Just to resurrect this thread, my bike is having similar in issues in terms of smoothness on and off throttle so I have ordered a Quantum fuel pump kit and mahle fuel filter, I hope to do the mod to the fuel housing to remove the stupid "for life" fuel filter this weekend and see if I can get my bike to run smoothly like it did when new.
I have sent the OP a private message hoping for advice on how best to drill out that housing.