You're bang on Alfie. I rode Hizzy's RVF. Unforgettable experience. What a bike!
Yes, today's 1000cc bikes, handle, and stop, and have unbelievable acceleration.
I don't see many "tank slappers" like we used to. Adjustable offset forks have cured all that.
In the 30s even though they only had 40 BHP the riders still needed lifting off the bikes after a race, such was the effort to hold them onto the track, and withstand the bumps. Plus, don't forget they were doing SEVEN laps, which took nearly 3 hours.