CW 25 Years Ago: July, 1990

Proof that standard bikes never go out of style but do get renamed (nakeds, anyone?), our main story touted at cover center featured a list of 10 great fairingless bikes. A couple of high points (in price and cool factor) were the $4,298 Honda CB-1 399cc inline-four and $4,198 Hawk 650 GT V-twin. Price kept the bikes from ever being big sellers, as they headed up against the $4,599 Suzuki VX800 and $3,699 Yamaha Radian. The conclusion after riding all 10 bikes? Every rider picked a different machine, so we said to read the story and pick your own.

“Very red, very expensive and very, very good,” read the subhead for the 1990 Honda VFR750F test. A check for $6,998 got you a bike with fantastic, broad power (with 100-hp peak), and a stellar-handling chassis that delivered some of the style and music of the RC30 superbike for the everyday rider.

"Wayne All the Way" told the story of Wayne Rainey's USGP win that year, as four riders left the circuit with injuries. "It's early in the year," Rainey said, "and everyone thinks they are going to be the world champion." Kevin Schwantz was "ready for racing, even if his motorcycle may not have been." Said Schwantz: "Suzuki didn't do too much to the bike: They thought it (last year's bike) was good enough. But it was good enough only because I rode it so hard." Vintage Schwantz, who set a track record in the race before crashing in turn 11.

For a limited time, check out the July 1990 issue on Cycle World - COVER TO COVER - The Complete Cycle World Magazine Archive.

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