Life In America
1970 – The median family income is $9,870. The first Earth Day attracts 20-million participants world-wide. Four are killed at Kent State, Ohio when the National Guard opens fire on students protesting the war. Cigarette advertising is banned from TV. Two new comedies hit the airwaves; The Mary Tyler Moore Show and the Odd Couple. Both Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix die of drug related causes. Patton wins the Academy Award for best picture. The average new car is $3,900 and a gallon of gas $.36. Kawasaki’s 250 Samurai will hit your wallet for $715.
| Number One Motorcycle Trend For 1970: |
| Off-road and dual-purpose bikes dominate imports, most of the offerings are European but the Japanese are responding quickly with MX’rs and DP’s of their own. The market in general is still surging ahead. |
European Brands
BSA 650 Lighting. Puch 125 MX, Dalesman 125MX and 125E. Sachs 125 MX. Triumph Trophy 250 & 500. Montesa 250 King Scorpion. BMW R75/5. Ossa 250 Stiletto. Bultaco Lobito MkII 100, 125 & 200 Sherpas. AJS Y4 Motocross. Cotton Trials.
Asian Brands
Yamaha RS 350, XS650. Honda CB450, CL100 and SL100, CB175 & CL175, SL350, CT70. Kawasaki Samurai A1SS, 175E and 250E, Big Horn 350. Hodaka Ace 100B. Suzuki T500-III, MT50, Alta TC120 Trials, TS-90 Honcho. Bridgestone 350 GTO. Rokon Trail Breaker. Montesa Cappra 250/5.
American Brands
Harley-Davidson Baja 100 Scrambler. American Eagle 750SS.
Racing
Arne King (Sweden) wins Inter-AM series on a 500cc Husky. No Americans in top 9 finishers.
Kawasaki posts industry’s first contingency of $500,000 for a variety of racing. It’s the largest in the history of motorcycling.
Dick Mann wins the Daytona 200 on a Honda 750/4 and sets a new record of 102.691 mph. 100 mile amateur winner Rusty Bradley takes home $5,000 in Kawasaki contingency, more than Mann makes for winning.
The AMA and road racers continue to be at odds, the complaint being that there are not enough road race events.
Don Vesco sets new motorcycle land speed record with Yamaha twin-engine streamliner: 251.924 mph.
Other Issues
The import of Japanese motorcycles is up 62.2% over the previous Jan – Jun period. The Japanese account for 84.7% of all motorcycle sales, next are the Brits at 5.2%. Sales of 290cc + motorcycles are up 90.6%.
The Motorcycle Industry Council is formed from two existing organizations.
You can buy a Vincent Black Shadow Series D fully restored for $1,000.
Judging by letters to the editors, British bikes aren’t up to Japanese standards in terms of reliability and parts supply and there are many complaints.
Honda releases info about a new product called an ATV.
Been riding for nearly 50 years having owned a variety of off road and road bikes so this publication brings back bunches of memories, some good, some not so good. In the not-so-good category belong my 1964 Harley Davidson-Amerrichi Sprint and a 1970 Kaw Big Horn….ouch. The HD would only start when it felt like it and the Kaw would flood, normally at the bottom of very steep hills. Fast forward to present day and my current ride, a BMW F800GS 30 yr. anniversary model….very nice bike for the older set…more upright seating position and comfortable after market seat. No riding off the road nowadays…at least no intentional off roading.
I’ve never forgotten the passion that I felt when I finally began riding in the early seventies. Motorcycling has been and still is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my life. Taking a look back through “Motorcycling in America” is something I now look forward to every month. I think it is important to remember that our riding ‘behavior’ on the road and in the woods reflects on all of us. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t always ‘behave’ but let’s all strive for excellence so we may continue to enjoy an activity that we all love.
What a treat, as I rode thru all those years ,I started in 1956 and I’m still doing it, , so much of the info brings back the reality that nothing stays the same. Todays bikes have a lot more power,better lighting,brakes,more comfort, and saftey options,electric start is a regular feature no longer do you have to tickle the primer on your carb and then have your hand smell of gas, liquid cooling, better batteries,a much better dealer network and so many options eg: GPS, great sound systems,saftey restraint systems w
wether you are a novice , off road rider, a sport bike rider, a cruiser, or a touring rider
we all have the bike to fill our wishes and so many choices,having grownup with all the events that your articles you write of I am very happy to keep on riding and enjoying each and every mile and the many new friends that I meet. This article will give them
some more to think about as they will now be able to relate to the past thanks to the history that you are giving them in the form of print !
At 70 yrs of age I look foreward to many more years of good riding .
Thank You.. Bryan Roberton / off the road/snow/cold/till March or April….