Over the past 18 months or so I've had the privilege of meeting and making friends with Mike Anderson. Mike is one of the most avid fans, as well as a first-class restorer, of Bridgestone motorcycles that I've ever known. I'm sure that those of you that are regulars to this site are very familiar with Mike and his work. I have been in the process of buying and refurbishing older bikes from my youth and about a year of so ago I decided to scale down on the many "things" in my life, including the number and variety of bikes I own. I had bought a new '70 BS 100 GP when I was 15 years old and always wanted one of the 350's but couldn't afford it back then. As I now moved into my downsizing mode I decided to concentrate on Bridgestone's and learn as much about them as I could. That initiative brought me to this site. Thanks to Mike I am now the proud owner of two BS 350's. I still search the internet just about every day looking for the elusive GP100 and all things Bridgestone. Recently I came across a local ad on CraigsList from a guy in the next county south of me with two old BS 350 GTR's for sale. This was the first time I'd seen anything Bridgestone (except tires) for sale in the western North Carolina area. Having just purchased the second 350, I'd recently decided to collect some spare parts that might come in handy down the road, but I didn't have a need for two bikes worth. I did however know someone that might want to share in the potential parts bonanza. I phoned the guy from the ad and made an appointment to meet him the next day to look at the 350's. Turns out he had them stored in an old two-story barn with at least 100 more Japanese motorcycles. Long story short, I purchased the 350's as well as two 90's he also had. The best part of the purchase was the three hours I spent with the owner going through the barn and reminiscing about old Japanese bikes from the 60's and 70's. Attached are some pictures of the barn as well as some of his "collection." Notice the steep ramp from the second story level. The owner had a winch mounted to rafters on the inside of the barn that he would use to hook the bikes to, and would then winch the bikes up or down as needed. Still took two people to do it, one to steer the bike and another to operate the winch controls inside. He told me that he tried to ride a bike down the ramp once but it didn't end well for him or the bike. Turns out this was one the best times I've ever had looking for Bridgestone motorcycles and parts. I've often read about long lost bikes being rediscovered in old barns. I never thought I'd get to have one of these great life experiences.
