The VX800 might have been on our February cover, but the Suzuki that arguably had a more lasting impact was the new DR350. In “The Return of the Mini Thumper,” we praised Suzuki for building this new DR, which proved to be far more agile than a big-bore four-stroke and a much better machine than the earlier Honda XR350 and Yamaha TT350 models. We also showed readers Suzuki’s new dual-purpose DR250S/DR350S models. These street-legal Zooks were praised by editor David Edwards for being practically identical to their dirt bike kin. In other parts of the issue, Alan Cathcart rode a Commonwealth Honda (a roadracer powered by a dirt-track Honda V-twin), and our EICMA coverage featured the Moto Guzzi Daytona 1000, the Ducati 851 Sport, and a bunch of new Husqvarnas, including a 216-pound 250WMX model powered by a Cagiva engine. And, yes, there was a Bimota, a Bellaria that could hit 153 mph. Staffers also traveled. Ron Lawson competed in the ISDE on a Suzuki RMX250 but complained that the German course was far too easy because environmentalists had made almost all the countryside off-limits to dirt bikes. And Jon F. Thompson tackled Europe for a meager $250 a day, riding a Suzuki Katana 1100. One day he arrived before the luggage van in Monte Carlo, so he just had to stroll the topless beaches...in full riding gear. Lastly, in Race Watch, we profiled Eddie Lawson, the four-time US national champ and four-time world champion. “Everything is great when I’m on the bike,” Steady Eddie concluded. “I love to race and I still want to win every race I enter.” 
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