Factory RGS 1000 Executive info and hello from California

Grant said:
Paul, I never said or implied you had a vested interest in trying to prove only silver ones were made.
All I was saying was that I was pretty sure there were genuine red ones too.
It has been very interesting to discover there may actually be at least one black one too.
Justin, I would listen to every piece of advice given, but apply selectively and at the right time. Otherwise you will be stripping it down, getting it welded and repainted, throwing away parts that may be perfectly.serviceable and generally destroying it's 'factoryness'.
As and when things need replaced or revised would be my suggestion.
Just concentrate on getting it safe and running correctly.
It looks to be in beautiful condition and is a testament to how your father cherished and looked after it.
Click to expand...

Hi Grant, and Justin

QUOTE: Otherwise you will be stripping it down, getting it welded and repainted, throwing away parts that may be perfectly.serviceable and generally destroying it's 'factoryness'.
As and when things need replaced or revised would be my suggestion.


I was quite literally laughing out loud, great advice to resist the "while I am at it I might as well.........." affliction that sometimes strikes once one of these projects begins.....

Grant, yes, some of my previous Laverda projects have gone to extremes, as has your mono shocked POP Laverda project, but I can actually say my present 1982 1200 bare frame/bare crank rebuild is still on track as a totally stock rebuild, with the exception of proper carb internals and the Ignitech digital ignition conversion. I have even salvaged and re used all the original fasteners, which is also a first for me, no stainless steel fasteners to be found anywhere ;)

My bet is that as Justin's dad has preserved this bike in as purchased condition for so many years, I doubt it is likely to get heavily modified at this point of time if it is re conditioned to be made ride able. If it is to be made ride able the basics have to be attended to, to make it run well and be safe to ride....... if it is not made to run well, it would be likely to be retired back to storage, a poorly running Laverda and a properly running Laverda are entirely different animals, I hated my first 1200 as I got it, thought it was the worst mistake I had made in buying it, until I got it sorted and running properly.

Paul LeClair
 
Hi Justin,

Great to read about your Dad's bike. Original and low mileage vehicles are always appealling to me. I'm more interested than normal though, as I have Executive 2294 here in South Australia and it is a match to yours - red with silver wheels.

Mine does not have the extra VIN plate or the EPA sticker under the seat - not needed at that time in Australia - so I can't 'prove' that it is genuine the way you have been able to. I bought it second hand in early 1993 from a dealer in Adelaide, with receipt history from the previous owner to 1990. As such, I do not know its history from 1984 to 1990. I seem to recall I've heard other south aussies mention the previous owners name, so I'll send a PM to someone like Terry Dymond and ask if he knows the previous owner, and if so, some further history might become known.

I used it well from 1993 to 1998 and had lots of enjoyable holidays on it. The panniers are an awkward shape to get gear into, but created a good platform to sit a sausage bag, tent, etc over the top of. Once my first daughter was born in 1998, I used the bike less and less and I hate to admit it, it would now be 4 years since I've given it a run.

In terms of 'genuiness', I've never seen another Executive to compare it with - but I've always believed the paint, fairing extensions, pannier mounting system, mudguard extension etc etc are original.

I need to pull my finger out and get it rocking down the road again. It's amazing to think these 2 sibling bikes are half a world away but have something quite unique in common!

Cheers, Lloyd
 

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GTSF said:
Hi Justin,

Great to read about your Dad's bike. Original and low mileage vehicles are always appealling to me. I'm more interested than normal though, as I have Executive 2294 here in South Australia and it is a match to yours - red with silver wheels.

Mine does not have the extra VIN plate or the EPA sticker under the seat - not needed at that time in Australia - so I can't 'prove' that it is genuine the way you have been able to. I bought it second hand in early 1993 from a dealer in Adelaide, with receipt history from the previous owner to 1990. As such, I do not know its history from 1984 to 1990. I seem to recall I've heard other south aussies mention the previous owners name, so I'll send a PM to someone like Terry Dymond and ask if he knows the previous owner, and if so, some further history might become known.

I used it well from 1993 to 1998 and had lots of enjoyable holidays on it. The panniers are an awkward shape to get gear into, but created a good platform to sit a sausage bag, tent, etc over the top of. Once my first daughter was born in 1998, I used the bike less and less and I hate to admit it, it would now be 4 years since I've given it a run.

