If you're old enough to have sat your bike test in two parts, with no CBT, then you'll probably remember Vance and Hines. The US firm made aftermarket race pipes for the heavyweight dinosaurs that ruled the superbike roost back in the early 1980s, with great results. Large-capacity air-cooled inline-fours from the Japanese gained 15, 20, even 30bhp when their stock pipes were dumped in favour of something a bit more muscular - and a V&H system became the pipe of choice for drag racers, hardcore road riders and general fans of grunt.

Times have changed, and the Japanese are a bit better at making stock exhausts. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be looking to swap them out for something a bit lighter, louder and more special. So Vance and Hines has been working on a new range of 'Tetragonal' end cans. The CS One slip-ons are available for most current popular Japanese sportsbikes, come in polished stainless or black finish, and can be fitted with removable sound-deadening baffles for road use.

Vance and Hines also has a new UK importer - MAG Europe. Give them a shout on 0161 335 9955 or go to www.mageurope.net for more info.