SPECIAL BUYING SECTION

45 BEST USED BIKE BUYS

Here's a good idea of what you ought to pay.

46 IN PRAISE OF OLDER BIKES

Your old machine has certain major advantages.

47 UNLOADING OL’ PAINT

How to get top dollar for your used bike.

64 1980 NEW MODEL PRICE GUIDE

There's nothing a few ounces of gold won’t buy.

66 THE 10 BEST BUYS

Where to find good bikes with affordable prices.

TESTS

14 SUZUKI GS750E

Does exotic new technology make a better bike?

19 IMPRESSION: SUZUKI GS750L

This is the chopper version with the macho look.

32 YAMAHA IT425G

Watch out Husky, Yamaha is getting serious.

36 IMPRESSION: YAMAHA IT125G

An ideal trail bike for mothers and youngsters.

58 BIMOTA/SUZUKI SB3 1000

Perhaps the raciest street bike in history.

74 IMPRESSION: SUZUKI TS250

Here's a real sleeper on a mountain road

FEATURES

20 PRODUCT CLOSEUP: H-D STURGIS

After 60 years, belt-drive is back on bikes.

30 HOW TO: WHEEL BEARINGS

A guide to checking, maintaining and replacing.

54 1980 COMPETITION CALENDAR

The where and when of racing all over the world.

70 THE WAR BIKES

Ever try firing a machine gun from an XL250?

76 BIKING’S FUTURE IN THE ’80S.

Plastic wheels, on-board computers, carbon fiber. . .

88 RADIO RACER

A bike you can crash without getting hurt.

SPORT

91 SUPERCROSS PREVIEW

With Bob Hannah out, it’s anybody’s championship.

92 WINSTON PRO PREVIEW

The title will depend on Springsteen's health.

DEPARTMENTS

4 EDITORIAL

What it means to sell 1.1 million new bikes.

6 HOTLINE

Three new motorcycle movies will be out soon.

9 LETTERS

Ten weeks later more on Ten Years After.

12 ACCESSORY SHOP

Time to start equipping for your summer tour.

106 ROAD TEST INDEX

A list of back issues for your buying research.

108 HOTLAP

Kenny Robert’s World Series has been crushed.

COVER

Which one of these new

Suzuki 750s will sell

the most—the standard

model in blue or the

chopped version in red?

Which one do you like?

We'll tell you which

one we like on page 14.

Photo by Pat Brollier.