I use to have a '96 1200 Sportster and it was pretty torqy, just cold shouldered like you said. I sold it before doing any upgrades, but I had a S & S Carb (E) put on my '97 RoadKing and it improved throttle response significantly over the factory carb with a jet kit. Also, I just changed the intermediate (slow) jet, and I now get MORE gas mileage! I went from 35-42 to 41 - 47 mpg. I have to use the enricher a little more than before when it is cold but only for a couple of miles or a few minutes and then it's ready to romp. The jet kit improved the stock carb a lot but the S & S was even better than that. I run Samson performance staggered duals that keep my low end torque and give better performance and sound (but not as loud as straight pipes). You might just go with some slip-ons for more sound and better flow. They are a ton of them on the market, some with removable baffles for more sound when you really want to get loud! I read Hot Rod Bikes magazine and they have had some good articles (with dyno and decibel testing) on pipes and mufflers for sportys and big twins. Good Luck, Ken