Additional photos of this Bridgestone 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. A few years later, they introduced a bike specifically for the American market. It was called the SR100, and as they put it in marketing materials, it was “a limited production model designed and built for one purpose — to win.”
There was never any intent to make this street legal – it was just to compete in dirt track racing. It featured a “special modified and race-tuned 100cc engine, special carburetion, hand-polished ports, and racing ignition system.” There’s no generator or flywheel, and the engine modifications resulted in a claimed 14 horsepower (up from 10).
This example is VIN:Â KW006880, Engine #: 20N001587. The seller acquired it twenty years ago from a private seller.
There is no odometer, true mileage is unknown.
The seller notes that the bike ran when he purchased it, however it has been on display in his collection for two decades and does not currently start.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Pirelli tires that have aged out.
There is no key. Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Bridgestone is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Have any SR100 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
