I missed that one, but there is always the 93incher from Accurate Engineering..:-)
My memory goes back a bit farther than yours apparently as I was thinking more in terms of the pre-evolution bikes that everyone around here seems so enamored with. You are correct that the rubber mount bikes are slightly heavier and that the horsepower improvement has been incremental over recent offerings in previous years
However. I had the opportunity last year to ride the 2003 and 2004 XL models, back-to-back, on the race track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Harley's "Back to the Track" event. This was not so much for us to compare older to newer Harleys as for us to compare offerings from other manufacturers but they did have some '03 Sportsters and, since I own a much modified '91XL and I had not yet ridden the '04, I took the opportunity to compare. I can tell you unequivocally, your statistics notwithstanding, that the 04 goes around the track faster and with much less fuss and effort from the rider.
By the way, contrary to the rumor, Harley-Davidson has no plans to bring back the panhead. OTOH, the new Street Rod iteration of the VRSC family is everything the Sportster ought to be in terms of power and handling (But it doesn't look like a '69 XLCH). I'm seriously thinking of selling my old Sportster (There is, after all, a limit to how much performance you can coax out of the old girl) and buying a new Street Rod.
(Doesn't that just fry ya?)
I missed that one, but there is always the 93incher from Accurate Engineering..:-)
My personal experience with HD doesn't begin until the dawning of the Evo age. 1980 was the first riding season once I got my license at 16 in Colorado, and I rode small Hondas for several years before stepping up to my first Harley.
I've rode 04's and my '03 back to back several times. I'll admit that I'm impressed with the rubber mounting. I truely do envy that smoothness, but that's about all I envy. My current steed seems to be more able in almost every other respect.