How many GTR 350 ONLY lovers are there out there?

[Bikenstein]

Good possibility, but my first real bike was a 175 Dual Twin. Prior to that I had a 305 Super Hawk for six months that belonged to my uncle and he had just brought it down from Atlanta to cool off for awhile. I rode the crap out of it even in the dirt. Of course it didn't have high pipes and I bottomed the shocks every little jump but I figured if Steve Mcqueen could do it on a Triumph? So that sort of kills the first bike idea at least in my case.

[coxy]

not loving the gtr at the moment it pooped its pants this arvo

[rwgibbon]

I picked up my 1968, 350 GTR from the Northeast Classic Car Museum on Thursday,
May 3rd and started and rode it today. It made think of highschool and when I
first drove my 350 GTR.

I didn't realize how much I missed my bike.

It was great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bikenstein]

Good deal RW. Happy to hear that. Send some pictures if you can.

[Bikenstein]

Coxy, what do you mean your GTR " pooped it's pants this arvo"  What's an arvo and how did it poop it's pants?

[coxy]

arvo ( afternoon) pooped its pants   i think the chrome bore has peeled i haven't checked this out yet but what ever happened is not good

[RayK]

More Aussie abreviations for you Bikenstein:

Bowlo = Bowling Club (Lawn Bowls)
Servo = Service Station (Gas Station)
Garbo = Garbage man (Trash)
Milko = Milkman

Suburbs in Canberra - Belco = Belconnen; Dicko = Dickson

There are heaps more terms - most Gen Y don't use them - they are too busy texting on their IPad. LOL 
Ray

[rocketman]

  M

[Bikenstein]

  I guess I'm a Weldo then. Finally got a day off. Don't know what to do this arvo. I need to take out the garbo, fill up at the servo, and go do my laundro. I'd like to be ridin me biko but it's a raino.

[Harry]

Hi BS 350 GTR lover,  I just finished getting my 1967 350 back on the road after 36 years.  I bought it used in 1973.  It had only 2990 original miles on it. Bought it for $125.00 with a stuck piston.  Once I had it freed up, it ran great.  After 5 years of riding I parked it and it has been in storage ever since.  Last winter I began the restoration process.  It's not a trailer queen but a rider to me.   Had it stored in my son's shop and then in my shop for the past 25 years.   Thanks to Richard and this Bridgestone site I have been able to find missing or broken parts and just yesterday it started after 36 years.. I am thrilled!!!!!  I still have to get a plate and inspection but I can't wait to be back on the road again.  It leaks some oil and the carbs. are not adjusted completely but it runs, shifts, and stops.  Can't be happier.  Glad to find another GTR lover.  It's the only bike I have owned but once you get the best you don't really need the rest.  Harry

[Bikenstein]

Glad to hear from you Harry. Please! Post some pictures! Richard has been a big help for me too. That's really great that you still have your original bike. My bike will get better and better as I work on it, but I still love it just like it is even with all its rust. It ain't gotta be pristine. It will probably never be show quality but it doesn't have to be to make me happy. You understaand.

[Harry]

Thanks for your post.  I still have carb. adjustments as well as oil pump mods. to make but at least it starts and I'm back on it again.  Keep up your enthusiasm it helps all of us.  Harry

[JATO]

I'd have to say I'm a GTR only guy.  I inherited mine from my grandfather three years ago so it holds a special place in my heart.  I have other bikes; a 1978 Suzuki GS1000, a 1997 Suzuki TL1000S, and a 2008 Suzuki C90 but my 1968 BS 350 GTR is the crown jewel of my little collection. Today happened to be the first time it ran and went down the road under it's own power without external life support in close to 30 years, it was a blast running around the block on a weed whacker from hell.  I did kill it a few times starting off, not use to a two stroke and a dry clutch.  I'll post up a pictures and videos when I get off duty.  She isn't the prettiest, definitely "barn find" condition.

[Bikenstein]

JATO, glad to hear you got your GTR runnin! Did your Grandfather buy it new? Hope to see pictures soon.

[moonpup]

Dave, Pic's can be seen here.....

http://bridgestonemotorcycleparts.com/index.php?topic=2588.msg11480#msg11480

[Bikenstein]

Great bike! Just needs to be red, like you said.

[JATO]

Those pictures are three years old.  It looks much the same today except that it runs.  I just took it for a 6 mile spin around town and it felt good.  My grandfather did get it new.  Sometime in the mid '70s, one of my uncles painted it blue, the restoration will be moving forward now that it's running strong.

[Mopar5426]

   I Have Blue One    GENE

[Bikenstein]

I guess they came in blue also. I only favor red because mine was red.

[Bikenstein]

I just wanted to make it clear that I didn't intend to put down any Bridgestone or any other bike for that matter as being lesser than a GTR. I know most every rider has had that "special bike" in their life for their own reasons. From some of the comments and email, it seems that a few people misunderstood why I posted this thread, so I apologize to them and anyone else if I caused any hard feelings. I don't know of any motorcycle I don't like and just recently, I recalled my first motorcycle ride. I was about 13 and Charles Parks came over to my house on a Bridgestone 50. He sat on the back while I awkwardly rode the little bike around the house. I don't know why he insisted on ridin with me, I think he was afraid I'd wreck it if he didn't talk me through everything. But that short ride just fueled my desire to own a bike. And I think it's the reason I have this attraction to the sixties bikes with their fat fenders and scooter type handlebars!