Author Topic: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?  (Read 21091 times)

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ddog71

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #20 on: January 22, 2014, 04:21:27 PM »
 In 1967 & 1968, my brother Tom & I were commuting to college in Baytown, TX. Every day we passed by a small dealership (Don't remember the name of it) in Dayton, TX. Every so often we would stop and look at those beautiful Bridgestones and wish we could afford the 175 or 350. Have ALWAYS wanted a Bridgestone since then. So now I've managed to pick up 3 175's and 2 Mach II SS's. The two 200's I bought (from the same guy in MN) approx 2 years ago. the three 175's I picked up this summer along with a 1973 SUZUKI GT750. Two of the 175's I picked up in Wisconsin and the third one I picked up in Minnesota. The Suzuki I picked up in Michigan. Those were two VERY long trips from Texas.!!    Tim (ddog71)

Offline disc_valve

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #21 on: January 23, 2014, 05:59:15 AM »
Hi, "CL-100",

With a title like that I guess you must have been a Honda man at some point, too! I was interested to read that your original Bridgeston 100 was one of the 5 hp special versions. I've heard about such things, but am intrigued about what was changed on the bike to reduce the output to 5 hp. I can't see any special 100cc engine parts in my dealer parts list that would fit the bill. Presumably, they were changed locally, perhaps using parts from other BS models to starngle the engine. Have you any idea what the modificattion was?

Graham Weeks

Offline CL-100

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #22 on: January 23, 2014, 06:12:21 PM »
Graham,

I never thought about my site name being associated with Honda.  I am a retired Fire Chief and CL-100 was my radio designation to identify me on the airwaves.  

As far as my BS100 GP goes, the bikes were a special edition and even had a sticker on the side cover identifying them as the "Florida 5 brake horsepower" model, which could be operated by a 15 year old with a learner's permit.  When you turned 16 and got your regular driver's permit, you could take the bike back back to the dealer and they would "fix it for free" so it ran as originally intended.  As it turned out for me, there was an old gentlemen not far from where I lived that did repair work on bikes in his garage.  As young impressionable boys, we would hang out with him and learn what we could from him.  I had him replace a rear tire on my bike one day and he asked me if I wanted him to fix the bike so it wouldn't be limited to the 5 horsepower.  So, after I said yes he pulled the carb cover off and removed the carb.  Between the outlet and the disc cover was a restrictor plug that limited the maximum amount of gas the carb could put out.  He removed the plug, replaced the carb and made a few adjustments. It was like having a whole new motorcycle.  

I would love to be able to post pictures of that bike but the pics I had were destroyed in a fire in my parent's garage.  For some reason, pics of my first bike (a Yamaha 60) survived.  

Currently, I am in the process of restoring a 100 GP.  I'm just about ready to start reassembly.

By the way, I really enjoy your posts.  You are a treasure trove of Bridgestone information.  

Rowland
« Last Edit: January 23, 2014, 06:27:46 PM by CL-100 »

Offline slawsonb

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #23 on: January 23, 2014, 09:06:32 PM »
I second the Treasure Trove motion...Graham rocks!...
...bert

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #24 on: January 25, 2014, 10:01:43 AM »
Aha!

I knew the HP restriction had to be some simple mod, probably done locally, but it sure had me stumped - until now. Thanks for the info. I can imagine you would have noticed quite a change going from 5 hp back to the full 10 hp or so of a standard BS100 engine. I can imagine it must have been embarassing being passed by every standard BS50 in the neighbourhood - the BS50 Sport would have been both (slightly)more powerful and 10% lighter in weight.

Thanks for your nice comments, by the way, fellahs. I don't know if I rock (I always thought that's what a rotten fence does just before it falls over) but I have been a BS owner and enthusiats since 1979 and I must have picked up a few "tricks of the trade" over the years. It's nice to be able to share the knowledge with fellow BS-ers.

Good luck with your 100GP rebuild,

Graham

Offline husker

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #25 on: July 06, 2014, 09:51:45 PM »
My hometown of Newcastle, NE  had a business named Miller Motor and Farm Equipment. They were a Chrysler Plymouth and International Harvester dealer and also were a dealer for Bridgestone Motorcycles. They sold the Chibi bikes too after Bridgestone quit. One of the owners sons was my classmate. The 1968 GTR I bought this spring was originally sold by them. In the late 70s or early 80 the owners son in law became a partner in the business and in the process of remodeling all the Bridgestone brochures, posters and parts were thrown away. My classmate regrets that happening. He still has a tutone green 100.
« Last Edit: September 16, 2014, 01:50:33 AM by husker7519 »
1968 Bridgestone GTR350,  1971 Kawasaki A7SS, 1983 KZ750 LTD

Offline dcr

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #26 on: February 10, 2015, 11:28:38 AM »
Sportsmen's Rest in Bridgeton NJ apparently sold Bridgestones, BSA, OSSA. In addition, they had Dune Buggies & Accessories as well as Massey Ferguson lawn and garden equipment. Has Charles Strockbine and Minnie Lore's names on the postcard but the guys I spoke to down there mentioned Ray Lamson as the owner.

