exhaust popping while down shifting..

WABBMW wrote:

Apparently the carbs need the slight restriction to run well. I replaced the cover / snorkel piece, and the bike runs great. I recommend getting one.

Exactly. The carbs require a tuned amount of restriction that rises on a graph as a nice smooth curve to WOT for best throttle response and the prevention of flat spots in the accelleration.
The snorkel is not just a piece of useless rubber! It is a "tuned port" for the air, that like a speaker, provides the extra tuned velocity at the weakest point in the low/mid range of the powerband, again preventing flatness in the power curve.

PODS look cool, but they are really ok only on a tight twisty track. Fairly useless on the street for powerful operation - but ok.
The stock airbox/filter combo provides the best/smoothest powerband across the entire rpm range. It wont have as much hp at the very top of the rpm range, but out performs pods on the street any day.

There are modifications that can be made to the airbox that provide just as much flow as pods, but without the problems.

GL.

I don't want to hijack this thread but can you elaborate on the air box mods TeK9iNe?