Bridgestone (motorcycle)

The advanced technical specification resulted in high production costs and a resulting high retail price. The 350 GTR sold in some areas at about the same price as the 650 cc Triumph Bonneville.[9] The high price caused the motorcycles to sell in smaller quantities than other Japanese motorcycles. The other Japanese motorcycle companies again pressured Bridgestone, this time to either supply them tyres or to manufacture motorcycles but not both.[10] In order to protect its interests supplying tyres to other manufacturers, Bridgestone pulled out of motorcycle manufacturing[6][7] in 1970. The factory space was converted to tyre production.[4]

The remaining stock of motorcycles and some spares were sold to Rockford Motors in the US who continued to sell the machines until stocks ran out. Some machines were sent unpainted and finished in the US.[11]

Tooling and manufacturing rights for the 60cc and 100cc machines were sold to BS Tailung in Taiwan. Tailung manufactured the engines and mounted them in their own cycle parts to make trail and mini-bikes. These were sold to Rockford who marketed them as the Chibi, Taka and Tora. Production ceased in 1975.[4]

The first "real" Bridgestone was introduced in 1958; the 50 cc Champion. The model had a pressed steel frame, a shrouded, fan-cooled two-stroke engine with a 3 speed gearbox.[2] The model was updated in 1962 and designated the Champion-III.[4] From 1963 these were imported into the United States by the Rockford company.[11] The Champion was marketed as Bridgestone Super 7 in the US, and was available with an electric starter.[12] and a step-through model, the Homer, was introduced.[4]

A new 50 cc model was introduced in 1965. Introduced at the same time as the 90 cc model, it also used rotary disc-valve induction.[4] Gearbox was now a four speed item and telescopic forks were fitted. It was designated the 50+ Sport. A step through version was also introduced which had a 3 speed gearbox and automatic clutch.[13]

An enlarged version of the 50 cc model was introduced in 1966.[14] Engine output was 5.8 bhp compared to 4.2 bhp from the 50 cc.[13]

The engineers Bridgestone employed that had previously worked for Tohatsu brought a lot of knowledge about fast two-strokes from Tohatsu's racing activities. In 1965 a new 90cc model was produced.[4] The single cylinder two-stroke engine was fitted with a rotary valve and produced 7.8 bhp. The frame was made from pressed steel and telescopic forks fitted. A variant with a high level exhaust, the Mountaineer, was also produced.[15]

Introduced in 1967, the 100+ Sport was an overbored[4] version of the 90 cc model giving 10% more power. A limited edition 100+ Racer was available, which had a tuned engine with hand polished ports and s special carburettor.[16]

The model later gained a tubular frame and was available in road trim, as the 100 G/P-7, and as a street scrambler trim with s high level exhaust as the 100 TMX-7.[17]

The 177 cc Dual Twin was introduced in 1965.[4] The engine was virtually a doubling up of the 90cc engine. The engine used rotary valves to control the inlet with the carburettors mounted by the ends of the crankshaft. This configuration required the generator to be positioned above the engine behind the cylinders. Cylinder bores were chrome-plated. This was the first Bridgestone model to use the "oil injection" system. Instead of the oil being mixed with the petrol as was normal for two-strokes of that time, oil was stored in a separate tank and pumped into the engine.[18]

The name "Dual Twin" derives from the gearbox. In normal use the gearbox was 4 speed "rotary" item. Changing up from 4th gear brought the gearbox back to neutral. A second lever, the "Sport-Shift", could be used to convert the gearbox to a conventional 5 speed gearbox (without the ability to change from top gear to neutral).[18]

A "street scrambler" version was available with high level exhausts. This variant was designated the 175 Hurricane.[19]

A limited edition 175+ Racer was produced in 1967. This model had a tuned engine, including modified disc valves and hand-polished ports.[20]

Bridgestone unveiled a prototype 200 cc cafe racer at the 1966 Tokyo Motor Show. The engine was based on the 177cc Dual Twin, overbored to 198 cc. The prototype was never put into production, but the following year the engine was put into the Dual Twin running gear to create the 200 Mach II. This was available as the RS (Road Sport) and SS (Street Scrambler) models.[21]

Introduced in 1967, the 350 GTR was powered by an air-cooled, 345 cc (21.1 cu in), two-stroke, straight-twin engine, which produced 37 hp (27.6 kW; 37.5 PS) at 7,500 rpm. The engine used the rotary disc-valve induction system, two of these disc valves were used (one per cylinder), and a 26 mm Mikuni carburettor was bolted to each one. The six-speed gearbox was also a plus point, as was the ability for the 350 GTR's riders to use either their left foot or their right foot to change gear; the gear lever and rear brake pedals could be swapped around in order to allow this. However, the gearbox did cause issues for some riders, as neutral was located in an unusual place; at the top of the gearbox, as most motorcycles placed this gear between first and second. Chassis-wise, the 350 GTR was fairly conventional, as it used a steel twin-cradle frame, gaitered front forks with twin shock absorbers at the rear, 19" wheels and drum brakes.[9]

The GTO model was introduced as a variant in 1967 and was fitted with high level exhausts.[22]