25 Years Ago June, 1979

25 YEARS AGO JUNE, 1979

ROUNDUP

And the winner is...? In the always hotly contested 125cc motocross class, the much-anticipated answer was-drum roll, please-Kawasaki’s KX125. To reach that conclusion, riders of varying skill levels rode the bikes on all types of tracks, with the finishing touch being tester Steve Bauer’s Pro-class victory at his home track. These highstrung two-strokes aren’t trailbikes, noted the editors. For that, there was the monoshock Yamaha IT175F.

• On the street side, the Honda CB750F had the goods, was comfortable on the road and served as the foundation for a strong racebike. A claimed 75 ponies pushed the 530-pound machine through the traps at the end of the quarter-mile in 12.52 seconds at 107 mph. Another testbike, the BMW R100RT, was praised for its ability to roll up miles without a hitch, the ample fairing providing great wind protection.

• “Can a Honda Hawk challenge the Yamaha RD400s in 410 Production racing?” That was the question raised by CW contributor and reigning AFM Box Stock champ Pat Eagan. At the seasonopener at now-defunct Ontario Motor Speedway, the muchmodified Hawk flew, but failed to come away with the win.

• Capping off the issue was Henry Manney’s look back at the Scott Flying Squirrel. Introduced in 1925, the liquid-cooled parallel-Twin “made two-strokes respectable.” Even today, it’s among my personal favorites. -Mark Cernicky