25 Years Ago September, 1978

25 YEARS AGO SEPTEMBER, 1978

ROUNDUP

It was "Happy Trails and Carefree Camping" with four dual-purpose machines used for "Bikepacking." A Honda XL250, Kawasaki KL250, Suzuki SP370 and Yamaha XT500 were loaded like mules with tents, stoves, sleeping bags and willing riders to take on terrain from freeways to mountain trails. Best of the lot was the XL250. Why? For its unmatched prowess on the road and off, naturally.

• Dirt Singles may have led the way in this month’s issue, but Twins made the pages even more interesting for street fans. Kawasaki’s KZ750 vertical-Twin was praised for being a good buy, but “It isn’t fast, it isn’t quick, only smooth.” BMW’s R65 had yet to be released stateside, but in a preview ride the air-cooled 650cc Twin was heralded as “a Sporting New Middleweight in the Old World manner.”

• It was a sporting old heavyweight in the Old World manner with the full road test of Laverda’s Jota 1200 America. Despite the three-cylinder engine’s lower compression and bigger bore meant to bump torque and soften power delivery for the U.S. market, the Jota was still a beast, and faster than its 10OOcc forebear. About the clutch and its notoriously heavy pull, staffers commented that the cable felt like it was “anchored to the frame.” Regarding the Triple’s wonderful off-beat song, however, comments were positive: “Bravo for the Italian Grand Opera!” Mark Hoyer