25 Years Ago June, 1983

25 YEARS AGO JUNE, 1983

ROUNDUP

Kawasaki’s GPz1100 raced across the cover ot this month’s issue, Executive Editor John Ulrich, his left knee hovering just above the deck, at the controls. The big-bore inline-Four was subjected to a full road-test, as was another Kawasaki, the KX500, and Yamaha’s IT490K and XV500 Virago. Conclusion? “The GPz1100 is the direct descendent of the machine that started the superbike trend, yet it finds itself outplayed at its own game.”

“Although the actual effect of the Harley vs. Japanese tariff action won’t become clear until the 1984 model year, we now have enough of an outline to report the basic facts, the sides of the question and even a few vague predictions.” So began the lead story to Roundup. The Motor Company’s boom years were still ahead, but the seeds were sown. • When I was an intern at CWs long-gone sister publication, Cycle, I rode everywhere by motorcycle. For my weekly stops at the market, I could have used the saddlebag-style Compac Pocket Shoppers reviewed (“very useful”) in this issue. Trust me: A sack of groceries has no place on the gas tank of a Honda Hurricane.

• At Daytona, Kenny Roberts proved once again he could win the 200-miler. The King’s second victory on the High Banks was helped by his “tractor motor,” a big-bore (695cc) version of the two-stroke square-Four Yamaha 0W60.

Matthew Miles