Fist off, the before chart shows that the engine was running really poorly. Second, since they included a jet kit, there is no question that it was a carburetted version. Chances are really good that it was not an early 4 speed, so it is very likely that it was one of the seriously detuned EPA designed bikes.
My OL had a 4 speed 1200 and the only carburetted Sportster I saw that could keep up with it was my much modified '76 XLCH.
I often take all our bikes down to the truckstop and back to keep them limber. I use the telephone junction box about 1/8 mile down the paved road that deadends at the far end of my horse pasture for a marker to test the running condition of each bike. All of the bikes have modified intake and exhaust systems, stock gearing and no internal engine changes. Here are the usual speeds as I pass the junction box:
03 America - 75
05 Lowrider - 70 (5 speed 88 inch twin)
07 XL1200L - 75 (5 speed 74 inch twin)
07 Night Train - 78 (6 speed 96 inch twin)
07 Roadking - 72 (6 speed 96 inch engine)
But, those are speedometer readings, and the Triumph tends to read a bit high. As for cornering, the Sportster feels a little more nimble, but that could be because the bars are narrower. In a hardcore race, I expect the America would do better because the Sportster sits a few inches lower and would start dragging things sooner. Of course, the big twins were intended to simply be comfortable road bikes and are not designed to race up the mountainside.
