That's a remarkable amount of servicing for an original low mile bike it looks glorious, there were other seats with a velour vinyl texture that looked even more high-end, when I had mine I polished the aluminum like a mirror to hell with originality, but when it came to riding it kick-starting had an awful awkward effect of making my knee feel like it was going to boing backwards There's a similar story of Vespa scooter company when they built their V-Twin motorcycle race bike in the fifties being told by the other manufacturers stick to scooters or else because it was so effective
I lusted for one of these back in '68. I worked at the Steak 'n' Shake across from Northwest Plaza in St. Ann, Mo. These were sold at the J.C. Penney auto center at NW Plaza. As I recall, retail price was around $750. No way could I afford it on $1.25 an hour but I went by after every shift just to drool over the display. A year or so later I was able to afford a used Bridgestone 175 Hurricane Scrambler. That was the closest I could get to the GTR. The 175 Hurricane would acquit itself nicely against the Yamaha 250 Big Bear and would stomp the snot out of the Harley 250 Sprint (a re-badged Italian Aermacchi) so I was almost as happy with it in lieu of the GTR.
A lot of people don't know unfortunately he was forced to stop because it was either tires or motorcycles. I have a 68 trail TMX 100 and it is number 89 of the bikes made in 68.
My uncle bought one of these, his was a goldish yellow if I remember right, when he came back from the war in the late 60s. He rode it all over the country. Had it until the Honda 750K arrived in the early 70s. That thing was USED but he rode it everywhere.
Ah...the GTR! Introduced in 1967, it was arguably the most advanced two-stroke twin cylinder machine offered to the American riding public until the 1983 Yamaha RZ350 with its liquid-cooling, reed-valves and YPVS. The GTR had dual rotary valves, a dry racing-style clutch, 6-speed transmission, oil-injection, hard-chromed aluminum cylinders (like Yamaha's TD, TR, TA and TZ racers...as well as the famous RD-56 World Championship bike), anti-vibration engine mounts, a piggy-back alternator, sight-glasses for the transmission oil level as well as the engine injector oil tank and a double loop, single-backbone frame with a 54" wheelbase that actually handled well...in contrast to most of its Japanese competitors which were described as feeling like they had a "hinge in the middle." The only shortcoming of the engine design was the air filter. Tony Murphy and Bob Barker prepared a GTR-based road racer that went 149 mph in 1971 at Bonneville (within 1 mph of the record-setting Vesco/Carruthers Yamaha TR2), using an engine containing mostly modified standard parts...there being few "racing" parts available for the GTR. Wish that I had purchased one of these in 1972, rather than a Yamaha R-5B, which was likely the most over-rated bike of its time.
On a stock one, I wonder how much more power 2 properly tuned expansion pipes would create? It seems like with motorcycles, they're cool when brand new. Then after 10 -20 yrs they become considered old, outdated & unappealing to ride. Then after another 10-20 yrs they start to become cool again.
Grew up learning to ride on Bridgestone motorcycles. Still kick myself for buying a used Yamaha R-5 (likely the most over-rated bike of its time) in 1972 instead of spending the extra money for a new GTR (though I suspected that they were ending motorcycle production). I've had their tires as OEM on a couple of vehicles and Bridgestone made far better motorcycles than they do tires (I won't buy them).
Yep that was my first big motorcycle and it was a big motorcycle when you was a kid and you were going from a 90cc and it did pull like a freight train and it was awesome to cruise down the highway 6 gears Foward and then when you got in 5th a light came on the dash to let you know cuz it had a rotary shift you had to be careful
Interesting to see the engines red line is identical to the Jawa350 two stroke twin still available brand new today from F2 motorcycles in Britain. Premix only, no oil injection.
What a terrific bike that was. I got to drive my dad's GTR several times. Was there any truth to the rumor that the GTR had a weak transmission (second gear, if I recall correctly)?
These were sold at J.C. Penney's. I bought a 350 GTR used in 1968 when I was in high school. The bike screamed when it ran right but there were problems with the carbs and I sold it.
So I was wrong. So is oil injection like a 4 stroke dry sump lubrication system? It appears to have an oil tank, so does that mean it still burns oil and has to be regularly topped up or does it return the oil back to the tank?
Needed all that after 3,000 miles. Sounds like the speedometer cable may have been disconnected for a while. He needs to get out more often. There are a lot of better restorations out there. That is original rear tire.
After Tohatsu Corporation , which excelled in manufacturing technology for two-stroke motorcycle engines, ceased manufacturing and selling motorcycles, Bridgestone took over its technology and employees. That's why the engines and gas tanks have similar shapes.
That is not why Bridgestone stopped making bikes. Japanese Government wanted them to invest elsewhere. Looks like original rear tire. They wear out after about 6-8 thousand miles.
That's a remarkable amount of servicing for an original low mile bike it looks glorious, there were other seats with a velour vinyl texture that looked even more high-end, when I had mine I polished the aluminum like a mirror to hell with originality, but when it came to riding it kick-starting had an awful awkward effect of making my knee feel like it was going to boing backwards
There's a similar story of Vespa scooter company when they built their V-Twin motorcycle race bike in the fifties being told by the other manufacturers stick to scooters or else because it was so effective
Wow, the rarest of the rare! There were killer bikes.
I lusted for one of these back in '68. I worked at the Steak 'n' Shake across from Northwest Plaza in St. Ann, Mo. These were sold at the J.C. Penney auto center at NW Plaza. As I recall, retail price was around $750. No way could I afford it on $1.25 an hour but I went by after every shift just to drool over the display. A year or so later I was able to afford a used Bridgestone 175 Hurricane Scrambler. That was the closest I could get to the GTR. The 175 Hurricane would acquit itself nicely against the Yamaha 250 Big Bear and would stomp the snot out of the Harley 250 Sprint (a re-badged Italian Aermacchi) so I was almost as happy with it in lieu of the GTR.