In terms of 'genuiness', I've never seen another Executive to compare it with - but I've always believed the paint, fairing extensions, pannier mounting system, mudguard extension etc etc are original.

I need to pull my finger out and get it rocking down the road again. It's amazing to think these 2 sibling bikes are half a world away but have something quite unique in common!

Cheers, Lloyd
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Lloyd-

Thanks for the reply, this is awesome! I'm blown away. Like you said, we're half-way around the world from each other and yet both our Executives are only separated by one production number. That is just mind-boggling. Any and all info you can round-up would be amazing! As for authenticating your Executive, I bet Paul, Grant and the other gurus here can help!

Discovering all of this info has been bittersweet because on one end I'm grateful that my father's RGS is a legitimate Executive, but on the other I can't help but feel a little confused knowing that there's a possibility it might not be wearing its original bodywork. Don't get me wrong, I still love the bike, I guess I was hoping for a definitive answer. I suppose the verdict is still out since there has been info supporting both the belief that red Executives were in fact available from the factory and also other info supporting the belief that the 15 US Executives were all originally silver. I was hoping for some concrete info and I'll keep digging until I either find the answers or I reach a dead-end, but I suppose all of the treasure hunting and fact finding adds to the mystique, right? Ha ha!

I know this is subjective, but to all the Laverda gurus out there: If I never reach a definitive answer as to if my father's Executive came from the factory with the red body work or if it was swapped over from silver to red, how much does it matter? I don't plan on selling the bike so it's not that big of a deal, but I guess I've never seen a scenario like this where there are so many unanswered questions...ones that may never be concretely answered. Just curious on what the long-time Laverda aficionados think?!

Thanks again for all the help. This forum is great and I'm having a blast with this treasure hunt! I know I'm exaggerating here, but a part of me feels like we're rewriting (or maybe discovering) Laverda history! Too cool!
 
GTSF said:
Hi Justin,
Mine does not have the extra VIN plate or the EPA sticker under the seat - not needed at that time in Australia - so I can't 'prove' that it is genuine the way you have been able to.
Cheers, Lloyd
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Compliance plates for motorcycles were introduced in Australia in October 1976.
 
Hi LLoyd, Dave here. Almost certain that your Exec' used to belong to my brother. He traded it in to the Bike Factory (I think) to buy a Ducati Superlight. I have an RGS that I bought from a guy in Tasmania in '87, my brother came over here in '89 if I remember right, liked my RGS and so I looked around for one for him. The Exec' came to light at a bike shop down at Somerton Park (just back from Show and Go). The mechanic had taken it apart for some reason and said that there was a problem with the oil system or something like that. I could see that he had the cam blocks on the wrong way, so no oil was getting through to the top end. Anyhow, we got it real cheap because of that, took it back to his place, spent a couple of weeks putting it back together, and away it went. We bought a pair of Staintune mufflers for it and that was about it. I have some pics of it being put back together of you're interested. I'm up in the Clare Valley if you're ever up this way.(You to Terry) PM me if you'd like the pics. Regards, Dave. 
 
Dave,

Spot on! Yes, I have a receipt from 1990 for a cam block (amongst other receipts that basically show a top end checkover) and the Staintune receipt! Would some of the receipts have been in your name and your brother was Steve?? Wow - I'd love to check out the photos and will have to organise to come for a trip and learn more (I'm in the Riverland so not too far away from your neck of the woods). Any more memories of the bikes history?? Definitely going to have to talk more with you. I had the Bike Factory in Gouger St. do tune up work on it just after I bought it, and they certainly knew the bike. 

DoC! awesome idea. My wife only recently has been saying she wants to go to Italy and my mad cousin Lefty from Darwin is one of those world wide motorcyclists so I'm sure he'd know the logistics of doing such a thing!

Justin - good on you for your persistence in your 'treasure hunt'. It is amazing what you have made me learn too!

Davo - re VIN. Good point. Is it right though that my VIN is what is on the headstock as is? ie -no missing riveted plate?

Cheers, Lloyd 
 
GTSF said:
Davo - re VIN. Good point. Is it right though that my VIN is what is on the headstock as is? ie -no missing riveted plate?

Cheers, Lloyd
Click to expand...

