The engine displacement is relatively small on these 2 cylinder engines(30-40 cubic inches) and I do not think that it would be very easy to loose power from too much back pressure, The column of exhaust flow would have to be severely restricted for that to happen. Just look at the exhaust outlet size of many of the modern diesel trucks and then consider that these are mostly in the 500-600 cubic inch displacement size and compare those exhaust outlets to your little 35 cubic inch displacement engine and you will see what I mean, If anything the straight pipe I mentioned making may actually scavenge too much exhaust from the engine and require restriction for the proper development of torque , Sometimes backpressure is required to create a torque curve and keep it from going flat.