So what do we remember about the '80s, beyond the requisite jokes about big hair and bad clothes? Well, there was...the De Lorean DMC 12, long may it reign. There was also the February edition of Street Chopper magazine, which featured a Honda on its rear wheel and a big-haired model next to a bike. The headline "Swedish Skin!" is assumed to be directed at the bike and not the girl.
The Swedes came up first and foremost, with a review of the Norrtalje Traffen-"Sweden's biggest run, which ends...on a Swedish beach, with roast pig and all the trimmings." Then the biggest run in Europe, the Norrtalje Traffen lured the STC crew abroad to see just what the Europeans were up to in the biking world. "Basically," the group concluded, "they're up to the same things we are. Building bikes, getting together, and just having a good time."
An advertisement for "Ass-Kicking Books" probably wouldn't fly in a modern issue of the magazine, but we're glad there's literature available to help us fight dirty if we have to. The Yamaha SECA 750 became the world's first computerized motorcycle, and sported a terrifyingly large dashboard that would look more at home on a fullsize Chevy truck. A Honda with a much more reasonable-looking dash showed up in the form of the Turbo "Six," a modified street bike.
Also featured was the cheerfully colored chop of "Doc" Lonnie Misgen, an "amateur gynecologist" (no comments from the peanut gallery, please). This particular ride-a Lowrider with a '74 Honda engine in it-helped the Doc in his never-ending search for...erm...patients.
The gang at Colorado Customs showed off their slightly more family-friendly Harley trike, which sported a Jack Daniel's whiskey keg to seat passengers. Just check out the picture: How's that for riding in style? (One must wonder how many times this trike got pulled over on basic principle.)
Street Chopper once had a section for fiction, as evidenced by the stories "None So Blind" by Robert E. Tinsley (a world-weary cop has to deal with a fugitive on a bike-plus a twist ending) and "Reunion" by Eric Mottner (a man, a bike, and his lady). One must wonder whether this segment will ever make a comeback.
Since this particular issue seems to have had Hondas as a sort of theme, we'll close out on one: the "Dragonquest," a blindingly colorful tribute to fantasy that seems to be standing in as a precursor to "Your Ride Here." Despite the then-editorial staff musing over the lack of a girl in the picture, we here at the current STC have to say this kit project from Rick's Custom Creations turned out pretty damn well.
Oh, and the big-haired model on the cover? She turns up inside, reclining against some choice pieces of metal. We'll have to see if she makes another appearance in March.