Bridgestone Chibi minibike

My friend John has been keeping me up to date on his retirement progress. Just what do Motorcycle enthusiasts do when they retire? It’s simple, build, fix or restore all of those motorcycles you wanted to do, all the years your life was interrupted by work and life. That’s pretty much what John has been doing. This is just one of the his latest projects, a 1970 Bridgestone Chibi minibike

"I got it about 7 years ago and it had been painted many times (even with a brush). It took me 3 days to remove the old paint with chemical stripper. I've primed and painted it with the proper color orange at Hops Auto in Hampton with a big spray gun, and also clear coated it.

I have chased down a reproduction tank and body stickers to apply after the paint cures.

I still have a lot of hard work on a nasty (but running) engine and wheels before I can put it back together. I have waited so long to start it because it was VERY hard to find New Old Stock (NOS) cables and some other parts. Im still hunting for one last piece. By the way, do you know of something I can let soak in a gas tank that'll remove rust?

Hope you like the pictures. John"

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

"I took some Bridgestone Chibi minibike parts to be re-chromed to Hanlon Plating in Richmond today. I was expecting to pay more than they quoted. I took 2 upper fork clamp bolts, two 8" brake backing plates, 2 handlebars, and the engines generator cover, and for $150 I'll have beautiful parts back in two weeks.

Since all my paint work is finished (and beautiful, if I must say so myself) I'll have this time to try to make the engine look new. I want to bead blast (or some other gentler than sand medium) the small engine. I will merely plug up the ports and openings to keep the blasting material from getting inside, and go over the finned cylinders and casings just enough to make them shiny. Do you know where the blasting beads can be purchased so I can do it myself?

Thanks, John" Wednesday, July 23, 2008

"Chibi is sporting newly chromed bars and wheel backing plates. Engine is still at Peninsula Custom Coating waiting to be bead blasted. Hope they're gonna do it. Its been there over a week.

John

p.s. These 60cc 2-stroke Bridgestones are capable of over 45mph. They and the Kawasaki (relatively rare) minibikes were the fastest of the early 70's minibikes."

Friday, August 01, 2008

"Engine was walnut shell blasted. I polished engine side covers.
New fasteners, all cables, foot pegs, headlight rim, brake shoes.
Engine re-hung.
Wiring hooked up, carb ultrasonic cleaned (can't install until rubber cover boot arrives with next parts order).
Scrambler type high exhaust reinstalled (cant see in photo).
Waiting for chain adjusters (mine were missing) and about 20 additional small parts to arrive before I can call it done.
Thanks for bike of the week. This has been frustrating but fulfilling at the same time. The parts availability has been tough on this one.

Im going to the White Rose motorcycle club in Jefferson Pa. next month to the annual Vintage Japanese motorcycle show and swap meet. If you want me to, I'll take my old digital camera and shoot some shots of it for BENEWS.

John"