I did the mod. for the fun of it I haven't seen one yet so I decided I'd try it.
The exhaust pipe is tucked in very close to the center of the bike where you would contact it with a leg so I see no need for a heat shield. I'm now going back and will work on the ports to match them up. This bike was very fast before I did the changes, with the changes part of the transfer ports to the cylinder are covered so it isn't as fast but that will change I think
Yes it is sort of a lot of work and not for everyone. I'm even thinking of shorting the straight section of the exhaust. when I got the pipe it was 13" from the exhaust flange to the start of the chamber I'm maybe going to shorten it an inch at a time to see what that will do then I will have to make a new chamber mount as I've welded the mount on to the frame darn it I'll have to cut it off and re weld a new mount.
But first I'll do the ports and see what that does I still need to do some smoothing of the intake too all for fun.
If I can find some tubing that's not stainless I'll make a better intake I might try to make it match the ports on the cylinder and that will involve making the mounting holes inside the intake so I've got all kinds of things to make that will keep me off the streets.
I need to change oil in the Harley so I might hold off for a while as I ain't in a hurry now that I know the backwards thing will work. I'm even thinking of buying a new engine just so I can use it backwards from the get go.
Norman