Akrapovic Racing Exhaust System

Akrapovic is a high-performance exhaust manufacturer from Slovenia. Best known in the United States for outfitting the San Manuel Yamahas of James Stewart and Josh Hill, the company is highly regarded as one of the premier systems in Europe. The high-end Evolution line of exhaust is made of titanium tubing and features a carbon fiber end cap, while the more affordable Racing line features stainless steel tubing and a composite muffler end cap.

Hits: The overall fit and finish of the Akrapovic system is second-to-none; everything from the beautiful welds to the perfect slip fit connections are flawless. The system bolted on to our test bike perfectly, requiring no jiggling or coaxing of any sort. On the track, the system yielded performance changes that were mostly noticeable down low and up top. In the KX450F's case, the Akrapovic system smoothed out the massive mid-range hit, making the bike both further at the high-end of the rpm range, allowing it to pull further in each gear. One of the best-liked characteristics of the system, however, was the fact that it provided performance gains while at the same time reducing the exhaust noise levels.

Misses: The Akrapovic system is not cheap, nor is it short and compact. There are other aftermarket mufflers that are better tucked in, but none of them offer the noise dampening performance of the Akrapovic.
akrapovic.com

Read More

EBC 180MM Oversized Front Rotor

The EBC 180mm front brake rotor is an oversized rotor designed to increase stopping power on any bike it's installed on. Made from stainless steel and designed to be floating, the rotor is strong, durable, and constructed to withstand hard hits that normally would bend a stock rotor.



Hits: The huge size of the rotor does an excellent job at increasing stopping power, while the durable steel that it is constructed of protects against hard, unexpected hits from flying rocks or roost. When applying the front brake with this rotor installed, the power is increased, the front brake isn't too touchy - it produces a nice consistent feel. When going fast, great stopping power is a must, and the EBC rotor provides just that.

Misses: While the oversized rotor did increase the stopping power, it did take me a while to get used to, as it was far more powerful than stock. I with the stock rotor installed wasn't necessary with the EBC setup. I had to consistently tell myself that in the case of the EBC front brake, less pull on the lever was actually more. Lastly, the stock front disc guard on most bikes must be removed in order to install the EBC rotor kit.

Read More