hilltop, that bike will never be easy to ride or cannot tame much the hit despite what you will do.
boyesen reeds seem to help to tame the hit, the same as a rev pipe but the pipe will kill bottom end.
for the pipe, if you have the possibility to try both, back to back, go for it and check for yourself. (i like the stock over any pipe but the price...)
eric-gorr can port it like you want. or\and make it big bore, 85 or 100.
that bike might not be competitive with the crf150r, but will be a greater learning tool. for learn racing i would choose the 80 any day.
good luck for the both of you :cool:
i forgot, jet the bike correctly and will not only make more power as you can tame the hit also...