[Guest]

Anyone out there? I learned to ride at age 12 on a ratty old 60's vintage Bridgestone 90. The tall gears made learning the clutch a treat. And the rotating gearbox was always an adventure. It's long since gone, but will always have a place in my heart.

 

[Maico Shark]

Bridgestone made a good bike. I once had a Bridgestone 50cc that had electric start. I haven't seen one for 25 years or more. -MS

 

[Guest]

Only once did I go for 5th gear, which on a 4-speed rotating gearbox was quite an adventure. Big black tire mark followed by a ring a ding two stroke motor running way over redline.

 

[Maico Shark]

They made a 175 that was a real rocket.

 

[AdrenalineRider]

What ?? ... they made Bikes ???
I havent got a faintest of Idea about that one

 

[2OldHondas4Me]

Friend of mine who built my 79 CX-500 has an old 68 (I think). Not sure what the cc is on it, but it's in showroom or above condition. As soon as I have enough posts without just wasting space, I'll post some pics of it. Very rare bike. I think he said they only made them for about three years.

 

[Maico Shark]

They just never built a solid dealer network, their machines were the equal of anyones. The chinese are making the same mistake by selling to whoever will buy rather than cultivating importer/distributors with protected territories and extensive parts inventories.

 

[esspee51]

The good old days

A Bridgestone 90 was my 2nd bike. My first bike was a Honda 50 Super Sport.
That little Bridgestone was a tough little thing. I rode it full throttle on the freeway 5 days a we

 

[Guest]

A Bridgestone 90 was my 2nd bike. My first bike was a Honda 50 Super Sport.
That little Bridgestone was a tough little thing. I rode it full throttle on the freeway 5 days a we

You are a very brave person, it was not that big of a bike.

 

[esspee51]

bridgestone riders

I was Young and indistructable in those days. Probably a little crazy too.

 

[Guest]

You did learn to pay attention to what gear you were in on those.

 

[slicknick218]

They just never built a solid dealer network, their machines were the equal of anyones. The chinese are making the same mistake by selling to whoever will buy rather than cultivating importer/distributors with protected territories and extensive parts inventories.

Perhaps the bridgestone was a quality product but I hold a very low opinion of the trash that gets shipped to the states out of china. Every one I've seen falls apart faster than you can order parts. The yugo of the bike industry.

 

[Guy]

Well, there's millions of them chinese bikes in China, so someone must be making some quality hardware.

I just saw a bridgestone on eBay for dirt cheap, I think it went for less than a hundred. Too bad it wasn't close to me.

 

[Guest]

I have a 1968 Bridgestone 90 Sport (88 cc) and a 1968 or 1969 Bridgestone 175 both are small bikes the 175 I have had up to 94mph (it shook quite a bit.) and the 90 will go 65 Mph. The largest bike Bridgestone made was a 350 my neighbor had one and it would do between 115 and 120 in a quarter mile.
Bridgestone motorcycles would keep up with the bigger bikes of the day. I have not driven my Bridgestone for about 26 years I have it in storage but with the rising fuel prices I will take it out of storage this summer and drive it once again.

 

[Guest]

I have a 1968 Bridgestone 90 Sport (88 cc) and a 1968 or 1969 Bridgestone 175 both are small bikes the 175 I have had up to 94mph (it shook quite a bit.) and the 90 will go 65 Mph. The largest bike Bridgestone made was a 350 my neighbor had one and it would do between 115 and 120 in a quarter mile.
Bridgestone motorcycles would keep up with the bigger bikes of the day. I have not driven my Bridgestone for about 26 years I have it in storage but with the rising fuel prices I will take it out of storage this summer and drive it once again.

We have to get you up to 15 posts so we can see pictures. Here's my old 90:

 

[Guest]

It is nice to hear from someone else who has driven the bridgestone 90.
Also the Bridgestone 175 was a twin cyl. and the piston and rings were the same for the 90 sport and the 175 just a tidbit of extra information. It would be nice if a person could still buy parts for both from someone who might have old stock.

 

[Roadslayer]

In highschool a buddy of mine had a nearly new Bridgestone 175.(185?) Bought it for cheap as it hardly made 40mph. One day we were all out on our Honda 300 Scramblers with 'Brucie' tagging along. He's sputtin' along a poppin' and a weezin' with smoke blowin' out the back. All of a sudden, sput sput,,,sput,,,pop,,,sput,,,kaboom,,sput,,,and the Bridgestone starts clearing its throat. A couple of more pops and weezes and the little gem is purring like a kitten at 60mph. So, much to our amazement Brucie leans down and slowly rolls on the throttle and off he goes. Three of us turn up the wicks on our Hondas and a Yamaha 100 TwinJet to keep up. The 300 Scramblers were good for about 85 and the little TwinJet was flying at 97mph. That sparkling red Bridgestone flew by us at over 110 and just kept on going. Since that time the Bridgestone ran like a top. Turns out the previous owner must not have properly mixed the oil and gas or something and fouled the plugs and basically gave a new bike away. It also had a lever on the transmision where you could reach down while riding and shift into overdrive. This would allow you ride as fast as bike twice it's size.


'Cheers' Roadslayer

 

[Doug_Renfro]

WOW!!! I have never heard of these bikes. Where can I get one I am really into fixing up these old gems somebody else left by the wayside. I currently have a 79 and 78 but am always looking for older stuff to bring back to life.

 

[Roadslayer]

Right here.

http://www.vjmc.org/

'Cheers Roadslayer

See the lever on the rear of the transmission?

http://physiology.usouthal.edu/mbvmc/roster.htm

 

[Guest]

Bridgestone 175

Beautiful bike, yours looks much nicer than mine. wonderful to ride. Small yet fast.