About 80% to 100% of a modern motorcycle's braking capability is on the front tire.  Can anyone do a stoppie on a Savage/S40 by just clamping down on the front brake?... Even if you start bouncing the bike first?  I doubt it.

Try just using the front brake alone.  When you get out of the habit of using the rear brake, use some rear brake moderately when you begin braking and taper off as you slow.  On the wet, use both equally (but how in the world does anyone judge how much braking effort each end is providing???)

More on braking:
TAPER BRAKING
BRAKING:WEIGHT TRANSFER AND MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE

i am definitely am training to only use the front brake!!! and i'd love 2 see a stoppie on a savage...u guys go first!

i went 2 my tattoo artist's 2nite, who's ridden all his life...he walked outside and goes "screw the virago, this is sweeeet!" he had 2 hop on and turn the handle bars too....coming from an old school guy i think that's an awesome compliment!

and i'm glad i kept it under control, i locked up the rear and fishtailed @ the safety course and the instructor asked if i was nuts  

Find a motorcycle cop.  Ask him about using the rear brake.  They go through the training courses and do the pylon ballet using those big bikes.  They have mastered the rear brake.

I disagree that one is "supposed" to use both brakes.  On slippery surfaces, yes.  On dry pavement, not so much.  The front has all the braking you can use, although using the rear a bit might help a shorter panic stop.

In the middle of a panic stop is no time to be fiddling with the shifter.  Brake, keep straight, and balance.  If you were taught to downshift during a panic stop, reconsider the wisdom of that.

To de-squeak the disc brake, remove the pads, clean the rust off the steel plate, very lightly sandpaper the friction surface perfectly flat (put fine sandpaper on a flat surface and lightly rub the pad across the sandpaper), and put disc brake caliper grease or no-squeak stuff very sparingly on the points of contact between the backing plate and the caliper.  You don't need new pads if they still have adequate friction material.

South Florida, Palm Beach County near the coast in particular, is always adventure biking. The speed limit on I-95 is really the average age of the cage drivers. They tend to wander on the road, panic stopping and avoidance maneuvers are definitely skills to master. Since I got back on the bike I noticed my skills needed updating. Give’em lots of respect and room and never be in a rush. Take the Bee Line Hwy west for a good long ride with not much traffic. You can find your own way back, which is why you got on the bike I the first place.

i don't dare go on 95 with the bike yet...i don't like driving on it in the car! no one pays attention and they all think they need 2 be in front of u!

i drive a stratus so i'm not the fastest car out there, even the soccer moms are crazed....have u ever seen a minivan peel out? lol

Too pass my riding test, I had to demonstrate a panic stop. I had to be in first with both feet on the ground at the end.