Someone else will have to answer that as my bike was delivered in 1976 but just before compliance plates were required.
 
not real certain about the compliance date, I bought my 79 Jota brand new in 79 and she never came with a compliance plate and still does not have one
Aussie laws were a bit "murky" back then in those days, different states did not even know each other 's phone numbers  :D
 
I believe this whole question has been already answered, here we have 2294 and 2295 both portrayed as RGS Executive's and both painted red
wouldn't one have to say that even though common belief was that they only came in Silver that dirty old Luigi back in 1983 or so after spending all morning pressing 120 cranks together (would piss off the majority of people) that he painted a few Executive's in red on Friday afternoon just to piss off the rivet counters?
has to be the answer

:D

 
redax5 said:
I believe this whole question has been already answered, here we have 2294 and 2295 both portrayed as RGS Executive's and both painted red
wouldn't one have to say that even though common belief was that they only came in Silver that dirty old Luigi back in 1983 or so painted a few in red on Friday afternoon just to piss off the rivet counters?
Click to expand...

if it is as it was with the black 1000 SFC's, there is even red under the silver...  :D
 
DoC! awesome idea. My wife only recently has been saying she wants to go to Italy and my mad cousin Lefty from Darwin is one of those world wide motorcyclists so I'm sure he'd know the logistics of doing such a thing!
Click to expand...

I met an Aussie guy from Perth in our KL hotel bar a few months ago. He and a mate crated up 2 Triumph triples and their gear and sent them from Oz to UK so they could visit the Isle of Man TT races. After 3 weeks of trying to wear their tyres out on the TT circuit they crated them back up and sent them back to Oz. He said they had an 'bloody super time mate' and are saving up to do it again.

So it is possible to ship to Europe.........just needs (loadsa) dosh and planning.

Cheers

DoC!
 
DoC! said:
So it is possible to ship to Europe.........just needs (loadsa) dosh and planning.

Cheers

DoC!
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yes, and without intra-stellar travel, i can assure you!!  :D

Though being an employe of US companies for several years, I still do believe the two continents are on the same planet, even though not on the same side of it (and sometimes it feels they are not even in the same galaxy... :o )

 
DoC! said:
So it is possible to ship to Europe.........just needs (loadsa) dosh and planning.
Click to expand...

Maurice and his mate Tom the Wrecker [perhaps Maurice needs to inherit that title....] did the same thing with their Jotas. Shipped them to the UK from Sydney, 'did' Europe including a trip to Breganze, back to the UK, then shipped 'em home.
All it takes is time and money! 8)

But, back on topic.... :-* The Executive is a great find and will hopefully return to being a fantastic rider's machine. I know it's a subjective thing, but I'm not a fan of the fairing extensions and reckon that they spoil the lovely lines of the RGS bodywork. As to whether they work at keeping the wind and rain off, now that's another thing altogether!
A great bike and a very interesting thread though, thanks for sharing it :)
 
TripleCPro said:
Lloyd-

Thanks for the reply, this is awesome! I'm blown away. Like you said, we're half-way around the world from each other and yet both our Executives are only separated by one production number. That is just mind-boggling. Any and all info you can round-up would be amazing! As for authenticating your Executive, I bet Paul, Grant and the other gurus here can help!

Discovering all of this info has been bittersweet because on one end I'm grateful that my father's RGS is a legitimate Executive, but on the other I can't help but feel a little confused knowing that there's a possibility it might not be wearing its original bodywork. Don't get me wrong, I still love the bike, I guess I was hoping for a definitive answer. I suppose the verdict is still out since there has been info supporting both the belief that red Executives were in fact available from the factory and also other info supporting the belief that the 15 US Executives were all originally silver. I was hoping for some concrete info and I'll keep digging until I either find the answers or I reach a dead-end, but I suppose all of the treasure hunting and fact finding adds to the mystique, right? Ha ha!

I know this is subjective, but to all the Laverda gurus out there: If I never reach a definitive answer as to if my father's Executive came from the factory with the red body work or if it was swapped over from silver to red, how much does it matter? I don't plan on selling the bike so it's not that big of a deal, but I guess I've never seen a scenario like this where there are so many unanswered questions...ones that may never be concretely answered. Just curious on what the long-time Laverda aficionados think?!

Thanks again for all the help. This forum is great and I'm having a blast with this treasure hunt! I know I'm exaggerating here, but a part of me feels like we're rewriting (or maybe discovering) Laverda history! Too cool!
Click to expand...

