New guy here from Ohio, USA

[MZ250]

Good morning, Fellas! I am 36 years old, living in Northeast Ohio, and I have 4 motorcycles, my favorite being my 74 MZ250 that I restored to showroom condition after 3 decades in the shed. (boy, was I glad to escape from that shed so I could work on the bike) I am 75% finished with my total restoration of a 1965 Honda S65 which was in a flood and home to a deceased rodent. I really like obscure, old bikes, and the more work they need, the better.  I am constantly perusing craigslist and the like for new projects, which brought me to an ad for TWO 1967 Bridgestones, one 175 and one 200, and a pile of parts. They are both in pretty rough shape, but I love them just for the variable shift pattern and the disc valve induction. The bikes will need a complete overhaul, I will need pistons, rings, gaskets, all the rubber parts, and who knows what else. They guy wants $420 for the whole mess, and he'll deliver it to my garage. I told him I would check on parts availability and get back to him, and after finding this forum, I think it's a go. Cheers! and happy riding and wrenching!

[Old BS Guy]

Welcome to the community! Great bunch of folks here. Richard should have many of the parts you need. We share much in common, as I have a '66 S65 Honda, and a 1969 Mach II RS as well, both presently getting a little love in the shop. Be sure to scour the forums and classifieds. Lots of good information and help here.

...Kerry

[rwgibbon]

Enjoy the site and the people you'll be in contact with regarding
Bridgestone's. It is a great site and resource for any Bridgestone
restoration project.

Randy

[husker]

You found a good place here for info and help. I am working on a GTR and the first motorcycle I was ever on was my brothers 1965 S65.............Rod

[mqtsteve]

Hey MZ250,  Welcome to the group!  This sounds like the same deal on eBay.  Starting bid is only $199!  Give it a look, Steve

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Bridgestone-Motorcycle-parts-collection-BS-175-200-BS125-BS200-LOOK-AT-IT-ALL-/331806490293?nav=SEARCH

[MZ250]

Hey, thanks for all the greetings, gentlemen! Steve, that is exactly the same deal. I'm glad I haven't given him the yea or nay yet, I may have to haggle a little now.....But you can see what shape they're in. He took the eBay pics while I was there looking at the bikes yesterday and pointing out a few things to him, like the right rear foot peg that has been sawed off the 175.  I'm going to make a parts list and get prices from here tomorrow morning.  Thanks again!    -Benjamin

[slawsonb]

Go for it Benjamin! but get the best deal you can. Bridgestones are the real deal and we are all waiting to help with yours.
Just keep us in the loop.
...bert

[srpackrat49]

I see one chain gaurd there.... arn,t they like hens teeth???

[Old BS Guy]

MZ;
 If all else fails, I have the phone number of a guy, albeit in Iowa, that has a DT175 with bullet seat and rear fender, and expansion chambers. Decent bike with motor that's not locked, and a title. He wants $400 for it. He's owned it a long time. Tried to sell it twice on EBay, and no takers. Might be more distance than you want to travel, but it has good bones for restoration, and it's all there.

...KP

[MZ250]

Thanks, KP, I'll keep that in mind. I travel out that way for work sometimes, so picking it up may not be much of an expense. My plan for now is to watch his eBay auction, and if no one else bids, I'll bid $201 at the last second. Then I'll charge him a consulting fee because all the info he gave in the eBay description came from me! I wondered why he kept asking me so many questions...I'll still offer him the $300, just to be a nice guy.    Today: Carb rebuild on the S65. I need this thing DONE so I can justify starting another...
 

[mqtsteve]

S65 is looking good!  It shares a common design with the small displacement pressed frame Bridgestones (BS50sport, 60sport, all 90s, 100sport).  Good luck, Steve

[MZ250]

So, looks like I'm getting it all for $250, delivered. That's the offer I made him anyway, and I think he'll take it. Now the question is: Which bike do I choose for the resurrection? The 200 or the 175? I don't think the frames are the same, and the 175 has the portion of the frame that holds the rear peg sawed off, so I may have no choice but to go with the 200. I'll start a thread with more detailed pics when I get the whole mess back here....

[mqtsteve]

Hey MZ,  I'm not very familiar with the 175/200's.  I'd restore both.  There are several parts for both listed on eBay.  You may be able to find a used rear swing arm and foot pegs there?  Good luck!  Steve

[disc_valve]

The very early 175s had a different arrangement for the oil tank, which was mounted below the fuel tank. Most 175s had the oil tank conventionally mounted on the right hand side of the frame, and these models used the same frame as the 200s

The early 175s also used a different type of swinging arm bushes and had a quick-detach rear wheel with a separate sprocket carrier. Again, most 175s had a one-piece rear wheel and "silentbloc" type rubber swinging arm bushes, the same as the 200

Hope that helps,

Graham

[Old BS Guy]

I purchased a front fender and a fuel petcock from one our members who has 2 - 200's that he can't get titles for, and is parting out. He's in your end of the world, as well. I'll PM you with the name as soon as I go back and look. Many parts interchange between the two models.

....KP

[slawsonb]

I'm liking the S65 so far. Nice job!
...bert

[MZ250]

Thanks a bunch for all your input, gentlemen! I'm really getting anxious to get these things in my garage and do a thorough inventory. BUT I promised myself to be disciplined and organized, no starting new projects until I finish existing ones. I have perhaps 3-4 weeks of work left on the S65 (that's working Sunday mornings and two afternoons a week), just got my tires in, so once it's on wheels, I'll roll it in the garage and bring the one of the BS' into the operating room. I'll be sure to keep the updates coming....Thanks again, everyone!

[MZ250]

Well, the drama continues. I offered to buy them both for 250 delivered, off ebay since we had originally connected via craigslist, but he insisted that I just bid on the auction. My bids get beaten instantly, so I think he's trying to shill bid me. Not playing that game for a minute. My guess is he'll call me when the auction ends and offer me them for the $250 because his shill bidder isn't going to buy them, of course. Even if he's not shilling me, if someone else wants them, so be it, I'm not in a hurry. Already found a BS90 not too far from here, in one piece, $500. I really wanted the 175, but a little 90 would be fun, I'm sure...KP, I may need your friend's number...

[mqtsteve]

The eBay auction says the seller is away until 3/28/16.  eBay won't accept bids until the seller removes the temporary freeze on his account.  Don't give up yet.  Steve