I did some internet searches but haven't found anything concrete yet.
1966 175 DT and 1968 350 GTR

Offline moonpup

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #27 on: February 10, 2015, 11:59:03 AM »
dcr... is the building still there?  I also couldn't find anything on the net about "Sportsmen's Rest". Is it still a motorcycle dealership but maybe under a different name? That would be cool although probably not likely.
Confucius say... "Better to have Bridgestone than Kidneystone"

Offline slawsonb

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #28 on: February 10, 2015, 12:02:12 PM »
Maybe try calling the phone number??
...bert

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #29 on: February 10, 2015, 12:21:01 PM »
The guys I talked to when I was picking up the 100 Sport said that some time after Bridgestone stopped making bikes, the owner basically gave away parts as people came in to get them. Maybe he had abandonment issues? They also said something about the building now being partially collapsed so I assume its abandoned.

I will check the local tax records and see what I can find. The address is a rural delivery route, not a specific number on the street which makes google map search darn near impossible.

Hopefully more to follow on this topic. It fascinates me almost as much as any other Bridgestone topic.
1966 175 DT and 1968 350 GTR

Offline Mopar392

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #30 on: February 10, 2015, 12:31:23 PM »
Art's Standard Service in Waterville, MN. Sold - Serviced Kiekhaefer Outboards, Larson/Herter's Boats and Bridgestone Motorcycles. I had to work on the farm and part time at Arts to afford a Shiny New BS 50 Sport, well worth every hour spent, memories never to be forgotten.

Offline RayK

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #31 on: February 10, 2015, 03:42:26 PM »
Further to my post on 12 August 2010 in this thread. Here are some prices from my local Dealer in Sydney AUSTRALIA at that time:

http://bridgestonemotorcycleparts.com/index.php?topic=3692.0

Interesting posts from those in the US - Thanks

Ray
BS 175DT, BS 50 Sport x 1, BS 90 Mountain x 3, BS 90 Deluxe, BS 90 Sport x1, BS 60 Sport, BS 90 Trail, BS100 Sport.

Offline Mopar392

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #32 on: February 10, 2015, 07:04:45 PM »
Thanks Ray,

Prices certainly put life in perspective, 250 bucks was a lot pf money then.

Cheers,

Lee

paul

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #33 on: February 10, 2015, 09:00:24 PM »
If  a US Post office still exists close by, someone there, postmaster,branch manager may be able to tell you what streets made up the old rural route. Nearest farm equipment or farm  machine repair shop might have a lead since this was Massey dealer. Good Hunting

Offline slawsonb

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #34 on: February 10, 2015, 09:21:41 PM »
I love archeology, especially the Bridgestone kind!
 ;D
...bert

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #35 on: February 11, 2015, 02:12:16 PM »
Google street view of this Kawasaki dealership on Fairton RD between Bridgeton and Fairton NJ. Building is about the right size and has the right amount of windows but would have had to have a different roof put on at sometime.
 
 
1968 Bridgestone GTR350,  1971 Kawasaki A7SS, 1983 KZ750 LTD

Offline slawsonb

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #36 on: February 11, 2015, 02:18:57 PM »
Sure looks like the same place, and that roof choice would have afforded more storage.
...bert

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #37 on: February 11, 2015, 02:29:05 PM »
Former Miller Motor and Farm Equipment building in my hometown of Newcastle, NE. Sold International Harvester and Chrysler-Plymouth and Bridgestone motorcycles. Still owned by the Miller family. American Pickers could make a show out of this building. No Bridgestone stuff left though.  The Model A hotrod belongs to my nephew. 2012 photo.
1968 Bridgestone GTR350,  1971 Kawasaki A7SS, 1983 KZ750 LTD

Offline moonpup

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #38 on: February 11, 2015, 02:31:20 PM »
Good job husker, I just googled their name and gave them a shout and they verified that it is indeed the old Sportsmen's Rest dealership building. It's cool how they still line the bikes up outside.

Unfortunately no dusty old BS parts to be had!  ;D
« Last Edit: February 11, 2015, 02:36:29 PM by moonpup »
Confucius say... "Better to have Bridgestone than Kidneystone"

Offline dcr

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Re: Where there any REAL Bridgestone dealers in your town?
« Reply #39 on: February 11, 2015, 02:37:52 PM »
http://www.bbcycle.com/learn-more-about-dealership--info

The new place was established in 1974 by Bruce and Brian Vittorini, hence the name B&B.
1966 175 DT and 1968 350 GTR

 


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