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.
.....unfortunately the other major Japanese motorcycle manufacturers who all used Bridgestone tires on their bikes, decided they didn't like the success that Bridgestone was having, so told them if they continued to sell bikes, they would find another source for their tires. Since tire sales far exceeded revenue from bike sales, they stopped motorcycle production in about 1970.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.