Hi Justin

a couple of things...

there are certainly some REAL Laverda gurus here, but I am not one of them.

when I chatted with Roger Slater he was insistent with me that there would be a colour code for original factory paint colour marked somewhere on the bike, but he couldn't remember where or what it looked like. So throwing that out there for the wider Laverda community, is there a paint colour code on the bike somewhere? That is completely outside my experience, I have never seen/noticed one, on any Laverda triple..

it is clear that your dad's bike left the factory as an Executive factory model, what colour it was when it left the factory is of some minor interest but in my view is of no importance whatsoever to the bike as a bike and as an Executive model. Whatever colour bodywork it is wearing, it appears to be original factory paint on authentic Laverda factory bodywork, Laverda was a small and very flexible bike builder, it is clear from other stories here you could have whatever you wanted from the factory or the distributor or dealer.

Some folks in the hobby place a premium on original paint, original fasteners, original condition and original parts, original Italian air still in the original petrified tires, others like me could care less about originality. There will always be friendly differences of opinions.

Maybe there would be some perceived value to a hard core collector in proving that if this left the factory in red it is one of the rarest of the rare, but I am not a collector and personally it would not matter to me one way or the other, these are bikes meant for riding. I acquired my own Executive with around 1,000 original miles on it (1,054 to be exact), to get it running and safe for the road it got new shocks, new tires, new ignition, new plugs/coils/wires, new fuel lines, front forks rebuilt, new wheel bearings, new chain and sprockets, carbs rebuilt, etc. Then at around 3,200 miles it got upgraded brakes, upgraded suspension, Carillo rods, high compression 1200 pistons, head ported for 36 mm intakes and 36 mm Mukuni RS 36 flat slide carbs, wider Astralite wheels, etc. and the madness went from there...... ;) but it still has original paint, so far..... :o

if it turns out your dad's bike is not going to see the road again any time soon, it would still be worthwhile to fully flush through and bleed the hydraulic systems with fresh brake fluid, make sure the carbs are not gummed solid with gasoline residue, the tank is not too rusty and is clean and dry, if there is a dead battery left in it make sure to remove that and neutralize any battery acid that may have leaked, etc.

if your dad's bike is going to see the light of day again, great! Re commission it as needed to make it run right and be safe to ride including new fuel lines, and enjoy it for what it is, a gorgeous and capable high speed long distance sport tourer.

Paul LeClair

 
Hey Paul-

Thanks for the reply, good sir. I appreciate it. I'd be curious about the paint code markings, that would be awesome. Has anyone else heard about this? It is interesting that the two Australian Executives, 2294 and 2296 (my father's is 2295) are both red with silver wheels. I'm still left scratching my head.
As for riding the bike, my father and I fully intend to ride the thing! The tank has some light rust in it, not too bad, but it's apparent. I ordered some RUSTECO, I've used it in the past on a 1998 R1 that I brought back to life and it does wonders for rust removal and won't harm paint should it spill. The rust in the tank is step one, then onto a laundry list of stuff that I'll surely run by you guys before doing!
Thanks again for everything! Sorry for the short post, I'm on break at work and sneaking in a reply!

 
A batch of 3 consecutive red Executives on the production line makes sense.
It may make the idea of a dealer retro-fit seem less likely, especially as the bikes ended up at dealers on 2 different continents.

The lower front corners of the RGS tank are known rust traps, even to the point of holing. It depends on ambient conditions at the storage location, how much, if any, moisture was in the fuel when parked and so on.
You do best by treating the rust in the tank. There is no use in fitting an in-line fuel filter as rust particles pass through and clog up the carb internals. I had this on a 750/4 I used to own.
My Corsa tank was internally de-rusted and sealed with an ethanol-resistant coating (Tank Cure) when I had to get the tank repaired when I bought it. It had only done 4000 odd km since new and had not been run for around 10 years when I got it.
Hopefully an acid soak of your tank will solve the rust issue.
 
This has been a riveting read from start to finish (if you pardon the pun).

The forensic dissection and then reassembly of the data has changed the paradigm of the 'Executive' story forever I believe, in a manner similar to the 'sandcast' Honda 750 saga.
All achieved without too much 'handbags at dawn' too.

I'm a bit jealous that the Jota 120 fails to whip up such controversy though :D

Just goes to show how valuable this forum is
 
So I heard once that the 120 Jotas were compromised in the handling department because of less rigidity with the rubber mounts and yet an owner of one I know who has owned a bunch of Laverdas  reckons its the best handling Laverda he has ridden.Hows that.
 
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