zenman my answer to your earlier question, I'm certainly no expert rider (I have great "feel" in a car but not riding) but if I concentrate I can stop very quickly with perfect braking on the rear, and the front howling on the verge of lock-up 'til I'm stopped. And that being somewhat dependent on a clean road surface. When some lunatic runs a red across you, the situation has changed a little, to say the least. Riding on the road is completely different to the track I mean if you're doing say even half as many k's (sorry miles!) on the track as the road then there are not very many worse choices of bike, as capable as our girl is.
For me on the rear at least it's a no brainer. In an emergency what percentage of riders can optimally brake the rear? It's practically impossible I believe.
I've only ridden a BMW with ABS, certainly not a "push-on" bike, but even then if one was to regularly invoke abs on the road I would argue that they're using up some margins. And as I said okay if you're trying to lower your lap times, life's a trade-off. But the fact is that in those horrible panic braking situations (I experienced one just yesterday on a greasy intersection) I myself only have enough skill to unlock the front if it happens, braking twice does no favours to stopping distance.
Being able to grab a handful 'til you're out of danger is a wonderful safety net to have. I think it's indespensible in road cars and the only difference is a car won't put you on your ear if you lock up for more than a moment.
WOW, long but let me just say- the more common it becomes on bikes the better it will work to where it's like a Porsche GT3, say - even race drivers can apply maximum braking without the ABS kicking in, so well adjusted it is.