yes the stock 12R m/c was axial or *normal* bike style. The Gixxer600/750 m/c is radial-pull. Nothing placebo in the effect Wattie, that new m/c just about stands the barge up on its nose. Greatest improvement to the brakes I made, regardless of what any theory says. The old m/c used to get such bad fade under extreme conditions that it would have lever travel almost back to the handgrip, the new one is nothing like that whatsoever. One-finger braking for all normal suburban riding and 2-finger for track. I would not use 3 fingers because it would just lock up the front end.......
The only thing that I can think of, is that somehow the leverage ratio of the lever on the radial m/c must be a massive improvement over that of the standard m/c ? I know that lifting the pivot point for the push-rod to the m/c in a normal car brake lever, will improve the braking of a stock m/c, all else being equal. It might be an old trick but it is still a good one.
Thanks for the background Tack, you are a lucky fellah to have all that engineering history. I am looking to improve the m/c on an old Series 3 XJ6 due to installing an LS1 - if you are OK with a pm or 2 on this, I might pick your brains about what would be the best way to upgrade the braking power of the old jag.