Modify and be damned

Andy J

Andy J

Hero member
Location
Isle of Man
I thought I would start this new thread as many threads get high jacked by debates over the whys and wherefores of ‘improvements’ etc to our aging pride and joys, a good example being the recent shock thread.
Sometimes the debates over the modifications are technically evidenced and can be more easily justified (e.g. ignition/carburettor issues), but often the new fitment etc is down to personal preference and therefore subjective, not that it necessarily means the choice is wrong. However, one man’s improvement is another’s anathema.
I have ‘modified/improved/wrecked’ etc many a Laverda over the past 40 odd years so am just as much open to acclaim or criticism as anyone else who owns a non-standard Laverda.
Many years ago I was advised , and this doesn’t just relate to bikes, never do anything that isn’t reversible as sometime in the future you may regret what was done. Probably wise words, not that I have always observed the advice.
I am also mindful of the reply I got from Jason Griffiths recently when I commented about the ugly looks of the new 765 Triumph triple and how I would want to change it. His blunt response was, well perhaps you better go and look elsewhere for that bike.
So if we want a bike that handles like and is as reliable as a Suzuki Gixer then perhaps that is what we should all buy?
Over to you folks…….
 
I’ve modified every motorbike I’ve ever owned.

Only one currently in the stable is stock, apart from the exhaust changed … oh and the Stage Two Dyno kit, oh and a wider rear rim and tyre. Oh yeah the rear shock ……. anyway.
 
My Guzzi Falcone is modified to run 12 volts, an excellent mod.
Otherwise, I appreciate my old bikes, warts and all though I do a few small mods to make them more practical or user friendly. But an old bike, is just that.
Our Laverda do very well what they were designed for and mostly with an excellent reliability.

Paul
 
Why do manufacturers like Laverda offer different bikes in different styles, colors, etc. and do offer options for it? Because taste differs. Laverda did offer a wide range of bikes from 50ccm to 1200ccm, from touring over sport to offroad (well, kind of...). You could order I think 15 different colors, different heads (triples), cams, partly exhausts etc. etc. etc. So - why should one not individualize the bike to suit ones taste if Laverda offered it ex factory?
I find it weird that people judge over other peoples bikes and how they have to treat them. Everyone may do what they want with their rides. Sure I don't have to like it, but also nothing wrong if others do.I think though it's wrong to criticize people that want their Laverda to work or look better in their eyes. Best example: there is a guy in Germany with a pink sprayed Cico-style Laverda bike. Would I paint mine in pink? Hell, no! But if it floats his boat - so may be it. Sure he gets a lot of attention and also for sure, he had a reason to paint it pink. Should he bring it back to factory standards (and if so - to which, considering the options that were offered...) and dislike potentially what he ends up with? Why? Just to satisfy people that want collectors bikes? Not my way really, but OK if others see it differently!

A bit of tolerance is never wrong I feel. I took a basic bike and developed based on that my own bike, which I love to ride (and just did on the last weekend for 1.000km roughly). Have I thought about buying a new bike to get rid of the problems? Oh yes, more than once to be honest (and that would have potentially definitely been the cheaper route... But I wouldn't have had the fun that you get when all of a sudden, things work as they should...

I am not the most talented rider and I typically shy-out more than I ride "with a knife between my teeth". However, the bike now with the modifications done gives me the confidence back that I lost with the original setup due to several slips and drops of the bike. I can focus on fun, on corners etc. without worrying to much about how the bike will try to kill me (which the 750 did several times, so did the Jota innitially). Maybe I should have sold it years ago instead of investing into it to improve it, who knows? If I ever change my mind, I could go back any time, as all the parts are still there...

Years ago, I restored a 1000 SFC Classic. I rode the bike right after I rode my modified 1000 SFC and although the Classic was a great bike, it did not have the punch, the stability and handling of my 1000 SFC. Freeing up the potential of these bikes is really big fun. If they don't break though...
 
I like useful unobtrusive mods but to be honest with Laverdas I like the standard looks, that's what attracted me to them in the first place. Maybe not the 1200TS styling though.
 
Mine looks mostly standard, apart from the contemporaneous Kawasaki KH mirrors.
It does have much better tyres than the OEM 4.10 H18 TT100 Dunlops it came with, which were very much of their time and capable of being worn out, from new, in less than 800 miles. My current choice: Bridgestone BT46 V18s last more than 9,000.
Who, in their right mind, would want to go back to those Dunlops?
I, also, have a vastly superior DID 'O'-ring final drive chain, bigger valves, bigger pistons, gas-flowed head, custom-built 18swg steel exhausts, 3.00 rear rim to enable larger section tyres, LED lights and indicators, Maxton SD20 equipped forks and T260 shocks, drilled discs, 4 pot Brembo calipers and, as an aid to much increased long distance riding comfort, a gel pad equipped seat.
I'm contemplating replacing the 48 year-old Dellortos with Mikuni CRs
The exterior modifications are all reversible, but that is irrelevant because I have no plans to sell, least of all to a rivet-counter.


