my buddies Ktm 250 seems to have just as much jam as my 500 but when the ole 500 hooks up she will put you on your behind,a lot of times you don't know you are hauling ass on the 500 because your not wringing the crap out of it like a 250,believe me sooner or later you will get that scared feeling your looking for,it's the unexpected wheelies that happen outta nowhere that always get me,having a nice knobbie really helps on the 500 otherwise you lose a lot of the pull cause you have constant wheelspin,you also have to remember these bikes are old technology,modern 250 2t's are almost pushing near what these put out for hp,just imagine if they kept developing the 500