Shop Motorcycle Gear,
Parts and Apparel.

2010 Bridgestone Tire Japan Motorcycle Tour Photo Gallery

Tokyo Bay - Japan Motorcycle Tour

Come along for the ride as Motorcycle USA tours Japan with Bridgestone Tires on an unforgettable motorcycle travel experience.

The Strangers dance at Yoyogi Park.

Downtime allows for extra coats of aerosol hairspray, dramatic slow-motion combs through lacquered hair.

The Lebels, attired in black jeans and leather jackets, politely wait their turn.

Twist and shout - Yoyogi Park

Impromptu air guitars and Elvis gestures are prevalent as they pivot on worn black cowboy boots, held together by electrical tape - Yoyogi Park

Balloon animal anyone? - Tokyo's Yoyogi Park

Free hugs at Yoyogi Park.

The tire building process at Bridgestone's Nasu plant begins.

With various layers added, including steel belts, a final outer layer is applied and what is called a 'green tire' gets ready for the curing process.

Sealed chambers control pressure and temperature as the green tire cures.

The mold released and curing process complete, the tire emerges with tread and is almost ready for inspection.

Close up of tire upon exit of curing chamber. Note the small nubs through out the tire. Called spew by the Bridgestone folks, most are removed, with only the edges remaining usually. The spew are formed from small holes in the tire mold, designed to release pressure in uniform manner during the curing process.

Every tire is visually checked by human inspector for imperfections.

Passing inspection, the latest Bridgestone rubber is off to its new home - a motorcycle wheel.

Bridgestone Nasu Plant in Tochigi.

Bridgestone's Tochigi Proving Grounds

The world's largest tire - Bridgestone Nasu Plant

Testing the Bridgestone BT-023 at the Japanese firm's Tochigi Proving Grounds.

Turning laps at the Bridgestone Proving Grounds.

Testing at the Bridgestone Proving Grounds.

The Ueno motorcycle district in Tokyo.

One of the many gear shops in Tokyo's Ueno district.

A typical motorcycle shop in Tokyo's Ueno district.

A host of small motorcycle shops display used bikes on the street in front of garage doors, the mechanics working on customer bikes just feet away from the sidewalk.

Tokyo Bay and Sumida River view.

Late night at the Ueno district and the bikes are lined up ready for buyers.

What's Pocari Sweat? The label says: Pocari Sweat is a healthy beverage that smoothly supplies the lost water and electrolytes during perspiration. With the appropriate density and electrolytes, close to that of human body fluid, it can be easily absorbed into the body. Yummy!