Sorry, I didn't get back to you on this. I havn't had the time to play around with my bike this summer due to pruchasing a different home & working my tail off this summer. The head won't affect the exhaust to my understanding. but you may want to do some modifications so the exhaust flange will match the exhaust port & make a larger diameter pipe for it. I did both & don't know for sure which helped the most but it made a big difference combined. How's your bike running by now?? I ruined a main bearing & tore it apart & haven't put it back together yet. I think I'll do some other improvements while I have it torn down.