Cleaning exhaust port

I just took my exhaust pipe off to check my powervalve, etc, and holy cow- the carbon build up was unbelievable! This is the first time I've bothered to check, as I've only had the bike since April.

I was able to get the big chunks off right at the edge of the port (some were at least 1/8th of an inch thick!!!), but was apprehensive about really digging in because I just didn't want to send any debris into the cylinder.

How do you get that stuff off safely? It must be hindering my performance. Also, the inside of my pipe looked the same, but I didn't bother to try and clean it out, other than right at the edge as well where the buildup was the thickest.

What's wierd is that there was virtually no buildup any deeper than 2 inches (area closest to the piston. And the piston looked brand new.

Nuts. I was hoping the answer would include something like "buy this spray on stuff, drink a beer, jump down, turn around, pick a bale of cotton, and Presto!"

I've been using Maxima Super M (I think that's what was used before I bought it, too), which is a blend, right?