Dyno charts can be difficult to interpret for the average person who just wants to ride. In general, the loop has a really great initial bark that carries into the upper-mid range. I would recommend it for riders that do more technical terrain and need instant response at their fingertips. The shorty is a great all-around header, but really shines as you go through the revs. At the end of the day, both versions are superior to the factory unit!
This is a somewhat loaded question. No other modifications are 100% necessary. A quality muffler section is highly recommended with a factory beta ecu flash in order to take full advantage of the higher flowing header design. A quality, clean air filter is always recommended. This can be combined with a screenless air filter cage (at the operator’s risk), which has shown power gains on the dyno. An upgraded fuel pressure regulator has been tested. It is not necessary, but if you believe your bike is running lean, it’s an easy way to richen things up.
This has been a very difficult question to answer for a few reasons. Some dealers may refuse to flash your ecu, and others may not have access to all available maps. What we have found on our personal bikes is that the current “race edition” maps have sufficient fueling at sea level. If your dealership has access to the “open map”, it will be slightly richer than the race map. The map that comes in the “street legal” bikes is the only one I can’t recommend. However, the bikes don’t run well with that regardless!