25 Years Ago July, 1973
25 YEARS AGO JULY, 1973
As the Swingin' Seventies' leading motorcycle enthusiast publication, CW was, and continues to be, the epitome of style. Dig this: This issue's inside cover depicted the latest Norton girl, naturally, and she was decked out in then-trendy red-satin halter top and bellbottoms. Eyeball current motocross videos, and you'll find females similarly clad. Then, there's today's crusty demons of dirt, who ride in what looks a lot like gear from this issue's Bates Leathers ad. Go figure.
• What about road tests, you ask? This issue was chock-full of road tests. Indeed, a close inspec tion of BMW's shaft-driven R75/5 revealed it to be a wanderer's de light, while two limited-production Kawasaki MXers left the editors wishing that production wasn't quite so limited. Suzuki's twostroke GT250 Twin was praised for its commuting-friendly nature, and Chaparral's ST8O and T100 touched our collective inner child-great dirt squirts, but watch the brakes! Last but not least, lit erally, editors tackled the Solex 3800. Sound impressive? Think again: 19 mph-or 23 mph if you pedaled, too-from this front wheel-drive motorized bicycle. Don't let big numbers fool you...
• Of course, no issue is complete without racing coverage, which came courtesy of staffer D. Randy Riggs. The stylin' editor got upclose and personal with former AMA Grand National Champion Cal Rayborn. Sadly, a short time later, Rayborn was killed in a racing acci dent at New Zealand's Pukekohe racetrack.
Jimmy Lewis
