Bridgestone 175cc or 200cc?

[MarkBennett]

Hello Bridgestone experts

 I sent the following message to Richard and he simply says that anomalies are common with early 200cc bikes being made up out of remaining 175cc stock frames etc.

' I got the link to your e-mail from a reproduced article by Graham Weeks concerning the identification of Bridgestone Motorcycles. I am not sure if you are a great expert on these.I have recently imported a Bridgestone Scrambler from the USA which I was advised was a 200cc model. It has a left hand side cover with M11 RS in the shape of a shield and is in period candy red as is the rest of the bike. THe emblem appears to be secured with factory rivets. This would suggest it is a 200cc but the Road Sport not the Street Scrambler. It appears that the 200cc was not introduced until 1968 and our machine's Certificate of Title says it is a 1966. The three ID numbers would confirm that it is a 1966 175 Hurricane. The VIN is 16L-22063 Frame TA1-22095 and Engine TA1-22200 i.e. December 1966. The early Hurricanes seem to have an oil tank filler inset into the front of the petrol tank whereas ours has the oil tank integral to the RHS side panel. The oil tank side panel does not have a Hurricane emblem or any holes to suggest there has been one. Do you think the lhs M11 RS  cover has been removed from a later motorcycle and fitted to replace the original. This motorcycle is in very good overall condition and nothing appears to have been repainted yet the side panel seems to be an exact colour and wear match for the rest of the tins.'

I wondered what anybody else has to say on the subject. My Bridgestone is definitely a scrambler with upswept exhausts but the side cover says MII RS (Road Sport). The VIN plate says 175 Dual Twin and the numbers are above. I could really do with knowing definitely whether my bike is a 175 or 200. Is it a 175 Hurricane with wrong side cover or a very early 200cc with 175 IDs? Were all early 200s badged as RS? Your thoughts.

Regards


Mark

[Jeff McBrayer]

I too think that there are a mix of 175 and 200 bits on early 200 production, if fact they seemed to put 200 engines into 175 at the start, I guess it was just  a small company using up parts. Jeff

[MarkBennett]

Thanks Jeff

Do you know how early the 200cc bikes started? My research suggests 1968 but my IDs seem to be December 1966. Perhaps they started manufacturing in 1967 for the 1968 model year and my late '66 parts were used. The TA1 prefix on the engine casing is per a 175 but perhaps the block/crank/pistons etc are 200cc spec. nevertheless. Is there anyway of externally identifying a 200cc engine?

Regards

Mark

[BSOrion]

Check the base of the left cylinder to see if there is a 200cc stamp.  My RS200 has one; however, yours is a bit older so...

Orion

[reed]

BSOrion
Nice to see you back!
How are doing with your Bridgestone.
Thanks.
Steve.

[MarkBennett]

Hi Orion

Thanks for your reply I can't see a stamp on LHS cylinder to say 175 or 200cc. Not sure exactly where to look?  How early is your 200? You say it is an RS (Road Sport) which is the same as the badge on mine. I take it yours has road exhausts  not the Scrambler ones that are on mine? If anybody else has any further comments or observations they would be appreciated.

Thanks

Mark

[BSOrion]

Mark,

Unfortunately, I'm out of town until next weekend or I would double-check the location of the stamp on mine.  Its a 71 MK II RS (yep... low pipes).  As I recall, the "200cc" on mine is stamped onto a 1" wide x 1/4" high protrusion that was cast as part of the cylinder.  It's a little difficult to see as it is located just above where the cylinder meets the case.  Richard Clark was the one that told me to look there as I was trying to determine if mine had the cylinders replaced.  I'm not sure how else to verify other than doing a displacement test somehow.

I regret that I can't be of more help.

Orion

[OldSwartout]

There is a difference in the exterior of the cylinder casting on the 200 vs. 175.  The 200 cylinders have 2 small round ejection pin pads cast into the 5th fin up from the bottom. Search for e-bay items 260703602164 & 260664020375 or bsorion's blue 200 in the gallery  http://bridgestonemotorcycleparts.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=397.  From a distance, it looks like two gaps in the fin. If you look for those, you can spot a 200 from 20 feet away.

[MarkBennett]

Hi There

Thanks very much for the info. My bike does not have the gaps in the fifth fin which together with the 1966 build date and the ID nos. I guess proves it is a 175. It has the upswept exhausts although the main VIN plate says 175 dual twin. I don't know if all 175 plates say this even if the bike is a Hurricane Scrambler. Are there any differences between and DT and an HS except for the exhausts? It would appear I have a later left hand side cover from a Mach II RS. If I replace this with a square Hurricane 175 badge or complete cover will this make the bike correct? The RHS cover just has the two stroke oil level window in it and an 'Oil Injection' sticker with no badges and no holes to suggest there was one. Probably because the cover has the oil tank integral to it. Any further comments or advice would be appreciated!!!

Thanks

Mark

[jwhite2]

If you decide you dont want that left side cover (for whatever reason) I am currently in the market for one!  I have an old MKII RS that needs one.

[MarkBennett]

Hi

If I end up getting a complete LHS Hurricane side cover and this one is surplus to requirements I will let you know! If anybody has a left hand Hurricane cover or a Hurricane badge please get in touch.

Thanks

Mark

[jwhite2]

Mark,

Someone here can probably tell you exactly where but there was someone making repros of most of those decals for the Bridgestone bikes.  Maybe I just dreamed that but I think you can find them somewhere.  Check fleabay if nothing else, they show up there in small numbers.

John

[moonpup]

Mark,

Someone here can probably tell you exactly where but there was someone making repros of most of those decals for the Bridgestone bikes.  Maybe I just dreamed that but I think you can find them somewhere.  Check fleabay if nothing else, they show up there in small numbers.

John

Don't forget to check with Richard for decals or emblems.   If he doesn't have them, here's a site that has a few....

http://kz900.com/decals/bridgestone/decals-bridgestone.html