Bikes & Parts GONE FOREVER

[kleindorf]

Every now and then I check to see what Rick Brett is up to on his website.He is an astute Englishman who has been exporting bikes and parts by the container load for many years back to the U.K. Generally a Kawasaki specialist for triples and Z1's but always buying vintage Japanese of any stripe these days.The English who do pay outrageous races for virtually anything keep on consuming.I believe Rick to be an honest reputable dealer so no sour grapes from me.The moral is buy locally or within N. America NOW because soon ALL the vintage Japanese bikes and parts will have been sold never to be available for our use.The photos on the website show LOTS of NOS OEM parts ready for shipping.Maybe the parts will appear again as an on-line auction. These auctions are a boon to hobbyists of all persuasions but it is a time consuming, expensive, possibly semi-fraudulent way to restore anything.Bridgestones like Marusho's,Lilac,Tohatsu,Hodaka are all niche brands,lets keep them here.Our hobby is somewhat of a sunset hobby as younger people just don't have an interest in old motorcycles or cars.Making a good buck is fine and dandy but don't delude yourself by thinking another '69 Kawasaki H1 or 350 GTR is easy or affordable to purchase as a replacement whenever you want.

[RayK]

I understand how you must feel re the export of Japanese motorcycles from the US, the brands that you mentioned were also exported to Australia from Japan in the 1960s, albeit in smaller numbers. They are also very collectable in Australia (population 22 million), so parts availablity from the USA (population 330 million) is great for those of us that are restoring the available bikes here. The movement of bikes and parts internationally is all part of free enterprise and the free trade agreements. This is evidenced by the huge number of Harleys exported to Oz. The market here for old bikes is quite strong - see the link to current eBay below:

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/Motorcycles-/32073/i.html?rt=nc&Product%2520Type=Classic%252C%2520Collector%2520Bikes&_catref=1&_dmpt=AU_Motorcycles&_fln=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

RayK

[Mike Anderson]

Hi Ray,
 I took a look at the list. Not a Bridgestone product to be found. Kinda wild.
Thanks Mike

[ziggy stardust]

I know Rick Brett, dealt with him many years ago when I was restoring my triple, see him now and again at shows, good guy. Yes his bikes and parts are predominately from the States but he imported for the love of the marque and as an earner as well but so many are now jumping on the bandwagon with only one interest, to make a quick buck.

We do pay too much for the imported bikes as we seem to do with most things, ever heard the title 'rip off Britain'? Luxury items are heavily taxed, petrol (gas) is 80% tax at almost $12 per gallon, the parasitic government has even recently added 20% tax to take away hot pies.

Sorry I digress, getting back to the bikes, so who is in the wrong? The seller knowing the bikes are going abroad or the buyer/importer? Is it wrong at all? As stated in the earlier post it's a free market, as an example look at all the manufacturing jobs we have lost to Asia.

Early days but the supply of good quality classic bikes will dry up.

Z

[coxy]

i will say this again .if it was not for the availability of parts & BIKES from the states we would not be able to build and restore this classic  marque .if something was to blame for the loss of bikes from the states you could blame technology eg.the internet .
                                         sharing is caring

[farmerdl]

It's not just the bikes.  A friend of mine just sold his xk120 Jaguar to someone in England.  They just offered more money.  It has become a worlwide market and if someone else is willing to pay more that's where it's going to go.  For a long time we were kind of spoiled.  We had a lot of desirable bikes and cars, and a lot of other items too, here in the states.  We bought these things largely as toys or luxury items and people in other parts of the world used them for everyday transport.  So now we've got the supply and they now have the cash to pay for it.  If we want these bikes, and cars, etc, to stay here we have to up our ante and not just mope and complain.

dl

[Sno Jet]

I don't know if it was just the New England(USA) region or the time I grew up in,  but the Japanese bikes never got a lot of respect like the European bikes.  A lot of people just did not want them. 

[paul]

Do you think that from 1959 to about 1969 that most of the Japanese bikes sold in the US were considered disposables?

[Bikenstein]

In the south, I don't recall these early bikes being considered disposable. I rebuilt plenty of Hondas and Kawasakis. Didn't get a lot of mileage out of the two strokes, though. Honda had a bigger following in our area. Yamaha was second as far as Japanese bikes. Only one Bridgestone 350 GTR in a 100 mile radius at least, and it was mine. Blew em all away. It was gone by the time the Mach III and CB750 came out. I think lighters and razors became disposable about that time

[Sno Jet]

I guess I should have been a bit more specific.  The time frame I am talking about is when the bikes began to hit "used" status.   There were so many of them that they were not appreciated.

I guess we have been pretty spoiled over here including with the Bridgestones.  You don't miss things until their gone.