Hap,
In order to grease the wheel bearings, you will have to remove the wheel and then drive out the old bearings from the wheel hub. The bearings should be thoroughly washed in solvent to remove the old grease. Then lightly oil each bearing and spin it by hand to check form any unusual noise or tight spots. If you find any, the only answer is new bearings. the bearings (new or old ones) should then be packed with grease before re-assembling everything.
As for the steering bearings, again the front end will need to be stripped and the whole fork assembly dropped out of the frame to access the bearings. The bearings here are straightforward cup and cone bearings with loose balls (like an oversized bicycle set). Once the steering head is apart, clean the inner and outer bearing races and check them carefully for any damage or pitting. Any damage means new races, and you should probably fir new balls anyway. Grease the bearing races and then lay the new steel balls in the grease to hold them in place. The trick here is to put as many balls around the race as will fit, and then REMOVE ONE BALL (This is essential to allow the remaining balls to move freely as the steering is turned). Then carefully refit the fork assembly and adjust the bearings for free play.
There is one other possibility in your case - has someone tightened down the steering damper knob over the winter? Back off the steering damper until the friction plate underneath the steering head is rattly loose and then see if the steering is still stiff. If it is, you definitely need to look at the head bearings.
The bearing arrangements on the Bridgestone are nothing unusual, so anyone who's worked on old bikes should be able to advise you or show you what to do. If you neede new bearings, the wheel bearings and steering race balls are standard size and should be available from your local motorcycle shop or bearing supplier. The steering head races, on the other hand, are specific to the Bridgestone, so you will need to contact this site owner, Richard Clarke, if you need new ones.
Hope that helps.
Graham
