Growing up, my best friends dad owned a small engine repair shop which also sold lawnmowers, snowblowers, snowmobiles, and motorcycles. They were a Bridgestone dealer, and through my friend who was a two years older than me, I was able to ride his motorcycles on the back roads where law enforcement wasn't a factor. Starting with the 50, then 90, and 175. By the time I was old enough to get my license, I was already a relatively seasoned rider, and it was about that time that Bridgestone came out with the 350. Great bike! I think it was the first with a 6 speed tranny, and first that produced more than 1hp per 10cc of displacement. It would cruise easily at 90, and if I laid down on the tank, and tucked in my knees and elbows, 120 was attainable. I too had a friend die though, which made me choose to have a little more protection surrounding me. I did get a Yamahopper shaft drive scooter some years later when I worked at HCMC in downtown Minneapolis in the late 70's early 80's so I could chain it to a street sign and not have to pay for parking. Could drive it all week on 50 cents worth of gas instead of $5/day parking.
