1969 Honda 750

Thus spake Steve Wade unto the assembled multitudes:

Are you sure you aren't thinking of Bike magazine, early 1970s vintage? I
seem to remember they were fond of using that description, possibly
starting with the Kawa Z1 when they road-tested it.

 

">used.

It was definitely MM, as it was definitely my mag of choice when it came to
vehicular self-abuse, but I'm sure motorcycle journalism is not above the
odd bit of plagiarism.

 

Bike mag used the phrase in February 1977 when comparing the head-on
appearance of the Z1000 to the Jota. They said the Thou looked like a
drag strip Christmas tree from some angles.

The test was a three-bike test: Z1000, Jota, R100RS.

Note: all the above, including the issue date is from memory, which
proves I am a truly sad bastard. It might be January 1977. But the bikes
and phrase are accurate. I could even dig out the relevant issue to see
how sad I am.