I'll probably get flamed for asking this here goes anyway. Has anyone considered running straight pipes with no cans? What if any benefit or potential damage could occur? The topic on KTM specials got me wondering.

zero back pressure, so you would lose a lot of low down torque... would only be good at open throttle....

Things to consider...

open pipes (no muffler) are called drag pipes

both pipes have to be the same tuned length... which involves working out the resonance of the pipe... there are formulars on the net for that which involve cylinder capacity / pulse wave / compression / fuel.

It definetly would invovle some R&D.... and yes "No ear drums"

depends how short the pipes are but no back pressure at all usually equals burnt valves.
i would guess you will lose power because there's no collector where the cylinders individual headers join, that's usually where the design encourages scavenging, especially down low which is where you will lose torque and therefore power as well.
at WOT who knows, you may end up with more peak HP but at the cost of ride ability everywhere else. for drag racing is it?

Maybe not straight pipes but 12 inch shorties with baffles. But then the head pipes still need to be made equal length and what the others have said.
You could basically have the two pipes and mufflers under the engine, one facing forward, one back. I was looking at this the other day. While trying to work out my 2 into 1.

You could also leave the stock 2 into 1 header, and just fabricate some "canless" tips to your liking. I think this bike would sound terrible with straight pipes, but that is why it is your bike, you can do what you want to it.