Wouldn't a stock 996 be about the same power as an early TL? Its certainly got loads more than a late one, they were struggling to touch 100hp at the end.
Went out with a lad from work with a TLR last summer, and even when we stopped for a drink, he sed feck me im shocked theres not much in them! and mines a 748R, once into the midrange my bike easily hung on to the TL, all the way up to flat out in top, on a private road, of course!
I owned a TL1000S for 5 years before converting to the Red Side.
I spent a bit of time and a bit of cash sorting it – Full Akro, PC, Ohlins rear/K-Tech front, etc, etc.
I passed many more Dukes on the TLS than passed me (road and track)(and many ZX9s, R1s, Gixxer1Ks).
My 996S was certainly no more Powerful than the sorted TL (Dynoed 119 rwhp).
A stock 996 was toast unless the rider was better than me (plenty are).
The sorted TL also went round corners just fine, although not with the ultimate poise and ability of the 996S or my current 998.
I’m very happy indeed to be on a Duc now, and the development of the 998 is coming along nicely – it’s just that the TLS is a much better bike than people realise.
I have a mate with an R1 and on my old 996 bip there was nothing in it really apart from on long straights when he'd have the edge, Even now on my S4 upto about 130 he's not leaping away. How fast do you actually want to go on the Roads?