Pre-shipping mishap = new winter project

[RyanClarke]

I posted a few months ago about fabbing up an R1 tail on my 96 GS.  Well it all got done and I rode it for about a week before I decided to move from Colorado back to Long Island.  So I left my bike at a buddies house to have it shipped out here once I got settled.  He just got his motorcycle license and had yet to buy a bike so I told him the bike was his until I could get it shipped, which may be up to a month or two.  I think you all see where this story is going...

Yep, he crashed it...got caught in one of those "come from nowhere" storms coming home and slid out at about 30.  Handlebars saved the frame/tank but the new tail is toast.  Gave him access to my storage unit and my old crappy GS tail/seat are back on.  So now for a new project and need some advice.  Thinking of building a cafe racer/streetfighter hybrid type thing.  I know that sounds a bit weird but my thinking is that the streetfighter is sort of the modern cafe racer right?  So why not combine the genres?  Retain a lot of the old school cafe look with some modern updates (160 series tire on Kat wheel, LED blinkers, bright ass headlight)  Haven't figured out what I'm going to do with the tail yet, but I do know I want to do:

- Clipons
- Fork Boots
- Paint frame/wheels/plastics/forks
- Progressive springs
- deeper exhaust
- New Pilot Powers
- tail? (still want to be able to ride 2 up)

Now the questions, some of them may seem idiotic but better me ask a stupid question then do a stupid thing with my wrenches and end up f*cked:

Clipons - best mounting position?  I was thinking below the top triple to gain that low cafe look and feel.
Fork Boots - I assume these don't wrap around the fork rather the fork has to be removed to be installed?
Progressive Springs - Fairly idiot proof?
Deeper exhaust - I want a deeper tone without being TOO obnoxious sounding or sounding like my lawnmower.  Looking for smooth, clean lines.  Suggestions?
New Pilot Powers - Love the look and I hear nothing but good things, but am told 120 Front and 160 Rear will not fit (stock front, 98 Kat rear).  Thoughts?
Tail - Don't want to just remove the plastics and remount the electronics, but I also don't want like a CB750 kit.  Again clean lines. Buell?

Any and all suggestions/comments/insults are MORE than welcome

Thanks guys
Ryan

[Mdow]

i run pilot powers and like them alot. granted i don't ride them as hard as they are designed to. i have about 1k miles on then and they still look new

[The Buddha]

Progressives+clip on's+maybe fork seals or brakes = cheaper to do kat 600 FE.
And yea R1 tail ... too fat ... you have queen latifah ass ... well that tail needs one.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Danny500]

Just grab some sonic springs and do a super-bike handlebar setup. Less than 100 bucks.

As for the tail, GSXR, MV Agusta, or maybe a 08 R1 tail.

Dan

[RyanClarke]

Definitely want to do the clipons, basically want to mimic Triumph's Thruxton.  Hopefully going to a Triumph dealership this weekend to get some measurements, might even throw the tail from that on there.  Want to go ahead and order the clipons, and get those on once she's delivered since the bars are bent, but I've heard some have issues with the headlight when mounting below the top tree, any suggestions?