1978 Jota

mauricejota7604

mauricejota7604

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Location
Victoria Australia
As I am currently restoring a 1978 Jota I am finding that once again there seems to be some transition with this year model bike so here is a question probably targetted at someone that may have bought one new or may have intimate knowledge to support my rivet counting restoration.
1. What type of front guard a hooped guard or a 1979 type guard with the short fork leg pressed brackets??? I have seen both variations on this year model
2. On the gold bikes was the Laverda lettering on the lower section of the tank?????  once again I have seen some with and some without???
3. Ceriani rear shocks or Corte De Cosso.

Maybe I should just toss the coin/
Now about the 79 Jota I am currently restoring  (just Joking) Oh I am restoring a 79 Jota but its very pure!! Ay Dave.

Rivet counting at its best
 
There is no such creature as the absolutely definitive Laverda!

I've owned mine from new, yet had to suffer countless twerps telling me "Oh, that's not original."

1. What forks does yours have? If Ceriani, then the hoop.

2. Lettering on the tank: some did, some didn't. I imagine none did from the factory.

3. If it has Ceriani on the front, it's most likely to have Ceriani on the back
 

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Tank decals were dealer fitted initially (if at all) but soon owners were fitting them.
As you say 78 was a transition from Ceriani type to Marzocchi type and all that entails:
Ceriani type forks/yokes/front mudguard
CDI (HKZ) vs BTZ ignition (and frame changes accordingly)
Thin web to thick web wheels
Longer centrestand when Marzocchis fitted
Upright vs laid down shock mounts
Ceriani vs Marzocchi shocks
As far as I am aware Corte e Cosso shocks were an optional 'upgrade'.
 
The sock is correct, so here is the mental dilemma I know of an unmolested Ceriani forked bike with the later style front guard along with corte de cosso rear shocks on upright mounts and thin webb wheels.
Maybe Moto Laverda just run out of certain components on the day.
I am assuming Slater was probably the main man for the tank stickers.
 
Maurice is absolutely on the money.
Laverda was in the business of producing motorcycles, not stamping out exact copies of some mythical, definitive paragon.
They were built by Italians, raised on pasta which is made to be enjoyed, not to a precise, specific recipe! Laverdas were made the same way.
I visited the Factory a couple of times. New stock of parts were put on the front of the shelf and came off before the remaining old stock, that got used up when supplies ran low.

I've owned mine since new. It was originally fitted with Dunlop TT100 4.10 H18s and a Regina 5/8 x 3/8 chain. I'd hate to ride it, today, on those tyres or chains. They were the best available, in 1976, but designed for much slower, lighter bikes. Modern tyres and chains are far more capable, durable and suitable for a Laverda to use.

Perhaps the most important choice to be made is:
Do you want to be a Laverda Owner, or a Laverda Rider?
Museum piece, or source of joy and satisfaction?

I know which suits me best.
 
And even then, differing markets had different specs at different times.

There's plenty of books on the subject. Support your local printer.

Paul
 
Always 'bollocks' ... but I love it!

I'd really like to know what a Jota America really is .. surely not a real Jota and I've no idea what was or wasn't changed from (I presume) a European TS. Either way it's a lovely ride even with the various mods. over the years.
 
I think if it has the cams, raised compression and Slater pipes, it's a Jota. If factory made it that way, all the better. And we can't forget the badging!
 
" New stock of parts were put on the front of the shelf and came off before the remaining old stock, that got used up when supplies ran low."

I don't believe that Hamish, I never saw parts on shelves except in the spare parts dept/shop at the front (external) of the factory. A lot of Moto Laverda was operated on the now common, JIT (just in time) as parts are called off at the last minute from suppliers, way ahead of what is now regarded to be normal industrial practice, and not just automotive, there where quite distinctive model/year changes annually, but that did not stop a change at any point in the 11 month factory operation, especially if something was found to be lacking or defective. What was common was dealers telling the buyers that this a so and so when it wasn't, and even making minor changes to improve the illusion, such as Black Corsa's that were sent from the factory as red RGS's and got a re-spray and Corsa badges, but nothing else, I think the dealers had more to do with the non definitive Laverda than the factory

I have spoken at length to the long time parts manager who was at Breganze for more than three decades and then Zane as well and he has confirmed that there never was "oh well that's what we have bung it on anyway" attitude, I have no idea where this came from and nor has he, the factory is made out to be a disorganised rabble, but I have seen rows of finished bikes that are lacking in something, and waiting for the something to arrive, difficult and a bloody nuisance if the thing is not mobile.

CLEM
 
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