[greglepore]

I can almost guarantee that the popping is jetting-my bike came with D&D exhaust and a K&N, so I don't know if the jetting was changed, but the bikes are very sensitive to airflow-I removed the horns on the airbox just to get a little increased flow and the bike was almost unrideable at part throttle in mid revs, so... lean normally gives you spitting out the carbs, but it can cause popping as well.

I've not really studied the bars, but that's an interesting point-I too have an agressive position, and the thing that hurts is my wrists-like hell if I'm on the bike for more than 40 minutes or so doing anything but carving. It might well be the cocked back angle, and that something more straight would help-the angle is there, I suspect, to keep arms tucked tight.

One other thought-the bike could use a steering damper. Its not a wheelie machine, but the torque coupled with the geometry can cause a wobble on corner exit-I don't have one yet b/c I balk at the price, been looking for a deal on ebay.

The 888 in the pic is sweet-my local dealer has one on his floor and I'm tempted, but too much coin. I "think" the tail section would be a bolt on. There are a number of aftermarket pieces that crop up on ebay from time to time.

Where you could make some coin is in creating a DIY dzus fastner kit for the fairings-taking the fairings off for routine service sucks, and the wellnuts are Stupid and not durable. I've wanted to do this for a while, but haven't had the time.