SPECIAL EDITION:

HELMETS FOR EVERY OCCASION

99 GETTING INTO HEADGEAR why you should care, what to look for

101 MOTO-HABERDASHER’S CATALOG the complete list of lids

TESTS

55 HONDA GL1100A ASPENCADE irrefutable proof that you can take it

with you—by Larry Works

60 TUNED FOR COMFORT long-haul listening-by David Dewhurst

63 MINITEST: HONDA GL1100 GOLD WING the bungee-cord

alternative-by Don Fuller

64 MINITEST: HONDA GL1100 INTERSTATE still in the top two of

turn-key tourers-by Dain Gingerelli

66 BMW R65LS Bavarian window-dressing or the real stuff?

—by Steve Thompson

OPEN WARFARE

84 BIG-BORE MX SHOOTOUT: HONDA CR480R, SUZUKI RM465,

YAMAHA YZ490 comparocross, size Extra-Large-by Ron Lawson

86 TECH INSPECTION X-ray look at the combatants-by David Dewhurst

92 WHICH WILL WIN? any one will win; one will win more

—by Ron Lawson

PRODUCT EVALUATION

80 AXO BOOTS offspring of a mixed motomarriage-by Ron Lawson

GUIDELINES

25 COMING SOON Husqvarna three-wheeler, Moto Guzzi V65SP

49 RUMORS what do you mean, you’ve never heard of a Honda VT250?

SPORT LINES

117 BY GOSH, BY GOLLY AND BY HARLEY life and times of the XR750

124 HARLEY HORSEPOWER tuning tricks from the roundy-rounders

127 PIT BITS Pony Express endurance racing, pen-and-ink infighting

135 WINNERS & LOSERS Rocket Man

COLUMNS & DEPTS

4

12

14

22

21

CYCLE GUIDE’S Cycle Guide just the facts, ma’am

EDITORIAL return to the U-tune-it motorcycle

THOMPSON AT LARGE wet-weather wisdom

TECHSPEAK synthetic oils, genuine lubrication

SETTING IT RIGHT

revisionist truths of the Sunday morning ride

LETTERS refugees from the round file

140

ON THE COVER:

Honda’s GL1100A, not only wired

for sound but wired into the wish-

fulfillment brain centers of every

tourer in America. Also in

competition with Barca lounger for

the most comfortable seating.

Photo by Chris Eastman.