I'm with you, Matt90GT. But that's what confused me - my stock reed cage had a gasket on the cylinder side, but not on the intake boot side (unless I missed something). The intake boot ('01) has a rubber "ridge" on its face that appears to have been the sealing mechanism between it and the original reed cage.
...and when I say that my stock reed cage had a gasket, I mean had - because it was stuck to the cylinder mating surface and shredded when I removed it...so I can see what you mean, Jim, about "sticking and tearing".
I do need to get a service manual!