1968 American Eagle

agree with Paul, but this is a very early bike and is between the three bikes (numbers wise) known to have been supplied to Evel Knieval, looks very, very close to stock, missing the embroidered patch on the rear seat hump and not correct rear light, and dont know whars going on with the indicators. des res? no, but deffo des resto bike
CLEM
 
This Eagle was offered before in 8/2019 in Chicago. For those who are now interested i have 182 detailed pictures of that Eagle which you will find here:
Pictures American Eagle 1235

For me the bike seems very original instead of the painting (side cover, "red stripes") Many screws are the original ones (e.g. B*T). Althoug the rear light ist in my opinion the correct type (see picture below of #1673). Even the rare rubberstripes for fixing the cables on the handlebar are on the right place.

My barnfind Eagle #1673 imported 2015 from Portland/Oregon to Germany has meanwhile become my favorite Laverda.

Similar to the 750 SFC, it has completely different characteristics than the normal 750 Laverdas.
It's rougher, more honest and very high-torque but extremely easy to drive.
This may be due to the very heavy crankshaft, the slightly different swing arm and the high handlebar.

I take the Eagle for very long distances. So far I have driven many thousands of trouble-free kilometers with my Eagle.

The only weak point at that time was the front drum brake which was not yet from Laverda. Here the reinforcement struts on the outside or in the middle of the drum often tear. Brettoni said that was a known problem at the time. Ultimately, it was decided to build your own brake.
From Brettoni i got a unesed new original drum so i am relativ save at that moment..

I would buy an Eagle anytime, if I didn't already have one.

Thomas aus LAU

1612997511363.jpeg
 
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CLEMTOG said:
agree with Paul, but this is a very early bike and is between the three bikes (numbers wise) known to have been supplied to Evel Knieval, looks very, very close to stock, missing the embroidered patch on the rear seat hump and not correct rear light, and dont know whars going on with the indicators. des res? no, but deffo des resto bike
CLEM
Click to expand...
Rear light looks correct when compared to type on my AE & 'American Eagle' on rear of seat was stenciled on some of the US imports that I've seen.
 
motoddrob said:
seriously uncomfortable looking seat. Is that original?
Click to expand...
If you mean the seat of my Eagle:

Original. My Eagle has been in a barn since 1976. The foam had decomposed. At first it looked like hashish ;-)
That was one of the very few things I had to fix.

So far I have found three identical eagles from my number range. They all have the same rear light and the same seat. In contrast to all the other Laverda-seats i know, these were originally made from thick, slightly reddish leather that was dyed black. The lower shell is beautifully embossed from sheet metal.

At this frequency (3>), it must have been so standard for the Eagles.

Thomas aus LAU

1613029987107.jpeg
 
Thomas aus LAU said:
This Eagle was offered before in 8/2019 in Chicago. For those who are now interested i have 182 detailed pictures of that Eagle which you will find here:
Pictures American Eagle 1235

For me the bike seems very original instead of the painting (side cover, "red stripes") Many screws are the original ones (e.g. B*T). Althoug the rear light ist in my opinion the correct type (see picture below of #1673). Even the rare rubberstripes for fixing the cables on the handlebar are on the right place.

My barnfind Eagle #1673 imported 2015 from Portland/Oregon to Germany has meanwhile become my favorite Laverda.

Similar to the 750 SFC, it has completely different characteristics than the normal 750 Laverdas.
It's rougher, more honest and very high-torque but extremely easy to drive.
This may be due to the very heavy crankshaft, the slightly different swing arm and the high handlebar.

I take the Eagle for very long distances. So far I have driven many thousands of trouble-free kilometers with my Eagle.

The only weak point at that time was the front drum brake which was not yet from Laverda. Here the reinforcement struts on the outside or in the middle of the drum often tear. Brettoni said that was a known problem at the time. Ultimately, it was decided to build your own brake.
From Brettoni i got a unesed new original drum so i am relativ save at that moment..

I would buy an Eagle anytime, if I didn't already have one.

Thomas aus LAU

View attachment 55425
Click to expand...
Love you bike- exactly how little did you do to it - did you leave the motor intact?
 
Love my later GT(F) ,with the high bars and heavy crank ,ideal for around the rural lanes of Devon,or here in Wales.Old seat in pic,bloody uncomfortable,on the shelf now,and a Ghostshop copy one on now which is so comfortable.

[
 
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Exmoor beast said:
- did you leave the motor intact?
Click to expand...
The Eagle was built in early '69 and got the first and only set of new tires in 1972 until it was parked in a barn in 1976 at 13.500 miles.

I assumed that a full restoration would be necessary.

