SONZ
Just got it firing!
My 2015 California broke the balance pipe at about 30,000 miles while on a weekend ride with mates. In New Zealand I didn't have the option of the H pipe replacement as the exchange rate, postage and taxes put it financially out of the question. After doing some googling on the effect of removing balance pipes I decided to give it a crack. So I cut off the balance pipe, tidied up the holes, made up covers using stainless steel tubing and sealed the covers with exhaust cement. All reversible if the result wasn't any good. The common view seems to be that removing the balance pipe improves bottom end and reduces top end because it is a bit more restrictive. Seat of the pants the bike seems to go just like it did before, although the exhaust sound has changed a bit. A NZD20 fix. If anyone has real data on performance balance pipe vs no balance pipe it would be great to see it.