the Vulcan was fine (not great) but the rear would lock in a heartbeat and very little pressure. Having ridden CBR's of both size prior to the ST, I figured the brakes would be as aggressive as those. Pretty easy to do an unplanned stoppie on a non-ABS CBR. The combined system all but eliminates even the most intentional abuse of braking power. I'm not saying I can modulate brakes like a MotoGP racer, but it's a moot point since it isn't necessary anymore. You can get ham fisted with ST or GL brakes and not worry about the front locking and sliding out from under, and well a stoppie on a Goldwing isn't likely in the cards. On none of my Wings or the ST have I ever had the rear brake lock and I did two real life emergency panic stops on the 1200 and 1500 (one on each, no crashes or flops). I did some pretty severe panick stop practice on my ST when I first got it and never had the feeling that I was over my head. That's something I practice every season on every bike I"ve owned since 1980.
