Bringing a Liberator home

rbpjenkins

rbpjenkins

Junior member
Location
Oxfordshire
This weekend saw the realisation of a childhood dream. When is was a kid my dad sold Laverdas as a partner in Cropredy Motorcycles from the property we lived in: an old Wharf by the canal. The show room and workshops were stables/barns. I literally grew up with the bikes and the lovely people who bought them and put up with me and my siblings wanting to sit on them, start them and be taken for rides. I’ve wanted to ride never mind own a Laverda Jota for 40 years. Today I picked up one of (6?) special editions they did: Cropredy Libertor 120 Jota. It’s been restored to the last nut and bolt. It’s a thing of beauty but the sound and smell evokes a visceral reaction for me. This picture is in front of what is now a canoe club but was the workshop where it was built 😎 full credit to the previous owner, Ian Kirchin @kirch996 for having the amazing work done by Roger Winterburn
 

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It is more than obvious that you have a deeper bond with Cropredy Laverdas.

In a way I can understand this very well. In 2018 I reached a point where, instead of looking for something new, I orientated myself towards something that was built, when my hard disk was written.
:ROFLMAO:


Wish you a lot's of pleasure with your gem ...

Cheers,
Jo
 
Jo said:
It is more than obvious that you have a deeper bond with Cropredy Laverdas.

In a way I can understand this very well. In 2018 I reached a point where, instead of looking for something new, I orientated myself towards something that was built, when my hard disk was written.
:ROFLMAO:


Wish you a lot's of pleasure with your gem ...

Cheers,
Jo
Click to expand...
thanks. my mother still lives in the Wharf House in Cropredy so every time I go there I'm remind of when it was throbbing with Laverdas, hence the picture from in front of the old workshop
 
If you are up and running at the weekend get across to Willersley near Broadway at the New inn lunchtime - it’s the Midlands monthly meet - will be a good Laverda turnout - will see if I can get one of the other liberator owners along
 
rbpjenkins said:
This weekend saw the realisation of a childhood dream. When is was a kid my dad sold Laverdas as a partner in Cropredy Motorcycles from the property we lived in: an old Wharf by the canal. The show room and workshops were stables/barns. I literally grew up with the bikes and the lovely people who bought them and put up with me and my siblings wanting to sit on them, start them and be taken for rides. I’ve wanted to ride never mind own a Laverda Jota for 40 years. Today I picked up one of (6?) special editions they did: Cropredy Libertor 120 Jota. It’s been restored to the last nut and bolt. It’s a thing of beauty but the sound and smell evokes a visceral reaction for me. This picture is in front of what is now a canoe club but was the workshop where it was built 😎 full credit to the previous owner, Ian Kirchin @kirch996 for having the amazing work done by Roger Winterburn
Click to expand...
Well done that man!
I was in touch with Ian about your Liberator during the Summer of 2019. Unfortunately it wasn't to be for me at that time but he did share many pics of the rebuild. It really is a piece of art and the product of many hours of careful workmanship from RW. It will mean so much more to you of course though than anyone else with your Dad's connection.
Gareth used to look after my 180 Jota for a period of about 4 years at the same time 40 yrs ago and I have many memories of my visits to the workshop you described. It must have been a really special moment taking her back home.
Pleased for you! 👍
 
Holdie said:
Well done that man!
I was in touch with Ian about your Liberator during the Summer of 2019. Unfortunately it wasn't to be for me at that time but he did share many pics of the rebuild. It really is a piece of art and the product of many hours of careful workmanship from RW. It will mean so much more to you of course though than anyone else with your Dad's connection.
Gareth used to look after my 180 Jota for a period of about 4 years at the same time 40 yrs ago and I have many memories of my visits to the workshop you described. It must have been a really special moment taking her back home.
Pleased for you! 👍
Click to expand...
Thanks and lovely to know. I probably saw you on one of your visits. I was 10 in 1980
 
rbpjenkins said:
This weekend saw the realisation of a childhood dream. When is was a kid my dad sold Laverdas as a partner in Cropredy Motorcycles from the property we lived in: an old Wharf by the canal. The show room and workshops were stables/barns. I literally grew up with the bikes and the lovely people who bought them and put up with me and my siblings wanting to sit on them, start them and be taken for rides. I’ve wanted to ride never mind own a Laverda Jota for 40 years. Today I picked up one of (6?) special editions they did: Cropredy Libertor 120 Jota. It’s been restored to the last nut and bolt. It’s a thing of beauty but the sound and smell evokes a visceral reaction for me. This picture is in front of what is now a canoe club but was the workshop where it was built 😎 full credit to the previous owner, Ian Kirchin @kirch996 for having the amazing work done by Roger Winterburn
Click to expand...
Congrats on acquiring an awesome example! I'm a big fan of the fairing shod specials as well. Enjoy it for many years & welcome to the forum.
 
Congrats on fulfilling your long-time dream. A bit like "coming home" I suppose.

my bike has also Cropredy Liberator in the papers, but I am sure it was born and raised in italy, fitted with some body-parts Cico used for the bikes he built for his friends. Not sure though what the original history was, I bought it off of the hands of a guy in Munich.

Have fun with it and keep it in that stunning condition, it just looks great!
 
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