Akrapovic Racing Line Open Exhaust - KTM EXC 250

Advantages: Good looks, 2 stroke smells
Disadvantages: unreliable, expensive parts - Italian

...of power (it is only 250cc after all) means that if you go in to a corner in the wrong gear, or go in too hot and lose the speed (and the revs) then you'll have to cog it down to second and wring it's neck through the gearbox once more. This is part of the RS's charm. The RS is a total wheely machine - even if you don't want to. Red lining it in first and second wii get the front wheel in the air, especially if you lean back - even a little. In fact, to keep it down you have to ensure that you keep your weight over the front in the first two gears. Although wheelies are cool and a crowd pleaser the coppers don't like them (as I found out!) Ever since my days on an AR50 I have loved the smell of two stroke oil, especially with a little Castrol R put in for good measure. Riding an RS you will smell 2 stroke ALL the time, believe me. Nice... Read review

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Advantages: Reliable, Fast, Easy to work on
Disadvantages: Price, Common

...from a race tuned rm85 which I thought was fast, my friend asked if I would like a go on his CRF250 and I had never been so scared in my life (in a good way)! I pottered down the road and thought it was nothing special until I opened her up; I almost fell off the back! I had never had so much power just at the flick of a wrist and soon learned although the power was crazy it was controllable and you could pop wheelies in every gear and have a laugh on it without going mental, so I had to get one. I can still remember riding my rm85 and how hard it was to get up the steep hills and even hold a constant speed going up jumps, but now with my CRF I feel I can go up anything with minimal effort, the torque on it is unbelievable, you can go from a standing start pop her up into second rev, drop the clutch and hold on and you will somehow make... Read review

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Advantages: all the fun of a 600, WITH MUCH MORE POWER!!!!!!
Disadvantages: Not quite as good finish as Honda's

...and ultra sexy but the beauty of motor-biking is the levels of personalising. I wanted a bike that looked sweet on both the track and on the road so I made a fair few modifications. I added a carbon fibre rear hugger, I realised that a hugger adds weight but it's a compromise. Carbon fibre is very light and in winter riding you will be grateful for this accessory as well as some carbon fibre around the tank and fairing. I changed my indicators for micro to add to the beautiful lines of the bike. I changed the screen to a blue one making sure that it is double bubble to increase air flow over my skid lid, as well as an Akropivic exhaust race system boosting performance and BHP. This exhaust system will set you back around £800.00 but think of the performance and the loud growl is music to the ears. I also had fitted HEL braided steel brake lines... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful