25 Years Ago June, 1977

25 YEARS AGO JUNE, 1977

ROUNDUP

Mark Cernicky

Roadracer Steve Baker made the “front page” this month, his reward for winning the rain-shortened “Daytona 100” on a factory-backed Yamaha TZ750D. In their extensive coverage of the event, editors called Daytona '77 the Speedweek that almost wasn’t, thanks to rain, more rain and a batch of bad Goodyears. Between downpours, Cycle magazine editor Cook Neilson topped the Superbike Production race on his “California Hot Rod” Ducati, and future four-time 500cc World Champion Eddie Lawson won the Novice final in leathers rolled up to his elbows!

• If you missed Daytona, all wasn’t lost, as a feature titled “Insider’s Guide” was there to help you spectate at Carlsbad for motocross,

Sears Point and Loudon for roadracing or San Jose for dirt-track. It was all enhanced with groovy illustrations and maps, tips on accommodations and where to deal a meal. Even local bike shops were listed in case you needed parts or service.

• On the testing front, a pair of Honda CB750s made the pages, one a Super Sport, the other an Amodel-as in Automatic. The latter was billed as a good touring bike, but staffers thought a GL1000 would have been a better candidate for the slushbox.

• Oddly, a pair of entry-level 400s, Suzuki’s GS and Yamaha’s XS, weren’t paired together in a shootout. Seems a shame, as both stickered for around $1250 and offered similar performance. After reading the respective reports, however, it was obvious the Yamaha had the edge. -Mark Cernicky