Life In America
1974 – While the median family income has risen, now $12,840, the 11.3% inflation rate has actually made this year’s income less than 1973’s. Nixon is forced to resign. OPEC embargoes oil for five months, creating the worst recession since the depression. The national speed limit is reduced to 55 MPH to save fuel. On TV the new shows seem to be trying to cheer us with their titles; Happy Days, and Good Times among them. At the movies Mel Brooks is cranking out great comedies with Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. Elton John’s Benny and the Jets, Clapton’s I Shot the Sheriff and Paul McCartney’s Band on the Run are big hits. A new car costs $3,750 and a gallon of gas has gone up dramatically to $.55. The new BMW R90S costs $3,430 and is the most expensive motorcycle readily available.
| Number One Motorcycle Trend For 1974: |
| While big-bore (750 and up) bikes get more than their share of attention, the real action is in mid-sized bikes, 250 – 400. Honda claims they sell more 350’s than any other displacement motorcycle. The fuel crisis is spurring the market for mid-sized bikes and there are predictions that distributors will run out of product before the end of the year. |
European Brands
Penton 250 Hare Scrambler, 250 Hare Scrambler Enduro. CCM608 MX. Bultaco Matador Mark V, 325 Jim Pomeroy Replica. BMWR90/6, BMW R90S. Maico 450K CR. CZ250. Husqvarna 250CR. Premier 125 Enduro. Norton Commando Interstate 850. Triumph Trophy 500 Trail. Benelli 750 SEI. Moto-Guzzi 850T Interceptor. Laverda 1000. Ossa Phantom 250.
Asian Brands
Kawasaki Mach II 400, 175 F7, KS125 Enduro, KX250, KX125, KZ400. Yoshimura/Duhamel 1000 Z1. Yamaha TY250 Trials, TY80A, DT360A, DT175, YZ125, YZ250. Honda CB360G, XL175, CB550/4, CR125, CB200. Suzuki TS185L, TM125, TM400.
American Brands
Carabella 125 MX (Mexico)
Racing
2nd round of Trans-AMA motocross held at JFK stadium is a disaster, due to a bad track and no audience.
The ISDT is held in Massachusetts. US places 5th, Czech’s win the gold.
Kenny Roberts is the first Grand National Champion to win the title on a Japanese motorcycle.
Agostini leaves MV Agusta and signs with Yamaha.
Daytona Yamaha wins 8 of the top 10 places, Agostini wins the the 200 miler and Kenny Roberts takes second.
Rising racing star Cal Rayborn dies in a crash in New Zealand Dec 29, 1973.
Other Issues
BSA motorcycles cease production.
All new motorcycles imported to the US must shift on the left and brake on the right.
Sochiro Honda retires at age 67.
Cycle World stages economy run, car vs motorcycle. Worst motorcycle a Yamaha RD350 gets 39.25 mpg. Best car, a Datsun 710 gets 22 mpg.
There are an estimated 8-million motorcycles in use, and 15-million riders.
Where is the mention of MAICO’s beginning of the suspension innovations in 1974 1/2 and definitely 1975, that revolutionized MotoCross and all off road motorcycles’ suspensions for ALL time
I bought a new BMW R90S in the spring of 1974, very nice bike , but problems transwould not shift up or down it was spring in the transmission that broke and there where none in North America,so the dealer put in a 4speed to keep me on the road till the part came in/ about 6weeks later! and I also along with other BMW owners had a problem with the bolts that held the flywheel on to the crankshaft ether becoming loose or in some cases breaking off and causing major damage. Other than these two problems it was a fun bike..Bryan Roberton
I’ve been enjoying these snippets of history but am disappointed that the Rokon Rt340 wasn’t mentioned in 1974. It was an American made enduro with revolutionary features. Magnewium wheels, Sachs 2-stroke motor and automatic transmission. The U. S. team even rode them in the ISDT. I know all this because it was my first motorcycle. It had a pull start and disc brakes front and rear. All in all, a remarkable bike!
I bought a new 74 Ossa MAR that year and had a great time riding it in the national forest here in our state. Gas at $.55 per gallon…how outrageous is that?
Gosh……..??!! You mean there were no Harley-Davidson’s in 1974?? I think that was an American brand, if my memory does not fail me (not including the dreadful Aemerucci ones).