If anything I have learned with Japanese 4s (disclaimer:well, my other was a SOHC CB750) was they run better with an airbox. I yanked the box of my cb750 to put pods on it.... Jetted it appropriately.... And it ran worse than with the airbox. The Japanese companies knew what they were doing with that airbox tech. Venturi stuff.... Lost low end. Mid was ok.. Top grew but fell flat when the turbulence hit. Especially noticed on open highway( backroads it was great though).
On this bike I am going to try to do it right. I extracted the snorkel and bought a bellmouth and then bought a fuel mod ( I went Bazzaz. No jets obviously). Paired with the Yoshi slipon it's like a different bike. Lost no performance. Only gained. No dyno tect but by the butt dyno at least 8-10hp and cectainly more torque. I can now start in 3rd and sometimes 4th from a dead stop.
I think ripping off the airbox might look cool but I don't think it would give the performance you're thinking it might bring. Especially the time involved ripping that box out. Even Honda mechanics at the shop said it would be a no no. I dunno.. I'd trust those guys...
Doing a bellmouth, fuel mod and exhaust should be proper for good reliable performance. But that is merely opinion...
