one other thing... what about the welded valve covers? do they make a difference with a build like this??
I think they look trick as heck. THe original CRs had them. I've had personal experience where I would have benefited from having one. High RPMs with heavy duty springs and big bump cams make the cam holders flex all over the place. this affects valve timing and high performance running, and accelerates valve gear wear. The bolts in the reinforced covers are screwed down to touch the cam holders and force them down against the head, precluding any flex.
In the worse situation, they can flex to where they spit out the little Orings that hold the oil pressure to the cam, the cam seizes in one of the cam holders and twists in half. Now you have a perfectly fine 325cc twin, except it weighs a ton.
Now I've heard MRieck and others say that cam profiles and spring technology have improved to where these reinforced covers are no longer needed. I am not smart enough to say yay or nay and their rep is on the line. (Apologies if MRieck did not say this. I heard it somewhere.)
So that brings us back to looks. THey just look mean IMO.