Mayday Hastings 2023 (crop).jpg
 
Given that all bikes, cars, boats etc. are built to a price, then why not, should you wish, buy other components that you think will improve your bike/bikes for you?
Have I not modified my bike by using modern oil, spark plugs, brake pads and tyres?
I chose what I chose for financial, practical, and reliability reasons but also for appearance (beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all).
Not in that order I might add.
One of my bikes is a bit like Trigger's broom, but as the model progressed some parts in later models were an improvement over earlier stock parts so I replace with those, sometimes.
I've owned the bike over thirty years and put close to 250,000 miles on it so I think I've made sensible mods.
Other opinions available.
How far does one need to go to keep things original? Should I ride back to the manufacturers location to replenish tyre air?
Should I use the same tyres as the year of manufacture? 😆 NO! Not me.
I don't race so extra performance is gained by buying a higher performing bike.

If someone doesn't like what I've done; then good for me, one less person likely to nick my bike.
 
I have modded TOG over the last 42 years, as my needs change so does the bike, but realy if something breaks, I try to fix it so that it cannot ever break again, even if this creates a non stock look, see notorious clutch slave fixed for good and carrier that replaced factory item which cracked about the third time I (over) loaded it

we had better not start talking about my derelict Egli, the only stock item on that is the engine/gearbox unit, and even that has some SFC parts init and they are wrong/not compatible as well!
CLEM
 

Attachments

  • hydraulic clutch repair 1.jpg
    hydraulic clutch repair 1.jpg
    10.3 KB · Views: 30
  • carrier.jpg
    carrier.jpg
    50.8 KB · Views: 28
It’s not standard! 🤔Now I like a standard bike, if I’m looking to buy I would probably go with a bog stocker that hasn’t been mucked about with.I think it’s a shame when people use a perfectly good stock bike and put a brown seat, exhaust wrap, fibre glass mudguards…. My own Guzzi has BMW mirrors, grips, s/steel exhaust and diaphragm carbs but will never be for sale.
My old mate Goddard reckoned there was no such thing as a standard British bike back in the day- people would swap anything bits that fitted-they were all bitzas. More important they’re ridden really..
 

Attachments

  • D5A86BD1-048B-4ED3-A8E9-6F969CC95797.jpeg
    D5A86BD1-048B-4ED3-A8E9-6F969CC95797.jpeg
    293.2 KB · Views: 29
The Sock said:
Mine looks mostly standard, apart from the contemporaneous Kawasaki KH mirrors.
It does have much better tyres than the OEM 4.10 H18 TT100 Dunlops it came with, which were very much of their time and capable of being worn out, from new, in less than 800 miles. My current choice: Bridgestone BT46 V18s last more than 9,000.
Who, in their right mind, would want to go back to those Dunlops?
I, also, have a vastly superior DID 'O'-ring final drive chain, bigger valves, bigger pistons, gas-flowed head, custom-built 18swg steel exhausts, 3.00 rear rim to enable larger section tyres, LED lights and indicators, Maxton SD20 equipped forks and T260 shocks, drilled discs, 4 pot Brembo calipers and, as an aid to much increased long distance riding comfort, a gel pad equipped seat.
I'm contemplating replacing the 48 year-old Dellortos with Mikuni CRs
The exterior modifications are all reversible, but that is irrelevant because I have no plans to sell, least of all to a rivet-counter.
Click to expand...

Similar mods to mine. And well, rivet counters are supposed to count rivets ...
🤷‍♂️ :D
 
Charley said:
Given that all bikes, cars, boats etc. are built to a price, then why not, should you wish, buy other components that you think will improve your bike/bikes for you?
Have I not modified my bike by using modern oil, spark plugs, brake pads and tyres?
I chose what I chose for financial, practical, and reliability reasons but also for appearance (beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all).
Not in that order I might add.
One of my bikes is a bit like Trigger's broom, but as the model progressed some parts in later models were an improvement over earlier stock parts so I replace with those, sometimes.
I've owned the bike over thirty years and put close to 250,000 miles on it so I think I've made sensible mods.
Other opinions available.
How far does one need to go to keep things original? Should I ride back to the manufacturers location to replenish tyre air?
Should I use the same tyres as the year of manufacture? 😆 NO! Not me.
I don't race so extra performance is gained by buying a higher performing bike.

If someone doesn't like what I've done; then good for me, one less person likely to nick my bike.
Click to expand...
Not certain that Laverda built to a price, built to sell, certainly.
The question isn't so much should one keep the bike original as are not some mods totally useless because not taking into account major components such as the frame which leads us to if you want a modern bike, buy a modern bike,FFS. 🤣
Would my 1912 Humber be London to Brighton eligible with radial tyres? Much better than beaded. Would the frame cope? Could it do with a Quaife 5 speed box.
Would it still be a 1912 Humber?
Paul
 
I like to buy as close as possible to original, or with a box of original parts.
Then modify to suit me and will give me more confidence in modern traffic.
eg swapping out the front brake master on my Norton with a Grimeca Master which will lock up the front wheel.
All the original parts are stored and will go with the bikes when I need to move them on.
 
redax5 said:
I would not modify a Laverda motorcycle, they should all be rivet correct down to how they left the factory
Just sacrilege changing anything, ya'all are just terrible people

:LOL::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::eek::cool:
Click to expand...

You get this weeks "Rivet Point" for your comment!

aluminium-rivet-500x500.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top