In regards to ABS...I have been riding for about five years now and moved from a bike without ABS (Honda Magna) to one with (BMW R1150GS). I'll never go without and here's why...
I took the advanced course with Too Cool last summer and learned how easy it is to 'high-side' the bike if you lock the back wheel. If you don't know what high-siding is...in a panic situation its easy (too easy) to lock up the rear wheel (which is now stationary and no longer acting like a gyroscope)...if your bike is leaning over and you release that back wheel it acts like a gyroscope again..violently changing the bike's position and launching you into who knows what kind of turmoil...
Training is essential...experience is essential...but ABS is a tool that can save you from highsiding and other nasty situations when you make a mistake. Just get it.
(And if you DO lock up the back wheel and are leaned over...own it and don't let off while you are still moving fast or you may have a gooey ending)
I always assume that I
will make a mistake someday, and try to plan to make that mistake painless.
On a more pleasant note, I rode the Triumph Tiger 1050 when in San Francisco a few weeks ago...what a riot! The Triumph triple engines are so sweet...
Here is a boring...unedited...soggy...10 min video of my ride from outside Palo Alto to Alice's Restaurant.