Bridgestone Motorcycles was a branch of the Bridgestone Tire Company that began operations in 1952. Initially, the company began to produce power-assisted bicycles, before eventually expanding to mopeds and full-size motorcycles. Bridgestone Motorcycles achieved a good period of success, and their motorcycles were well known for their high level of engineering and specifications. It was due to this high quality that Bridgestone motorcycles were very expensive to build and buy, and as such, did not sell as well as anticipated. Eventually, in 1970, Bridgestome Tire Co shut down Bridgestone Motorcycles in order to be able to maintain their tire business.