Bridgestone Motorcycle Parts Discussion Board

Bridgestone Tech Talk => 350 Talk => Topic started by: AlanJohn on December 09, 2017, 02:51:29 AM

Title: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: AlanJohn on December 09, 2017, 02:51:29 AM
Does anybody know why some gtos have all black dials and some have clocks top edged in white.
Is it for the ones with the all white tank and black graphics? Or is it random?
Would be good to know.
Alan John
Title: Re: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: moonpup on December 09, 2017, 09:09:18 AM
 nopics

No really, I'd be interested in seeing what you're referring to. I've checked all the instrument clocks I have and none of them have a white edge, but then again, I don't have any from the 71 bikes.....
Title: Re: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: AlanJohn on December 09, 2017, 10:27:32 AM
If you look in the gallery my first GTO picture and one of my gold ones also in the gallery has white edged clocks and was definetly factory done not by a previous owner, by the way that was a temporary powder coated white on that first GTO pictured and has now been resprayed in the correct pearl white and looks so much better l will post some new pictures soon and show you
Alan John
Title: Re: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: moonpup on December 09, 2017, 10:47:03 AM
Is this what you're referring to... (see pic)

I thought you were talking about the dial faces, not the outer case top rim. I'm pretty sure all factory instrument cases were originally painted all black.

Can't really say why yours would be white? 
Title: Re: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: moonpup on December 09, 2017, 10:50:29 AM
Also, here's a pic of a 71 GTR brochure that shows the clocks were all black...
Title: Re: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: BRT-GTR on December 09, 2017, 10:54:54 AM
           I have at least one pair of 350 clocks that have an unpainted aluminium top rim as factory supplied ?, mine are not painted white.  Have often wondered when and where they were used.
Title: Re: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: AlanJohn on December 09, 2017, 11:35:20 AM
Yes the bike on the ramp is what l'am referring to l have two bikes like that and just wondered why they are different .
Title: Re: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: BS Mechanic on December 09, 2017, 11:48:22 AM
I'm pretty sure all were painted black originally.  The ones you see that show aluminum are ones that sat in the sun sometime over the years.  The paint wasn't very durable and comes off with a bit of sun exposure.  Look on the under side of the trim ring where the paint was protected by the rubber ring and you should see black paint, the same as the lower body.
Title: Re: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: AlanJohn on December 09, 2017, 12:28:25 PM
This is definetly not sun damaged its done in the factory l've seen them advertised over the years on eBay in black and also white edged.
It would seem to flow nice over the bike with a pearl white tank looking at the dials matching in pearl white. It would be nice to know.
Title: Re: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: moonpup on December 09, 2017, 01:24:47 PM
On the back of the 1971 GTR brochure pictured above, are pictures & info of the GTR's brother... the 1971 GTO.

While I don't have a saved pic of the full brochure, here's a pic (albeit a rough one) of the 71 white GTO from the factory and you'll again notice all black clocks.

I've never seen the "white" ones that you've seen on eBay. Do you have any saved pics from any of those listings?

Can't imagine they would have gone to the trouble of painting/making a separate batch of clocks for the 71 white GTO's knowing that they would be going out of the motorcycle business after this production run.

Who knows though..... I've been wrong before!   ;D  :o  ;D
Title: Re: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: davis on December 09, 2017, 05:34:02 PM
I think BS Mechanic nailed it. See pic. Note the wear beginning on the right speedometer bezel and a little black paint left on the left one.
Title: Re: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: AlanJohn on December 10, 2017, 02:44:39 AM
Thanks to everybody ,black it will be.
Title: Re: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: BRT-GTR on December 10, 2017, 11:48:18 AM
        Ventured out into the icy wasteland that is my workshop at this time of year. Closer inspection of the aluminium rimmed clocks showed the rims had been off at some time and a previous owner had carefully cleaned the black paint off. Still a few traces on the back.  So that explains that one, yup, they were all originally black.
Title: Re: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: AlanJohn on December 10, 2017, 02:50:00 PM
One of mine is definetly painted white the other looks faded.
If you get fed up with your GTO l can give it a new warm home in Somerset with four of its relatives.
Call me anytime.
Alan
Title: Re: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: BRT-GTR on December 11, 2017, 07:52:15 AM
             Get fed up with a Bridgestone ?????.............How could that possibly happen ????  ;D :D ;D....   Nice try ;)

   Fear not my friend, she is safely tucked up with a couple of stablemate GTRs for company, happy as a nut in a set of spanners.    Gets turned over every few days,  I don't start them up during cold weather, it leaves a lot of water in the pipes  :'( :'(

       No Bridgestones were harmed in the production of this post.  ::)                             Best wishes,  Brian. 

       
Title: Re: GTO instrument clocks
Post by: AlanJohn on December 11, 2017, 10:06:51 AM
Nice one ,but if you don't ask you don't get
Thanks for your help
Kind regards
Alan