Considering yet another Laverda triple (small project)

Paul LeClair

Paul LeClair

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Location
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Hi all

I have been offered a Jota, orange paint with silver frame, which has been off the road for about 15 ish years. It has brake issues that resulted in it being parked and has never been repaired. It was in decent shape when it was parked. Now, of course, it needs a thorough freshening.

I have known the bikes owner for decades. I have not seen the bike in likely a decade or more, and don't remember its exact details, I think it is around a 1980 ish. The owner lost interest in riding motorcycles a decade or more ago and moved on to other interests.

all this gloom and doom about dropping vintage bie prices and Laverda parts suppliers retiring and closing, together with the three Laverda triples I already own, is making me hesitate. It would be a fun project to put back on the road, but then what........?

My 1982 1200 TS Mirage Series 2 is likely one of the nicest example on the planet, but it has not sold. I suppose a "jota" might be a bit easier to sell, but I have other projects on the go right now which means I am not presently short of a project.

hard to believe I am likely going to turn down this "opportunity" unless the price was such that I could not say no........ Current asking price is higher than the bike would be worth to me just for the purposes of a fun project.

so, what would something like this in light project state presently be worth where you are?

Paul
 
Hello.
Regarding: Jota, yes, I would buy it, it's not everyday you get an offer to buy a real JOTA, I bought my Jota myself, as a child's find, for a very fair price (1000 US dollars), I spent about 6 years renovating it so that it looked like the day it left the factory in Breganze, and I paid a very good price for it: 22,500 US dollars.

Br
Peder
 

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Paul...why don't you just help see that it goes to a good home....appreciative owner, some one who will enjoy it???

I've done that a couple of times with Laverdas ( and other vehicles as well). I didn't need another Laverda though I would have enjoyed the project of making it road worthy. But what would I do with it when complete? I wouldn't ride it enough to make it worthwhile, I'm not a collector of things I don't use. Likely would not make any money or break even restoring it.
And no I don't want it....I am pursuing a 25 year old ex Playnoy Playmate of the Month as my next project.
 
I would hesitate to purchase a bike unless I had a solid , definable , reason for doing so .......... the reason being to actually use , ride , and enjoy the thing , rather than view it as something to eventually sell on , in order to ( hopefully ) generate a profit ............

It seems nowadays that the number of people willing to pay the £ 6 - 10k here in the UK for a Jota in need of light restoration , could be counted on the fingers of a mitten .........

Most people just are`nt into carrying out any remedial work themselves anymore , they would much rather have a specialist do that work for them ........

When they factor in the costs involved in doing that , and add it to the purchase price of the bike in need of renovation , and come to the conclusion it`s a no - no .......... then they are much more likely to take the following option ..........

........ That option being to pay just a few grand more for a nice , clean , shiny , low mileage example , which needs no further work carried out on it ...........

They could then wheel it into their well lit , heated garage ....... where it will spend most of it`s time parked next to the Audi ........ and be content in the knowledge that they now own an example of one of the legendary " Beasts of Breganze " ..............

Little wonder all the parts suppliers are going out of business ..............



At the end of the day , if you are viewing this as a " project to provide profit " ........ then I would think that the expense and time involved in even the light restoration of something like a Jota , would only be worthwhile if .........

( a ) ....... You can be confident of finding a buyer .......

( b) ....... You can generate a profit similar to that of the dealer with an immaculate , low mileage example in his shop window or on Ebay ............


Still , you never know ......... :) ...............
 
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henrywillms said:
Paul...why don't you just help see that it goes to a good home....appreciative owner, some one who will enjoy it???

I've done that a couple of times with Laverdas ( and other vehicles as well). I didn't need another Laverda though I would have enjoyed the project of making it road worthy. But what would I do with it when complete? I wouldn't ride it enough to make it worthwhile, I'm not a collector of things I don't use. Likely would not make any money or break even restoring it.
And no I don't want it....I am pursuing a 25 year old ex Playnoy Playmate of the Month as my next project.
Click to expand...
Hi Henry

if I knew of a good home for a slightly needy Laverda triple other than myself I would have already sold my immaculate 82 1200 TS Mirage to that good home...........

I am not and have never been a "collector". I already have three Laverda triples and some other old bikes that don't get ridden enough. I am going to pass on the offered Jota unless it gets offered at so low a price I just can't say no. There are not so many good homes around for an old Laverda needing the time, money, work, and expertise that bringing it back will require.

Paul
 
Reality time has arrived, foretold though never to actually arrive.... it has done just that... intrinsic worth has collapsed. Ride your old bikes, as value to you, few external others are so possessed to own. Whimsical gesture here. j *** wondering about real world actual old Ducati are fairing in the market place, MG for that matter?
 
Hey Paul

If you do pass on it I may be intrested...
I also enjoy restoring old bikes as a hobby.
Definitely no real money to be made doing it,
I'm currently restoring a 1979 Ducati MHR 900.
Regards

Tony
 
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I actually do
Know of 2 guys who are looking for Laverda Jota’s, both local to Vancouver, BC, both current motorcycle shop owners.
I’m going to contact them tomorrow to see what’s on their mind.
I May want additional info about this machine. Or should I say they will. These are fellows with considerable ability to work on machines, and have constantly been asking me to sell my mk2 180.
Current registration status.
Engine #
Year of registration
Current location
 
Steve: I am thinking of moving on some of my fleet including my Jota I bought off Wolfgang many
years ago. I am in Kimberley and we did touch base a few years back via the forum. Not sure if you
can access my e-mail but give it the ole college try and lets talk......

Greg
 
EncinoBoy said:
Steve: I am thinking of moving on some of my fleet including my Jota I bought off Wolfgang many
years ago. I am in Kimberley and we did touch base a few years back via the forum. Not sure if you
can access my e-mail but give it the ole college try and lets talk......

Greg
Click to expand...
Hi Greg, I’ve sent you a PM with my contacts. I tried finding your e-mail but couldn’t find it.
Steve
 
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