1200 Mirage

don't be fooled by the "1200" title, they are 1116cc, and very much cheaper than almost any Laverda 1000 triple, they can be made every bit as fast and faster than a stock Jota, but (usually) with more torque, my own, owned now 40 years, has gone around the clock twice and is part way through the third, its only had 3 engines and 17 engine rebuilds, but duff ignition probably caused most of the engine grief, usually aftermarket kit is already on board, she hasn't been apart in years (touching wood)
CLEM
 
Hi,
It`s just as well to bear in mind there are basically two versions of the Mirage,the original metallic green Slater version for the UK market with Jota cams,exhaust and attendant carb changes,stenciled paint logos on side panels and handlebars from the 500 twin.the 1200`s low compression pistons were retained.
From 1979 onwards the Mirage name was applied to 1200`s coming off the production line at Breganze,and as these would be destined for various world markets,would not neccessarily be to the same spec. as the original Slater models.If you study pictures of "factory" Jotas and Mirages for example,you will see they were supplied with Lanfranconi exhaust mufflers,not the Slater developed Jota pipes fitted to the original models,and items such as cams could vary according to the intended market.
Of course,after the passage of 40 plus years,the bike you`re looking at could have suffered all sorts of changes,both visually and internally.
As for running the bike,you will find fuel disappears at the rate of 25-35 miles per (UK) gallons.
As with all triples,the clutch gets flustered when presented with stop /start riding,the gear lever return spring can be regarded as a consumerable (I got into the habit of changing mine every two years as a matter of course),oil changes are best carried out at every 1500 miles as the factory recommended .
The Bosch CDI ignition system fitted to the original bikes were often criticised ,but it was a simple set up ,mine lasted 150,000 miles before it failed.A used replacement unit added another 50,000 miles to that,when that failed a Witt/DMC unit was fitted which worked ok.
Most bikes now will have been fitted with replacement system,but make sure it has been fitted properly.
I once looked at a Jota for sale(it was a 3C),which had a rats nest of wiring under the seat.It started and ran,but you would be on your own trying to sort out any problems.On any used bike its the electrics which will cause most grief,for example run away from any bike whose loom has been butchered for the fitment of a useless alarm.
Good luck with your search!
 
Visually,the Slater Mirage does not differ much from the standard 1200.Also bear in mind a long time has passed since these bikes were new,and any bike that survives today will,unless it is very low mileage,or has been stored unused ,will have seen some changes.
At the time,the visual differences were the green paintwork with yellow/orange "Mirage" script sprayed/stencilled onto the side panels,lower 500 twin handlebars in place of the 1200 GTL type bar,Jota exhaust system.Corte e Cosso rear shocks were originally to be offered as a option in place of standard Cerianis,but most Mirages came with them as standard,and at the time Slaters were offering Mirages for sale,Marzocchi front forks were beginning to be fitted at the factory,due to supply problems with Cerianis,So most early Mirages will have Marzo`s fitted.
Of course the number of bikes which survive in the above form can probably be counted on the fingers of a mitten,and most restored bikes will not conform to the above either,but that does not mean to say it`s not a nice bike.
Some people will turn their noses up at non standard handlebar levers or footrest rubbers etc.,but if you wanted to keep the bike running in the past you would fit items that enabled you to do that.
Google image will give you a idea (look at the green ones),and eBay in UK has a unmolested Slater Mirage on offer at the moment (not the M&S motorcycles one).
Slater Laverda should also be able to confirm if you can supply a engine/frame number.
Hope this helps.
 
Yes thanks that's very useful, I am thinking of going to look at one that's on eBay, the 1979 one that's done 27k miles and is in Leeds, and is local to me, is that the one you're talking about?
 
Yes that`s the one,it looks almost 100%,if you do get it note it has the original front brake hoses still fitted(you can see the yellow manufacture tags still on them),so it would be a good idea to replace those.
The other bike is Colwyn Bay,not M&S,my mistake ,?3 grand more,still a nice bike but you can see the differences between that and the Leeds bike.
Cheers,Tony.
 
