Jason, many years ago I ported my H2 according to a Denco "95 HP" spec sheet, cutting the intake side piston skirts, raising the exhaust ports, and going to 34mm carbs. I loved the stronger "hit", but didn't like the noticeably weaker bottom end. I put tens of thousands of miles on it that way, never thinking much about it. In 2012 I wanted to redo the top end again, and decided to increase the port timing to the H2R specs on the resource site, and try John's reeds. My hope was to regain the bottom end I lost years before, and at least keep the peak HP I had without the reeds.
The results were amazing. The low end was way stronger than stock, and I had to deal with a slipping clutch when I hit the powerband. That was proof to me that the reeds being in there didn't hurt the top end in any amount I could notice. After riding it with the reeds at the next Deals Gap meet, I decided that first gear was unnecessarily low, and went from the stock 15/47 sprockets to 16/44. That put 4th gear almost exactly where stock 5th gear was. Now everything about the bike is more fun and more rideable. I downshift a lot less than I used to because of the 4-stroke like torque, and I don't keep trying to find another gear when I shift up to 5th. Vibration at cruising speed is way down too, but the H2 "hit" is stronger than ever. After my first test ride with the reeds, I told John that I don't plan to ever own a non-reeded H2 again.
Installing the reeds is not trivial, and you can mess up your cylinders pretty easily if you're not good with a Dremel tool, air mini die grinder, etc.. I went very slowly and succeeded, but it's pretty tricky to do a nice job if you haven't done it before. If you have doubts about that part, I'd recommend having John do the cylinder modifications, if you do decide to go the reed route.
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