hi tz, somebody else said that, but in reality it's just the angle i took the photo at

i'll try and explain. the header pipe is 48mm o.d. the first baffle cone is 60mm o.d. to join them i've got a 60mm to 48mm reducer, very short, but it gently tapers about 10mm in length from one o.d. to the other, so i was hoping that would be enough? suppose only time will tell. until i get my milled out fork yokes back i can't put the front end together and try the engine - only then will i know if it's worked
hi jab, the centrestand is fitted already. if i had some help and someone to lift the back end for me, i could release the centrestand and see how it sits in its 'relaxed' state

unfortunately, i'm on my own, so until the front end is on i can't release it. bike is finely balanced at the minute. don't know whether you can see it in this photo? but there's a gt250 swingarm hanging on the front end to keep it down for now. oh, for an apprentice

keep the comments coming, i'll try and answer or argue against them asap
cheers, dd.
GTS250 road registered. TS250 engine, Ramair frame.
GT250 big bang road registered. Both pistons fire the same time. USD forks.
GT285 road registered. Overbored - 58mm and TS125 +2 pistons fitted.
GT10 road registered. '65 T10 engine, GT250 frame.