1980 Jota 1000 - Seattle

Shifthappens

Shifthappens

New member
Location
Seattle, WA
This is hard to do, but I finally have to admit that my motorcycle riding days are over. Too much arthritis and too much back surgery.... I bought this motorcycle in 1993 from Bill Herring (Ohio, USA). It was sold as needing "cleaning up" and some assembly. Turned out the crankshaft ball bearings had blown and the engine needed a total rebuild. It took me 20 years had Scott Potter rebuild the engine. It has been in my garage, waiting for assembly since then. I don't have the physical ability to put it back together. So....here it is. I unpacked all of the various parts and took pictures. The frame and other silver bits were powder coated, a bunch of items were re-chromed, I sourced all of the little items that were not included with the bike. The fairing/tank/fender/side covers/tail piece were repainted in orange, but the pin stripe has not been added. I have two windshields, fairing turn signals, etc. Two mufflers that are in fantastic shape plus others. New chrome downpipes. All aluminum bits have been polished, including fork lowers. Forks were rebuilt by Scott, as well. Airbox is there. Carbs have not been rebuilt. Seat has no rips or tears and is in great shape. I purchased all new stainless fasteners to replace those that were not stainless. Green book and the Italian shop manual included. The speedo/tach need attention. Extra set of Marzocchi forks included. The bike was sold to me with a signed Canadian title, which I was not expecting. I have never titled it in the USA, as it needs to be assembled first. Serial number is 6599 and it is titled as a 1981, but I am sure it is a 1980 model. I can email specs for the engine rebuild. I am moving for the last time in about a month and there will be no garage where I am headed. I am hoping that it is worth US$15,000 to someone.
 

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Wow, that looks like a nice bike in kit form, but also with a lot of extra spare parts. You've done most of the work already. It looks like it mostly just needs bolting together.

Your asking price is not unreasonable, but you'd get a lot more for it if it was assembled and running. Just saying that it might be worth spending a couple of thousand to get someone to finish the work, then sell it as a running bike.

I hope it finds a good home either way.
 
If I was in the right hemisphere and had enough dough I would buy it as is; just for the shear pleasure of putting it together and really getting to know the bike.
Found out years ago that the best way to learn the ins and outs of a bike is to change the frame, had to do it to replace the damaged frame on the Yellow Peril.
Might change the colour but ;)
 
1979, probably. The seller speaks of shot crankshaft ball bearings.
Engine nr is 6599, which falls into the bad crank range, as listed in JLO's Laverdamania site:

1000:
- From the serial number 6204 to 6594
- From the serial number 6598 to 6603
 
Not surprising it is titled as an 81 even if numbers indicate a 79. Many Canadian Laverdas were hand me downs unsold in USA and sold in Canada a year or two later.

I would love to tackle that project ........ someday the border will open but for now I am busy enough with the flying season that it would be difficult to take the time to arrange shipping and collection.

If still available by fall though ...... I am interested.

Jim
 
what a shame... with a little help, this bike could be together in 1-2 days (have done it even in less time than that) - assuming all parts are OK. No-one around you to help? I would start with putting the engine on the left side (with foam under it) and dropping the frame over it, then fastening the bottom screws and tilting the frame upwards again with the engine in it. Forks in, tires in and you have 50% done. Then the little things start to take time...
 
Laverdalothar said:
what a shame... with a little help, this bike could be together in 1-2 days (have done it even in less time than that) - assuming all parts are OK. No-one around you to help? I would start with putting the engine on the left side (with foam under it) and dropping the frame over it, then fastening the bottom screws and tilting the frame upwards again with the engine in it. Forks in, tires in and you have 50% done. Then the little things start to take time...
Click to expand...
He Lothar, I guess you missed the part in the first line where he said "Too much arthritis and too much back surgery"...
 
I appreciate all of the advice and thoughts, as usual. This is my 4th Laverda triple. I started with a 3C (I wrenched a lot on that one) in 1988, then had a 1200 Jota America, then a 1200 Mirage before buying this Jota 1000. I have loved them all and am pretty bummed that I waited too long to get this one on the road.
 
It looks like a really good piece of kit, all the hard work and expense out of the way. Good luck with the sale - such a bummer old age and decreptitude intrude on our passion for motorcycles!
 
Well at least you kept trying as long as you could to do get it going again, you can be proud of that. Looks like a great project for the right person, but here in North America probably a small market willing to pay what it is worth. If you dont get any acceptable offers maybe Wolfgang would assemble it for you, once the border opens.
 
henrywillms said:
Well at least you kept trying as long as you could to do get it going again, you can be proud of that. Looks like a great project for the right person, but here in North America probably a small market willing to pay what it is worth. If you dont get any acceptable offers maybe Wolfgang would assemble it for you, once the border opens.
Click to expand...
That is an excellent suggestion!
 
Shifthappens said:
This is hard to do, but I finally have to admit that my motorcycle riding days are over. Too much arthritis and too much back surgery.... I bought this motorcycle in 1993 from Bill Herring (Ohio, USA). It was sold as needing "cleaning up" and some assembly. Turned out the crankshaft ball bearings had blown and the engine needed a total rebuild. It took me 20 years had Scott Potter rebuild the engine. It has been in my garage, waiting for assembly since then. I don't have the physical ability to put it back together. So....here it is. I unpacked all of the various parts and took pictures. The frame and other silver bits were powder coated, a bunch of items were re-chromed, I sourced all of the little items that were not included with the bike. The fairing/tank/fender/side covers/tail piece were repainted in orange, but the pin stripe has not been added. I have two windshields, fairing turn signals, etc. Two mufflers that are in fantastic shape plus others. New chrome downpipes. All aluminum bits have been polished, including fork lowers. Forks were rebuilt by Scott, as well. Airbox is there. Carbs have not been rebuilt. Seat has no rips or tears and is in great shape. I purchased all new stainless fasteners to replace those that were not stainless. Green book and the Italian shop manual included. The speedo/tach need attention. Extra set of Marzocchi forks included. The bike was sold to me with a signed Canadian title, which I was not expecting. I have never titled it in the USA, as it needs to be assembled first. Serial number is 6599 and it is titled as a 1981, but I am sure it is a 1980 model. I can email specs for the engine rebuild. I am moving for the last time in about a month and there will be no garage where I am headed. I am hoping that it is worth US$15,000 to someone.
Click to expand...
I’m here in Toronto Canada and would be interested if it was assembled unfortunately not as is but then again I’m sure I’m just one of many who would purchase if assembled.
 
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To assemble it is really no big deal. With 2 people it's a 1-2 day job if everything is there. It's really LEGO-like. And if I can do it, anyone can (healthy bones and back assumed)... As written above: engine on the left side with some padding under it, frame over the engine, bolt the frame to the engine and lift the assembly upwards. Front-end in, wheels on and you have most of a bike done. The rest is tucking back the original electrics and brake parts in place, mounting carbs and airbox, bodywork - done. This is all assumed the parts are in good condition and do not need to be reworked.
 
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