Additional photos of this Bridgestone Dual Twin project are available here for your perusal.
The Bridgestone Group is the world’s largest manufacturer of tires and other rubber products such as industrial materials and sporting goods, but for a couple of decades they also made motorcycles. They started building bikes in 1958 and were highly successful on the race track thanks to several features that were ahead of their time. So why did they stop making bikes? Well, their Japanese motorcycle competitors were also their customers when it came to tires, and the dramatic (but unconfirmed) rumor is that companies like Honda and Yamaha made it clear that they wouldn’t supply their products with Bridgestone tires if they continued to build motorcycles.
In 1964, Bridgestone introduced a lineup of bikes ranging from 50cc to 350cc – the middle was a standard called the 175 Dual Twin, which basically utilized two of their 90cc single engines merged together. The 177cc engine produced 20 horsepower and the bike weighed 271 pounds. At 25 miles per hour, this bike could return 129 miles per gallon!
The Dual Twin featured expensive rotary valves, fully-enclosed carbs, the first oil mixing system that Bridgestone used, and a “Sport-Shift” lever, a lever on the left side of the transmission that enabled a manual overdrive function enabling a top speed bump from 65 to about 80-85 miles per hour.
All that would set you back $599 back in 1970. For more on the Dual Twin, check out this scan of a road test from Cycle Magazine hosted on Bridgestone Motorcycle.
This example is VIN: TA109551. Engine# TA1-09660. The seller acquired it in 2008 from a close friend in Japan who sent over a shipping container’s worth of Bridgestones.
The odometer shows 2,682 miles.
The seller’s plan was to restore it but he hasn’t had the time and realizes he won’t get to it so he wants it to find a new home.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Inside of the tank:
There is a spot for an ignition key, but no key is included in the sale.
Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Bridgestone is offered on a clean California title. Have any questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
