25 Years Ago July, 1975

25 YEARS AGO JULY, 1975

ROUNDUP

Greasing the cover with a stylin', Seventies-era berm shot was Kawasa ki’s new KX250, sporting the latest off-road innovation: gas/oil shocks. Because 8 inches of “long-travel” suspension had become commonplace, Kawasaki needed something to up the offroad ante. Who would have thought that within just a few years, dual shocks, low pipes, piston ports and drum brakes would be history?

• Speaking of brakes, the Rokon 340 that CW tested sported discs front and rear. The “unique and unusual” machine also had an automatic transmission that editors claimed was “the thing of the future.” Rokon eventually dropped the project in favor of its twowheel-drive adventure bikes.

• Meanwhile, Ducati slipped an 860 GT into the CW test mix.

While editors decried its vanilla packaging, they were impressed with the V-Twin’s performance and throaty exhaust note, even at idle.

• For me, the most interesting feature was the interview with Pierre Karsmakers. The Dutchman invaded America and became the first professional motocrosser to command a large salary, making him very controversial. What’s more, the free-speaking Karsmakers always told it like it was. He still does, as I found out during this year’s Dakar Rally. Karsmakers and his son competed and finished as privateers-just for funand enjoyed every minute. A big change for a guy who was all business back in the day.

Jimmy Lewis