25 Years Ago February, 1979

25 YEARS AGO FEBRUARY, 1979

ROUNDUP

Long-travel suspension had clearly come of age in motocross, as this issue’s cover depicted Test Editor Ron Griewe’s son Donnie airing out a Suzuki RM400N over a snow-covered mountain peak. “New frame, new forks, new shocks, new motor, new, new, new,” read the subtitle, and Griewe approved, calling the yellow-and-blue MXer “an all-out racing machine, capable of competing with factory works bikes.”

• Speaking of dirtbike racing, a feature story asked the question, “Would Bob Hannah dominate motocross as he does were Keith McCarty not his mechanic?” That question was never really answered, but reading the story, it’s apparent that McCarty-a quarter-century later Yamaha’s U.S. racing manager-earned author Joe Scalzo’s respect as a meticulous tuner with an encyclopedic knowledge of racing and fast-food emporiums.

• On the street front, Honda’s new CB650 Four and Yamaha’s restyled XS1100 Special were given the full road test treatment. Both were damned with faint praise, as the editors raved about the former’s low cost, light weight and ease of maintenance, and wondered whether the latter’s Harley-inspired styling was an improvement over the unencumbered original.

• Lastly, Executive Editor John Ulrich offered a solution for all those street squids who claimed roadracing was too expensive. A humble Suzuki GS400 was prepped for the Box Stock class and trophied three times for a total cost of $208. Ah, the good old days...

-Brian Catterson