754 you made a point about the sporty. Bored out 1/2", head work, and modify the air cleaner and exhaust. A 1200cc bike turning 12.7. Now do the same to a 750 sohc and you could probably beat that time!!! Didn't a stock sohc 750 run the quater in the low to mid 12's?
No comparison, but my show room stock DOHC 650 turned 13.06 first time ever on a drag strip by me. Shaft drive but I did have to remove the mirrors. To me not even close, considering the cc difference.
Yes, I have ridden 3 different new (less than a year old) harley's from an 883 cafe racer to the 1200 (what ever it was I don't remember which model) and I was NOT impressed with performance or handleing. They were all stock. They were all hard to start, always had to tighten things up, leaked oil, and the owners were always working on them just to keep them even running. I guess they just got lemons! And I'll eat my own words and admit I would buy a sporty (65 thru 67) if I could find a stock one in good shape at a price that I can buy a decent sohc 750. But that will probably never happen.
And yes I got my clock cleaned by a sporty in my 64 "283" Chevelle. It was quicker than hell but he wasn't stock either.
I may not be the bike garu you and some of the other guys here are but I've been around bikes more than a couple of days and do have some idea what I'm talking about, regardless of what some people here think or say. How do you think a 1/2" overbored harley would match up against even a cbr600rr much less against a cbr1100rr or a GSX1100. I'm sure you can site examples of fast/quick harleys, but none that are stock. Even Buell saw the hand writing and is getting away from HD engines.