When I then saw
- that the complete electrics including all lamps worked
- that all parts were unchanged and original
- that the engine was still unopened with the original white sealant
- that the camshaft tensioner was still very new

I checked the engine block, cylinder and cylinder head meticulously with a high quality 5mm camera inside.
Result: no abrasion, everything inside super clean, cylinder liner perfect with traces of mockery still visible.
The camshaft and valves were like new.

Contrary to normal dismantling, I decided to leave the Eagle exactly as it is and to drive it immediately.

I only removed the cobwebs and termites in the start button, and the rust film is only preserved and not removed. I've never washed the Eagle, only the rain has removed the layers of dust from the barn over time.

I renewed the battery, air filter, the oils and replaced all the oil seals (from the outside).

You could tell that the engine was still very young technically.
The performance is very good and despite the high handlebars, two people can travel very quickly in the high speed range.

Of course it could have been different - but fortunately it wasn't.

I have now ridden over 15,000 trouble-free miles with the Eagle.
Although I have several nice 750 Laverdas from the S, SF and SFC, the Eagle has become my favorite Laverda.
Because of the sitting posture and the different crankshaft you get a completely different driving experience.

Thomas aus LAU

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Hi Thomas. Curious about your seat, which I have seen a couple of pics similar. Mine (1745) came with a seat similar to what is pictured on the Eagle brochure (attached) except it was missing the trim and pillion strap (I have put some on). And similar to seat on 1235 on this thrtead
Also had 2 holes at rear for the small Laverda badge which I have source and attached.
Did you change the fuel taps. Mine still had the taps with the clear reservoir (also shown in brochure) but I couldn't get one to stop leaking so just changed for normal taps until I get around to trying to persevere to seal the old taps, although there is not much room around the tank/tap/carby, so might be best to leave off. Tail lights all seem to match up........
I agree the Eagle is great fun to ride, but not so sure about comfort at high speed. Once over about 80mph I find the sit up and beg position with the high bars a bit less than aerodynamic, as you would expect of course. (Always makes me wonder about the Hardly riders you see with the over extended ape hangerso_O)
Pics attached of brochure and pic showing my seat, tail light etc.
 

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Hello Peter,
with all three unchanged Eagle's that I know, there are the chrome-plated screwed clamps on the back of the frame. I think these were mounts for a small luggage rack. The clamps on the attached "wreck" are the same type.

Does your tank also have the pipe for the tank ventilation on the inside?
Is the tank fastened at the rear with two sheet metal straps hanging from springs?

Yes, I drive fast with the Eagle, but mostly on winding small country roads. You don't drive at maximum speed all the time.
With the Eagle you can lean into the curve so well, that sometimes the handlebars touch the plants next to the road ((not while crashing - when driving!)).

Thomas aus LAU

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Hi Thomas.
I saw those brackets and presumed they were for use in rear rack attachment. (I am chasing a rack at present so no doubt will need those brackets if I can get one!!)
I was more referring to the "ribbed" top of the seat on yours and I have seen other pics with similar. My seat is smooth like 1235's and the bike in the brochure pic (which also has the fuel taps I mentioned)
Yes, my tank vents through an inside pipe which exits underneath at the rear and tank is fastened by the metal plates attached to (strong) springs.
Interestingly they must have changed the seat base during this early run of bikes. I just noticed your photos of 1235 and the underside of seat is different to mine. Mine is (the more common?) stepped and has slots cut into the step which slide onto the prongs on the frame rails rather than the fixings on 1235. Pic of mine attached.
And yes, totally agree, fast should not be confused with high speed😀
 

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As delivered to me #1303.

First sold in South Dakota April 1969.

Quite evidently it had a hard early life, evidenced with battle scars, external, various. What state it was in mechanically when imported to the UK in 1988 is open to question. Bottom end was untouched but new pistons were installed (std size). Paperwork records show that it was MoT'd in '89 and when delivered to me only had a further 500 or so miles on the clock at about 40,000

Storage from the late '80's to me in the mid naughties was sub optimal.

Basically restoration was every single component, mainly storage related. Some crash damage and a little DPO BUT almost nothing worn out. I did reuse the pistons using new liners, rings etc.
 

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My ‘69 GT 750 #2550 was an Italian home market bike until ‘87, it went to Germany for three years, came to England on a boat with the RAF and I bought him in 1990. I Dry stored the bike ( I even oiled the bores) until this year.
23,000km which is genuine ( original Regina chain & Pirelli tyres) mechanically it sounds lovely.
Im not going to overrestore my bike, new saddle , brakes, cables and back to original colour ( silver/blue metallic) and off we jolly well go. Love the pictures “as found “ - who could resist buying one like that? Picture is from ‘87- pretty much as I got it but had been sprayed black!
 

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