Page 28 - Riding On Spring

1971 BRIDGESTONE GTO350
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NEVILLE'S PASSION

BUILT TO RUN

Readers may recall I presented my Bridgestone 175 in the 2016
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Bridgestones by adding a fabled GTR 350cc, but, alas many years
passed and no suitable candidate appeared. Bridgestone spares ZHUHQ¶W GHVLJQHG IRU VHULRXV R໤ URDG XVH UDWKHU WR VDIHO\ QHJR-
are rare, so a basket case restoration was too challenging and tiate gravel driveways. The GTO was Bridgestone’s contribution
ZRXOG SUREDEO\ QHYHU EH ¿QLVKHG and I believe that it’s the best incarnation of the aforementioned
design.
All things come to he who waits. The grape vine divulged a GTR in
great condition. Also, it was possible that the owner was prepared So why is the GTO so desirable? It’s very similar to the GTR
to sell me his extremely rare GTO. Photos were exchanged over ZLWK WKH VDPH HQJLQH IUDPH ZKHHOV DQG VHDW HWF EXW GL໤HUV LQ
subsequent months and before long I was travelling to Victoria, having a set of high braced handlebars, high blackened exhaust
trailer in tow, where this mythical bike resided. pipes with chrome stingers, a bash plate, less chrome and
polished metal. Very few were made, with the last models being
WOW! I could see that it’d be relatively easy to get it back on the yellow and pearl white. It must be mentioned that Bridgestone
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DQ LPSRUW DV WKH\ ZHUH QHYHU R໥FLDOO\ EURXJKW WR $XVWUDOLD 7KH use white pearlescent paint on their tanks, just for the late
similar GTR was imported in small numbers and are now highly model GTOs. The narrow velour topped racing seat completes
sought after by Bridgestone tragics. It included a key tag indicat- the amazing picture. The highly polished induction case
ing that it last turned a wheel in Elk River, Minnesota, maybe 1971 covers add to the opulence of the total package. Residing under
and had just 3,268 miles on the clock. those covers are the rotary disk-valves Bridgestone pioneered in
1966 and featured in all Bridgestones. They enable controlled
Back in the mid to late 60’s, all Japanese manufacturers sold a amounts of fuel/air into the carbies at optimum timing for more
µ6WUHHW 6FUDPEOHU´ 7KHVH ZHUH PRGL¿HG URDG PDFKLQHV XVXDOO\ power and torque. All this cutting edge technology and high
adorned with higher handlebars, high pipes and little else. They
RIDING ON 28