I'll try to answer all the questions I've seen here.
Conrad, I suppose there could be air in the system, but the brakes are not spongy at all. It takes very little travel to generate a lot of braking force.
VirginiaJim, I wondered if it's ABS as well, I have no experience with motorcycle ABS. In every car I've used ABS in, there is significant shaking and general harshness when it activates. This is a very smooth effect.
fartymarty, not a silly question at all. I'm about as sure as I can be. The VIN on the frame matches the title, which says it's an 09, and entering the VIN into the insurance company's website brought up an 09.
I got to try it out again today, and I'm getting less sure of myself. It takes so little effort to slow it down, that I think I'm not necessarily holding constant lever pressure, as much as relatively constant braking force. It seems reasonable that performance oriented pads such as these might be a bit more effective when hot, so the increase in CoF is making me let up on the lever to achieve the same amount of braking? I'm really not sure anymore. I'm starting to think this might be general new bike stuff. Last time I got a new bike was in 2013.
VirginiaJim, I wondered if it's ABS as well, I have no experience with motorcycle ABS. In every car I've used ABS in, there is significant shaking and general harshness when it activates. This is a very smooth effect.
A pulsing lever could indicate a warped rotor.
I can't speak to the gen 1 (2008/2009) C14's ABS, because it is different than the gen 2. But on the Gen2, the ABS is like a quick buzz. It isn't harsh and I don't recall the brake lever moving in or out or pulsing, other than the buzz feel.
As for gen1 vs. gen2, attached is a photo of the controls of a gen2 with ABS. But determining gen 1 vs. gen 2 is easy because there are tons of changes (easily seen from a distance with the different fairings). For example, if your dial/indicator backlighting is red (not white), it is a gen 1.