simwoo1009
New member
- Location
- Alsager, Cheshire
Hi all you Laverda people,
I'm part way through a fairly (over) ambitious rebuild, but struggling to find some key bits. I'm hoping you guys might be able to help.
The full story is that during lockdown I built a Spondon Jota that my brother had inhereted from the original owner, who sadly, died young. The project had stalled in 1989 after 190 'shakedown' miles and spent the duration in various boxes, only to then be moved to my brother's lock-up where it stayed for another 12 years. I should point out that my brother has no interest in bikes - don't judge - and when lockdown happened I made him a good offer.
The Spondon is now sorted and some of you may have spotted it at Willersley, and I love it.
I do have the original frame and a few cycle parts, though many are also on the Spondon, because I built it with a strong Laverda appearance.
Wanting another 'project' at the beginning of winter I decided to restore the original bike, and take the engine from the Spondon and put it back where it started life, in the original Laverda frame. The Spondon will then eventually get a strong, mildly tuned 1200 (Ross pistons, Carrillo rods, C4 or C7 cams and Mikuni flatside carbs) which will be built, or bought if one becomes available.
My thinking is that I would love a standard Jota with known history, and a Spondon Laverda with a tourqey motor tuned for mid-range or occasional track use.
What I really need now to get going are a pair of 38mm Marzocchi forklegs, and a complete cylinder head, amongst other bits ( I do have most of a 1000/1200 spare engine/gearbox).
I know spares of any description are often pricey and hard to come by, and with Andy Wagner and Thorne Engineering both looking to retire, things are probably only going one way but, if you are looking at your spares stash and thinking that you may not really need some of it, I'd like first dibs !
Apologies for the essay, most of it could have gone on another page.
I'm part way through a fairly (over) ambitious rebuild, but struggling to find some key bits. I'm hoping you guys might be able to help.
The full story is that during lockdown I built a Spondon Jota that my brother had inhereted from the original owner, who sadly, died young. The project had stalled in 1989 after 190 'shakedown' miles and spent the duration in various boxes, only to then be moved to my brother's lock-up where it stayed for another 12 years. I should point out that my brother has no interest in bikes - don't judge - and when lockdown happened I made him a good offer.
The Spondon is now sorted and some of you may have spotted it at Willersley, and I love it.
I do have the original frame and a few cycle parts, though many are also on the Spondon, because I built it with a strong Laverda appearance.
Wanting another 'project' at the beginning of winter I decided to restore the original bike, and take the engine from the Spondon and put it back where it started life, in the original Laverda frame. The Spondon will then eventually get a strong, mildly tuned 1200 (Ross pistons, Carrillo rods, C4 or C7 cams and Mikuni flatside carbs) which will be built, or bought if one becomes available.
My thinking is that I would love a standard Jota with known history, and a Spondon Laverda with a tourqey motor tuned for mid-range or occasional track use.
What I really need now to get going are a pair of 38mm Marzocchi forklegs, and a complete cylinder head, amongst other bits ( I do have most of a 1000/1200 spare engine/gearbox).
I know spares of any description are often pricey and hard to come by, and with Andy Wagner and Thorne Engineering both looking to retire, things are probably only going one way but, if you are looking at your spares stash and thinking that you may not really need some of it, I'd like first dibs !
Apologies for the essay, most of it could have gone on another page.