In my fantasy motorcycle collection there is always a Bridgestone GTR.
Que moto rara não conhecia esse modelo o som dela é idêntico ao da Yamaha RD 350 ela é muito bonita .
didn't even know bridgestone made motorcycles in the first place, awesome bike .. this channel show's gem after gem after gem
A lot of people don't know unfortunately he was forced to stop because it was either tires or motorcycles. I have a 68 trail TMX 100 and it is number 89 of the bikes made in 68.
My uncle bought one of these, his was a goldish yellow if I remember right, when he came back from the war in the late 60s. He rode it all over the country. Had it until the Honda 750K arrived in the early 70s. That thing was USED but he rode it everywhere.
Ah...the GTR! Introduced in 1967, it was arguably the most advanced two-stroke twin cylinder machine offered to the American riding public until the 1983 Yamaha RZ350 with its liquid-cooling, reed-valves and YPVS. The GTR had dual rotary valves, a dry racing-style clutch, 6-speed transmission, oil-injection, hard-chromed aluminum cylinders (like Yamaha's TD, TR, TA and TZ racers...as well as the famous RD-56 World Championship bike), anti-vibration engine mounts, a piggy-back alternator, sight-glasses for the transmission oil level as well as the engine injector oil tank and a double loop, single-backbone frame with a 54" wheelbase that actually handled well...in contrast to most of its Japanese competitors which were described as feeling like they had a "hinge in the middle." The only shortcoming of the engine design was the air filter. Tony Murphy and Bob Barker prepared a GTR-based road racer that went 149 mph in 1971 at Bonneville (within 1 mph of the record-setting Vesco/Carruthers Yamaha TR2), using an engine containing mostly modified standard parts...there being few "racing" parts available for the GTR. Wish that I had purchased one of these in 1972, rather than a Yamaha R-5B, which was likely the most over-rated bike of its time.
On a stock one, I wonder how much more power 2 properly tuned expansion pipes would create?
It seems like with motorcycles, they're cool when brand new. Then after 10 -20 yrs they become considered old, outdated & unappealing to ride. Then after another 10-20 yrs they start to become cool again.
Brings back memories - one of those was my first street bike back in the 80s
Wow what a pretty bike, I had Kawasaki triples. I've had Bridgestone tyres on all my WRX car's.
My all-time favourite bikes, are always 2 strokes.
What, no smoke from a 2 stroke? I hope he didn't forget to put oil in the tank!
Bike has a nice sound👍
Is that manufactured by the same bridgestone that we know and love today?
Tyre company
Grew up learning to ride on Bridgestone motorcycles. Still kick myself for buying a used Yamaha R-5 (likely the most over-rated bike of its time) in 1972 instead of spending the extra money for a new GTR (though I suspected that they were ending motorcycle production). I've had their tires as OEM on a couple of vehicles and Bridgestone made far better motorcycles than they do tires (I won't buy them).
Yep that was my first big motorcycle and it was a big motorcycle when you was a kid and you were going from a 90cc and it did pull like a freight train and it was awesome to cruise down the highway 6 gears Foward and then when you got in 5th a light came on the dash to let you know cuz it had a rotary shift you had to be careful
Interesting to see the engines red line is identical to the Jawa350 two stroke twin still available brand new today from F2 motorcycles in Britain. Premix only, no oil injection.
I feel kinda ashamed I didn't know Bridgestone manufactured motorcycles, even though I am from Japan.
I used to be a mechanic for em
What a terrific bike that was. I got to drive my dad's GTR several times. Was there any truth to the rumor that the GTR had a weak transmission (second gear, if I recall correctly)?
These were sold at J.C. Penney's. I bought a 350 GTR used in 1968 when I was in high school. The bike screamed when it ran right but there were problems with the carbs and I sold it.
I loved mine but something vicious about the kickstarter almost kicked my knee out backwards a couple times and I said you got to go
Rode one way back in 1968, it is fast bike
So I was wrong. So is oil injection like a 4 stroke dry sump lubrication system? It appears to have an oil tank, so does that mean it still burns oil and has to be regularly topped up or does it return the oil back to the tank?
Needed all that after 3,000 miles. Sounds like the speedometer cable may have been disconnected for a while. He needs to get out more often. There are a lot of better restorations out there. That is original rear tire.
After Tohatsu Corporation , which excelled in manufacturing technology for two-stroke motorcycle engines, ceased manufacturing and selling motorcycles, Bridgestone took over its technology and employees. That's why the engines and gas tanks have similar shapes.
Love it.
Check for the Date Code on the Tire...
My Buddy had the 175, with lower gearing it was faster then my TM 125.
Needs rubber for kick starter 😁
How about a 11,000 rpm clutch drop to make sure it is restored proper
Redline starts at 6 and goes to 8.
They added the gas tank screen because most warranty problems were traced back to foreign material in the fuel system.
The 175s had a tank screen too, though most owners took them out.
If I need to know anything about a certain bike I go to the Kaplan American
encyclopedia. ✌🏼🤟🏼
That is not why Bridgestone stopped making bikes. Japanese Government wanted them to invest elsewhere. Looks like original rear tire. They wear out after about 6-8 thousand miles.
Ken I know you’re a good rider but for gods sake get a helmet on. I know you do most of the time but why didn’t you do it here?
:)
Its just a Yamaha's