Difference in early & late VFR800 Headers

Hello,
I need some help to figure thid out. I am new to the site having just purchased a brand new 2007 25th Anniversary Edition VFR800 w/ ABS, I have done some mods already, lowering kit, Zero Gravity wind screen, Heli Bars, fender eliminator, TPO kit, and put in the resistors for the O2 sensors. I would like to replace the cat exhaust with an earlier version. I have read that the headers are interchangeable, but the down pipes are routed differently in the header. I have searched the site and found no reference to the differences between the 1998 to 2001 and the 2002 to 2009 down pipes.
Is there a performance difference?
I know I would have to add a holder for the center stand bumper or remove the center stand. Would do the later, and find a rear stand for chain maintenance and such.
Attached drawing, hope it helps.......

 

Hello and welcome to the site. I will try to answer your question the best I can. I have a 2004 and I have replaced the header part with the Motad stainless header no cat. 2002 to 2009 have stainless headers with cat,as you already know. The fifth generation VFR had Catless headers in 1998 and 1999 and went to a cat header in 2000 and 2001,if I'm right. These headers were not stainless,but mild steel and also of a slightly larger diameter. The routing is the same but on the sixth generation if you follow the tubes the front and rear cross over each other on the sixth generation bikes but not the fifth generation bikes. As far as performance gain it was slight with mine but the biggest difference was the weight I saved going with the Motad it was an easy 6 to eight pounds. If you look under DGW in members photos there are a few Pictures of the Motad exhaust. I hope this helps.

 

Thank you, it does help, I Found some more info. on another post.

http://vfrworld.com/forums/modifications/22270-delkevic-headers-vs-6th-gen-vfr.html

Will try the Delkevic headers $ 275 is a good price for Satinless, was concerned about the config. cross over and non cross over.