Classic Garage (Barn) find, have known about this baby for a bit and things fell my way and she became mine about a year ago,
a Bridgestone 175cc two stroke. (Yep you read correct) Bridgestone of tyre fame had a stint making motor bikes in the late sixties
and early seventies. They had quite a unique set up having a mechanical rotary fuel pump, very fast to the extent that the other
japanese bike manufactures put pressure on Bridgestone telling them if they didn't stop making the bikes they would stop buying
the tyres, yep corporate bulling in the seventies, Bridgestone gave in and their bikes ceased to exist!
How she was when I picked her up.
The original plan was to clean her up put her back together and one day when funds and time allow have a crack at getting her running.
Where I am lucky to live the speed limit is 25klms and we have around 9klms of road with few hills so I was thinking about electrifying her.
After searching the net I found a guy quite close by, Jon Eggenhuizen has a company called Catavolt in Newcastle on the east coast, he
made me up a suitable 12 volt set up and with not to much fiddling she is in a running. Of course quiet and no exhaust fumes!
Now she is no speed demon but does not have to be 25klm speed limit, for the purest worried about damaging the jem I managed to use
the original engine mounts for the engine and battery holder. Original chain too, she had 12 volt lights and horn, no indicators will go for
rego inspection next week.
Amazing little piece of history you have there! Did you keep the engine to rebuild?
Yeah she is nice and I guess a bit different with the electric engine. Have kept the two stroke and no mods to the frame
so could refit the original engine easy peasy.
cool conversion, especially if it's all easily reversible. What sort of range and charge time?
Haven't really tested out the range side of things, with a standard 12 volt charger the battery will take a couple of days to charge, have plans to
go solar charger down the track.
You need to use a deep cycle battery to handle the up and down nature of the way the voltage is being used.
You should rebuild that two smoker!
Small capacity two strokes are awesome. Do the battery and solar thing in a postie or something similar.
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