25 Years Ago October, 1970

25 YEARS AGO OCTOBER, 1970

Six speeds and shades of Buck Rogers,” was our depiction of Bridgestone’s twin-cylinder 350 GTO street-scrambler. In creating the GTO, which was based on the 1967-issue GTR, the company did little more than swap the original exhaust system for huge, high-mounted silencers in gun-metal black, tipped with chrome stingers, and add a cross-brace to the handlebar. "It’s a simple change,” we said of the styling exercise, “but the result is wild."

• Another street-going two-stroke, Suzuki’s bargain-priced T500-III, was tested in this issue. “Bending corners on the T500 is a thrill to be experienced,” relayed the staff.

“The steering geometry lends confidence to the rider, and a set of low handlebars could make him feel like Giacomo Agostini. Dollar for horsepower, money for performance, Suzuki’s 500 is formidable."

• Six pages were devoted to Jody Nicholas' tech interview with longtime cylinder-head specialist Jerry Branch, who was coaxed into installing a set of modified heads-ported, polished and fitted with oversized valves and heavyduty valve springs-on an otherwise-stock 1965 Sportster. The result? A quarter-mile run of 13.48 seconds at 100.44 mph. This, compared to the Stocker’s 14.25second/95.74-mph pass. With different cams, revised gearing and open pipes, the bike eclipsed the same distance in 12.79 seconds at 106.63 mph. Twenty-five years later, Branch is still helping Harleys run faster. Matthew Miles