Bridgestone Motorcycle Parts Discussion Board
Bridgestone Tech Talk => 350 Talk => Topic started by: moonpup on June 13, 2016, 09:29:05 AM
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I've always thought that there were 2 versions of the front brake perches on the 350's. Turns out there were 3.....
The first one pictured is the 67-69 GTR perch, without casting for the front brake switch.
The second picture shows the 70-71 GTO/GTR version with the casting & threaded out hole for the brake switch.
Which brings us to the "oddball" 3rd. version. ??? This one has the built up casting for the switch but is not machined out to be able to accept it . ( I have 2 nos versions of this type, so I don't think it was just a "one-off" fluke) It apparently fits somewhere between the other two, but for the life of me I can't find any necessity for this version. :o
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Just speculation, but it could have been a replacement for the 67-69 bikes without switches, after the switch perches were introduced. Simplified manufacturing with only one base perch...??? But really, who knows! ;D
...bert
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Just speculation, but it could have been a replacement for the 67-69 bikes without switches, after the switch perches were introduced. Simplified manufacturing with only one base perch...??? But really, who knows! ;D
...bert
You probably hit the nail on the head Bert.... that’s the only thing I could think of.
However, being a sucker for stock and originality, I’d have been pissed if back in the day I had a GTR & need to replace mine and this was all that was available. I guess it was better than nothing.
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Like you Moonpup, I've got a couple of the later undrilled brake perches. The overall quality of finish on them is not as good as the original early BS items, being only polished on their top face.
Agree with Bert, that they used the same casting for early/late replacement perches, omitting the brake switch drilling as required. My money would be on them being Taiwan manufactured.
I am always amazed / frightened? how thin the the metal section is that supports the outer end of the perch which carries the brake cable adjuster. Let's hope they got the alloy metallurgy right if I ever decide to use one. ::) ::) :(
Brian.
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I have never seen the version 1 perch before but I have a few of the version 3 type. I've been trying to find one that isn't drilled out for the front brake perch on my '68 GTR, but haven't had any luck. I'm currently using one of the "version 2" type for now. Guess I should look for version 1 type for a '68.
I learned something new today, ...thanks Moonpup.
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My 68 GTR has the one with the hole drilled and tapped for the brake switch - but doesn't have the brake switch.
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Hey CL-100, I'll trade you my version 1 (or one of the nos version 3's) for your version 2. ;D
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Moonpup,
Sounds good. I'll PM you later today.
cl-100
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How about that!
I had one of those perches years ago, and I assumed it was the result of a screw up in the factory (some one forgot to drill it), but Bert's explanation sounds better. In the end, I set to with Dremel, files and polishing kit and removed the extra material to convert it back to ab early-type perch.
Graham
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Anyone else willing to swap a type 2 for a type 1? Are switches available?
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Richard Clark still has switches, at least he did a few months ago.
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I bought a switch less than a year ago from RC to add the front brake function to my '67 GTR (no not pure 'pup...;-)
...bert
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I bought a switch less than a year ago from RC to add the front brake function to my '67 GTR (no not pure 'pup...;-)
...bert
+1....
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Looks like we are starting a non-purist movement...lol
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I bought a switch less than a year ago from RC to add the front brake function to my '67 GTR (no not pure 'pup...;-)
...bert
That's the reason I needed one, too. I had already modified mine several years ago and was replacing the first one that went bad.
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Looks like we are starting a non-purist movement...lol
I'm calling on all my fellow purists to gather and strike down this awful revolution immediately! :P
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Viva la revolution!
...bert
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Viva la revolution!
...bert
Sacre Bleu!
... le Pup
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Let he who has not sawed through a Bridgestone frame cast the first 12mm bolt...... ;D :D ;D Actually, a 'Stone' would be more appropriate.
El Briann.
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Well put Señor Briann!
...bert
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Well i have a 71 taka and it has the one that is drilled and taped 8)..... i,ll look inside the headlit to see if there is a wire hookup for it????? and the story gos on...... ;D
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I have a '73 Taka which uses the drilled/tapped perch as it has a working brake light switch. It would make sense to me that Rockford used these then as I believe the US started requiring a brake light switch by the late 60's or early 70's. My '71 GTO and '71 100GP have the brake light switch, my '68 GTR does not. When I was restoring the GP I found that the GP/TMX parts supplement had the additional wiring part needed to link the front brake switch to the rear switch. I also have '69 Yamaha 125 AS2C that has the factory brake light switch.
I'm still looking for one more early version perch (without any casting for a switch) for a project in the queue. I have NOS versions of both the newer styles that I can trade.
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This comment is very late to the discussion, but I've run into similar issues with Honda, and it came back to the US safety regulations for imports starting at about that time. As an example, the '68 Trail 90 is the only year that came with an amber light in the speedo head, with a "W" on it. It stood for "winker", even though the turn signals weren't required yet, and weren't on the bike, but they were the following year. Even the lever perches were already being cast for a T/S switch, but no switch was present. The importing manufacturers were getting models ready for US DOT laws requiring turn signals, and.....you guessed it...front lever switches for brake lights. The trail 90's do the same thing with the front brake at about that time. I don't believe the non-US bikes were required to have it.
.........KP