TheChef said:
No, nothing specific, just started looking. I'd be interested in details, photos and a prices for yours ?
Cheers
Click to expand...

Mines from the 1st batch ( 6 months before the green mirage came)
More or less original. I've had it 20 years. 22k miles

Slater letter confirming it's an original mirage.

Most of the chrome was redone about 18 years ago and still good, new cam chain at the same time. New seat cover, original jota bars etc in line with slates spec.
Was thinking about the same price as the Leeds bike..
 
helicopterjim said:
He's posting on this forum ...... of course he's absolutely right.

Jim
Click to expand...
:)
I was told by Slaters that their '77 mirage spec was the same as the jota but without the h/c pistons.
Factory built with slaters adding uk exhaust and decals.

 
This is correct but...
The description of a `77 Mirage does`nt really ring true.
The standard 1200 was debuted at the Paris motorcycle show in Sept 1977,the journalist Dennis Noyes heard rumours about a larger version of the triple about a month before hand,and rode to Italy on his Honda 400/4 to investigate.
The Laverda brothers showed him the pre-production 1200 (the bronze one with the white seat) and let him have a go on it.
Publication of his riding impressions was delayed till Nov 77,obviously they did`nt want his report to jump the gun before the bike was shown at Paris.
Standard 1200`s started to arrive in the UK in early 1978,and it was`nt till a few months later,maybe May/June that Slaters would have started to assemble the first Mirage`s,so the first ones to appear on the road,and in magazine road test articles would have been mid `78.
 
One other thing I`ve just remembered-
Although the Mirage was prepared for sale at Slaters base in England,the very first Mirage spec. 1200 was prepared in Italy,with 4C cams,lower bars etc.,and was labelled  a 1200TI (I=Inghleterre,is that the correct spelling?,for England).
Slaters ,plus a group of journalists,then flew out to Italy armed with a set of Jota silencers to fit to 1200TI ,so the journalists could try out the bike for the first time.
So this would have been the official debut of the Mirage,and all subsequent 1200`s destined to be Mirages would then be despatched to Slaters in England.
Cheers,Tony.
 
rocketonarail said:
This is correct but...
The description of a `77 Mirage does`nt really ring true.
The standard 1200 was debuted at the Paris motorcycle show in Sept 1977,the journalist Dennis Noyes heard rumours about a larger version of the triple about a month before hand,and rode to Italy on his Honda 400/4 to investigate.
The Laverda brothers showed him the pre-production 1200 (the bronze one with the white seat) and let him have a go on it.
Publication of his riding impressions was delayed till Nov 77,obviously they did`nt want his report to jump the gun before the bike was shown at Paris.
Standard 1200`s started to arrive in the UK in early 1978,and it was`nt till a few months later,maybe May/June that Slaters would have started to assemble the first Mirage`s,so the first ones to appear on the road,and in magazine road test articles would have been mid `78.
Click to expand...
Mine came into the uk nov 77 and was registered early 78, frame number 5, it was the lowest frame number of that 1st batch of 1200s, mostly 1200t's.but a few mirage's.(built by the factory) amongst them
The green mirage came 6 months later as you say, mid 78, I believe that had the flat bars as standard ?
 
rocketonarail said:
One other thing I`ve just remembered-
Although the Mirage was prepared for sale at Slaters base in England,the very first Mirage spec. 1200 was prepared in Italy,with 4C cams,lower bars etc.,and was labelled  a 1200TI (I=Inghleterre,is that the correct spelling?,for England).
Slaters ,plus a group of journalists,then flew out to Italy armed with a set of Jota silencers to fit to 1200TI ,so the journalists could try out the bike for the first time.
So this would have been the official debut of the Mirage,and all subsequent 1200`s destined to be Mirages would then be despatched to Slaters in England.
Cheers,Tony.
Click to expand...
That's interesting  and tallies with what slaters told me about my bike
Great info, and well remembered!
I believe they had a meeting to find a name for it at the same time, the name was chosen at the launch if I remember correctly
Thanks ..
 
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