i recently brought a ktm 520, trading my yzf426 for a bike with a e button and number plate, previous to that i had cr500,s. i was always a little shy to ktm, liked to stick with the jap bikes instead. but after owning a 520 for one week i wont be going back, the yzf was a huge improvement from the cr and some of my mates have the 08 crf450x and all of them rated the yzf 02 model better in performance and handling then the 08 crf. only now i have the ktm 2000 model it blows the handling and of course performance of all the other bikes i have ridden. being a 520 its a big bike and i actually wondered if it would be to big for me but, it has a very low centre of gravity easy in the steering and a great riding position with great brakes with out the flapping in the wind of the handle bars like the cr500. sorry japan but im not coming back