1969 750 GT

I have just had a measure up and internal frame rail measurement is indeed 16cm but true to form mine does not have prongs that reside in tubes on the seat but flat pointed blades ( like a throwing knife) that mate with slots in the seat base. I don?t know if people would be happy with a GRP base that could then be modded to suit prongs or blades? I have been thinking about casting a concrete female mould to beat a steel base- this would not be cost effective but might produce a decent steel pan that fits.
Are side panels unobtainium as well? Perhaps if we have a show of hands as to who would like a seat base I can have a go at laying one up.
 
MarnixSFC said:
All wide frames have the ?spears?, or should I say ?should have??
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Should have, no doubt.
The first frame I looked at, a first series with a number in the 22.. has the flat tabs but obviously welded on later. Ex factory? Bike was abandoned in France, coming from Italy, after the lh main bearing, ball, let go some time early 70s I imagine.

My second early GT frame, also with a number in the 22 or 23 is inaccessible without risking my life. It's under a pile of stuff on the garage mezzanine. (I could be convinced to look if more than 3 people world wide are interested.)

As mentioned, my 650 has sharp prongs.

Paul
 
I'm the other James.  :)

Interestingly, my bike is an early '70 wide frame, but I have the flat blades and slots. The blades do look factory as well.

My seat base is OK but a bit ratty, so I'd definitely be interested in a replacement or recover. I'm in Herefordshire.

I do have a brand new unused seat ordered from Biagio Sciavarello, but they srnt the wrong i.e. narrow seat. It's still for sale if anyone wants one.

Attached a photo of my 'baby'... 🙂
 

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No, it's my seat foam thsts the issue. It's heavy, dense and the consistency of year-old fruit cake!

I tried to improve it by 'cutting in' an area of memory foam, but it hasn't really helped.

By the way, the Sciavarello replica seat weighs about 1/3rd that of the original!

Exmoor beast said:
James ,I?ll give you the nod when Bob is in Laverda mode, is your seat foam ok ? Mine has flattened over time so will need a new foam.I absolutely love Your curved brace bars, nice bike!
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Phil Trotter of the ILOC is also looking for a wide seat.

Interesting James that your bike has the spades. I suspected that they were ex factory on some wide frames.

How are your tanks secured at the back James and Jason? The usual black rubber strap or two spring mounted metal clips to the frame?

Carbs, 29 or 30 mm?

Paul

PS: My wide frame with metal shrouded forks is for sale with a matching numbers engine and I suspect I have a pair of Grimeca brakes to go with it.
 
Mine has 29mm carbs and the tank had a large hoover band but I suspect it should have the rubber strap with loops going to the two tank ?Vee? hooks. The saddle spears do look like an afterthought but they must have had trouble with the prong type. On the Laverdamania registry you can see there is no pattern to how the bikes were produced, very much made to order ,day to day which may account for lack of consistency in specification.
 
Fab looking bikes the GTs in these pics - usually the only thing that spoils the view is the ratty, soggy seats, so new foam and maybe covers would transform them - and make them comfortable too!
 
Exmoor beast said:
Mine has 29mm carbs and the tank had a large hoover band but I suspect it should have the rubber strap with loops going to the two tank ?Vee? hooks. The saddle spears do look like an afterthought but they must have had trouble with the prong type. On the Laverdamania registry you can see there is no pattern to how the bikes were produced, very much made to order ,day to day which may account for lack of consistency in specification.
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If the tank has "vee" hooks, it should be held down with springs and clips, forerunner of the rubber band.

piet
 
Very underrated bikes the GTs.
The prices haven't been affected by the dreaded "market". You can pick up a riders bike at a riders price.

Those early bikes were built with no relation between specs and numbering which explains why some of the 52 650s built have numbers in at least the 15..
Things tended to "standardize" as "production" progressed but it took a few years which is why you shouldn't take any notice of assertions such as "from n?...., bikes were like this". concerning those early production years.

I have 2 GTs, one of which I'd like to restore, specs of the one with the earlier numbers are more "modern" than the more recent one.

Paul
 
As for tyres, I fitted Maxxis Promaxx and can't fault them They handle and grip every bit as good as Bridgestones or Michelins and you can get them from Oponeo for ?115 the pair.
 
+1  very good. Don't shy away from the name folks. I've many thousands of miles on them now and they do a good job.
 
Bought my CS Hi Max  from M&P ?86  a pair,but probably a bit more now,excellent grip,dont  care wot peeps say. ;)
 
Exmoor beast said:
Cheers for the advice guys , I?m no tyre snob . Getting my shopping list together- does the low bar Jota clutch cable ( Venhill) fit my low bar GT does anyone know?
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Steer well clear of Venhill, and the answer is no anyway!

The can make them for the early GT (following my specs) and I am sure they work fine if you never allow the cable to get wet...

The early GT cable is different from the later ones. I had Venhill make me 2x 'custom' heavy duty blah cables. They took their time and needed chasing up and charged me north of ?100 in the end.

Cable 1 left me immobile in the Black Forest in 2014 on my may to a very important meeting in Breganze. Fortunately our Clem was nearby (also en route to Breganze meeting), and had trailer. TOG was pulled off the trailer and replaced with my Eagle. I then rode TOG and showed Clem the way to Andy Wagner's in Lake Konstanz. Eagle had to stay at Andy's. I picked up a Nissan Fugley, TOG reloaded onto the trailer along with the addition of my newly purchased 1961 200 Bicilindrico #195. We all arrived safely in Breganze.

The 200 tried to kill Clem, I returned hairless and Andy made me up a couple of cables, fitting one of.

Happy to sell you my unused Venhill cable, and indeed to one that failed as it will have dried out now. It did less than 1,000 miles

:-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[

>:D >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D >:D
 
I use Venhill cables for clutch on both my race and road SF2s. They have seen shitloads of rain, freezing conditions, and heat without the slightest problem. Friends have also the same experience so I have no idea just what disastrous cables they supplied you with. I also am on my second lot of nylon lined "make it yourself" throttle cable kit from them and it works fantastic. Just to balance the debate.
 
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