25 Years Ago July, 1974

25 YEARS AGO JULY, 1974

ROUNDUP

"Trippy” is the word that best describes this issue’s cover. To illustrate CW’s 125cc motocross comparison, the four Japanese bikes in question were depicted through a fisheye lens shot from-really-a hole in the ground. Oohh, the Seventies! The comparison itself was extensive, and took up 20 information-packed pages. With charts, graphs and specs galore, it crowned Kawasaki’s new KX as King of the 125s.

• The road test this month was of a Honda 750 Four outfitted with a Rickman Cafe Racer Kit. Swoopy fairing and trick parts in place, the erstwhile commuter dropped 47 pounds. Editors called it “one of the most attractive and incredibly functional pieces of two-wheeled engineering on the street surfaces of the world.”

• Dirtwise, we rode Pierre Karsmakers’ works Yamaha 250 Monoshocker. With 6 inches of travel out back, it soaked up bumps and rocks that would ordinarily have put a rider on his head, said Editor Atkinson. Looking back, it seems crazy that they rode anything with less than 12 inches of travel!

• On a more humorous note, we published “What Motorcycle Testers Mean.” A "sardonic glossary of road test terms,” it explained that phrases aren’t always what they seem. For example, “For experts only” really means “I couldn’t ride it.” And “Aimed at the more skilled rider” is actually “I still couldn’t ride it.” Of course, such terms don’t apply today...

Jimmy Lewis