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Endpoint: Bridgestone (Motorcycles)



created on: 16/12/2025
by: Lo55o (13978)
 
 

Brand properties

General info :
Bridgestone motorcycles was a division of the Bridgestone Tire Co. of Kyobashi, Tokyo, Japan that produced mopeds and motorcycles from 1952 to 1970.
Initially producing power assisted bicycles, the division moved on to producing mopeds and then motorcycles. The motorcycles were technologically advanced and powered by two-stroke engines. The high technical specification resulted in the machines being more expensive compared to other manufacturers models. Production was stopped in 1970 to protect the supply of tyres to other manufacturers.

In 1946 the tyre manufacturer Bridgestone started to produce bicycles and in 1949 the Bridgestone Cycle Company was formed. In 1950 an agreement was formed with Fuji Seimitsu Jogyo (Fuji Precision Engineering Company - now part of Nissan) to supply auxiliary engines for these bicycles. Initially the engines were supplied separately but from 1952 Bridgestone produced a bicycle fitted with the engine, the BS21 Bambi. The 26 cc engine was mounted above the rear wheel and was inverted. The rear wheel was driven by a friction drive on the tyre. 38 cc BS-31 and 49 cc BS-41 were later added.

In 1958 the first motorcycles were produced. The initial model, BS Champion, had a pressed-steel frame and was powered by a fan-cooled 50-cc two-stroke engine.

Most of the production was exported to the USA. The US importer was Rockford Motors in Rockford, Illinois. Bridgestone tyre suppliers to the "big four" (Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki), and following pressure from those companies, Bridgestone agreed not to compete with them in the home market.

In the early 1960s, the Japanese motorcycle industry took a downturn. Bridgestone's core business of tyre manufacture kept the company secure and they took on engineers from Lilac and Tohatsu when those companies stopped motorcycle production. These engineers were responsible for a new range of motorcycle, initially with the 90 cc BS-90 in 1965. This was followed by the BS-50 and BS-175 in 1965 and the BS-350 in 1967. These machines were powered by state of the art disc valve two strokes which Tohatsu had previously been involved in.

The advanced technical specification resulted in high production costs and a resulting high retail price. The 350 GTR sold in some areas at about the same price as the 650 cc Triumph Bonneville. The high price caused the motorcycles to sell in smaller quantities than other Japanese motorcycles. The other Japanese motorcycle companies again pressured Bridgestone, this time to either supply them tyres or to manufacture motorcycles but not both. In order to protect its interests supplying tyres to other manufacturers, Bridgestone pulled out of motorcycle manufacturing in 1970. The factory space was converted to tyre production.

The remaining stock of motorcycles and some spares were sold to Rockford Motors in the US who continued to sell the machines until stocks ran out. Some machines were sent unpainted and finished in the US.

Tooling and manufacturing rights for the 60cc and 100cc machines were sold to BS Tailung in Taiwan. Tailung manufactured the engines and mounted them in their own cycle parts to make trail and mini-bikes. These were sold to Rockford who marketed them as the Chibi, Taka and Tora. Production ceased in 1975.
Relations :
Brand name used by [- 1970] : Bridgestone Tire Co.
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Item number : 71558

Submitted by : Lo55o (13978)
on : 16/12/2025
Refined by : Lo55o (13978)
Last updated on: 16/12/2025