Well, I spent a good part of the day replacing both the carb to manifold rubbers and the airbox to carb rubbers on my 550. Replacing them wasn't that bad but going from pods to an airboxish setup was a PITA. It took me probably 2+ hours to finally get the airbox plenum on the carbs. Finally got them on by first mounting the carbs and then putting the 2 and 3 airbox rubbers in from the inside. Being that they were new they are really pliable and I was able to get both center rubbers on by inserting them through the plenum and then mounting the 1 and 4 outside rubbers from the carb side.
What a pain, but well worth it in the end. The bike starts much better and at speed its running awsome. The pods always were sucking in way too much air and is now very noticable compared to using the stock intake airbox plenum. I'm not using the airbox portion just an aluminum plate and a K&N cone filter mounted to it. Of course it makes taking the carbs on and off alittle more frustrating but now I know the ancient secret
. I don't think my bike as run this good ever. It came with pods when I bought it and never thought about taking them off because the looked cool. With the airbox plenum on the bike it looks alot cleaner and runs so much better as the air I think is alot more calm and evenly brought into the engine and not just A TON of air from every direction being sucked in.
So anyone thinking of going back to the airbox from pods I'd recommend it. I know it made my bike run alot better. 5th is more steady excelleration when going wide open throttle. Before it was REALLY flat and now it pulls much better. Not super fast but not flat either.