Frame numbers for RGA1000

R

RGS1000RGS

Senior member
Location
Dorset, GB
I'm after some group knowledge about frame numbers in relation to the bike model. All the information points to my Laverda being a RGA1000 Sprint, as it has the sprint fairing and the fuel tank with the filler cap rather than the RGS style filler.

However, the frame number is: LAV 1000RGS/1*2416*

Did all the '83 onwards manufactured 120 bikes use an RGS designated frame number, rather than an LAV 1000RGA/ designation? Coincidentally, the bike has RGS1000 side panel badges, Marzocchi forks, RGA twin spoke cast wheels.
 
I am far from an expert but from what I have read, those fairings were made in England and fitted by I think 3 Cross the distributor to upgrade RGA and sell more bikes and they certainly did that. Really sexy bike.
 
All the RG-bikes used the RGS frame and engine number, including SFC1000. My blue RGA is 25xx for your info.
The sprint fairing etc was all fitted by the importer or dealer, but yes if RGA the bike would have left the factory with a conventional fuel filler type tank (and the much-loved handlebar fairing) and would have been either blue or orange.
Fitting RGS badges was common in period as the RGA only ever had a foil sticker sidecover 'badges' which some considered a bit naff.
Forks are the same for all RGS/A series.
Wheels are the same basis, only variation was silver or gold depending on model (RGA's were all silver) and the first batch Corsas got black wheels with the machined edges.
 
Ged Shorten who operates as GCS at 3 Legged Cross in the UK told me that when he was an apprentice one of his jobs was to fit those Sprint fairings to new RGA's and fill a skip with the parts he removed.
 
My 1986 Sprint is number LAV1000 RGS 2202 BTW fairings were made by Sprint Manufacturing (for Three Cross to fit), still in business in Warminster.

Here"s my well travelled (but not this year) machine. I"m in Tiverton Devon btw.
 

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Very classy looking bike. Innaresting that you Poms created changes that improved the bikes enough to warrant a name change at the factory (Jotas, RGAs and more).
 
There is one in Sydney according to Faceplant, I tried convincing him to come to the recent Rego Day. It didn't happen, never seen one in the flesh.
 
breganzane said:
All the RG-bikes used the RGS frame and engine number, including SFC1000. My blue RGA is 25xx for your info.
The sprint fairing etc was all fitted by the importer or dealer, but yes if RGA the bike would have left the factory with a conventional fuel filler type tank (and the much-loved handlebar fairing) and would have been either blue or orange.
Fitting RGS badges was common in p
Vince said:
I am far from an expert but from what I have read, those fairings were made in England and fitted by I think 3 Cross the distributor to upgrade RGA and sell more bikes and they certainly did that. Really sexy bike.
Click to expand...

eriod as the RGA only ever had a foil sticker sidecover 'badges' which some considered a bit naff.
Forks are the same for all RGS/A series.
Wheels are the same basis, only variation was silver or gold depending on model (RGA's were all silver) and the first batch Corsas got black wheels with the machined edges.
Click to expand...
That's really informative, thanks! My Sprint has black wheels with polished alloy edging and was repainted black from it's original orange.
 
LJ-2 said:
My 1986 Sprint is number LAV1000 RGS 2202 BTW fairings were made by Sprint Manufacturing (for Three Cross to fit), still in business in Axminster.

Here"s my well travelled (but not this year) machine. I"m in Tiverton Devon btw.
Click to expand...
Very nice. Mine looks far better in the photo than it did in real life, but it's now undergoing a almost full refurb (apart from the engine, which is as sweet as a nut) as the rolling chassis was not in the best condition, along with the paintwork, which I'm going to take back to the Laverda Arrange. Are your wheels Corsa or CMA?
 

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pf1 said:
Ged Shorten who operates as GCS at 3 Legged Cross in the UK told me that when he was an apprentice one of his jobs was to fit those Sprint fairings to new RGA's and fill a skip with the parts he removed.
Click to expand...
the world of Laverda is a small one, though I spoke to Sprint Manufacturing to order a new screen, and the chap I spoke to said he'd painted the orange and blue fairings, but not the black ones.
 
piranha-bro2 said:
Very classy looking bike. Innaresting that you Poms created changes that improved the bikes enough to warrant a name change at the factory (Jotas, RGAs and more).
Click to expand...
The Slater brothers (the Laverda importers for the UK) obviously did have a good connection with the factory, along with Three Cross Motorcycles, but to me it it seems that the factory was very flexible with it's business customers with regard to adapting their products, a good policy for a low volume manufacturer to have.
 
RGS1000RGS said:
Very nice. Mine looks far better in the photo than it did in real life, but it's now undergoing a almost full refurb (apart from the engine, which is as sweet as a nut) as the rolling chassis was not in the best condition, along with the paintwork, which I'm going to take back to the Laverda Arrange. Are your wheels Corsa or CMA?
Click to expand...
CMA wheels ,has the Jota spec 120 4C cams high comp pistons,and carbs bored out to 34mm all done by Phil Todd, Jota spec was available from ThreeCross for an extra £500 I think Ged said.
Mine was black with the CMA wheels gold, but when I found it it was in a sorry state with orange side panels. I know the original owner Nigel Short, who had it in concours condition . I had a WITT DMC 2 fitted and another member kindly did most of the restoration as at that time I had no garage.
It"s since taken me to Breganze a couple of times.
 
LJ-2 said:
CMA wheels ,has the Jota spec 120 4C cams high comp pistons,and carbs bored out to 34mm all done by Phil Todd, Jota spec was available from ThreeCross for an extra £500 I think Ged said.
Mine was black with the CMA wheels gold, but when I found it it was in a sorry state with orange side panels. I know the original owner Nigel Short, who had it in concours condition . I had a WITT DMC 2 fitted and another member kindly did most of the restoration as at that time I had no garage.
It"s since taken me to Breganze a couple of times.
Click to expand...
Mine's got the DMC2 ignition system, Winterbourne exhaust system, RS36 carbs plus 4c cams, big valve head also ported. It's got plenty of power; 82 bhp at the rear wheel according to the dyno chart that came with a plethora of history, workshop manuals and a Laverda OC tips and hints manual too, kindly supplied by the previous owner, Robert, who'd owned the bike since 1998.
 
RGS1000RGS said:
Very nice. Mine looks far better in the photo than it did in real life, but it's now undergoing a almost full refurb (apart from the engine, which is as sweet as a nut) as the rolling chassis was not in the best condition, along with the paintwork, which I'm going to take back to the Laverda Arrange. Are your wheels Corsa or CMA?
Click to expand...
Looks speccy in Black........ Nice :cool:
 
Couple more ,I didn't"t go "back to black "( ;)) though I like it a lot , just due to showing up dust dirt etc Excellent Cox Engineering exhausts on mine . (right way up) Brakes by Spondon.
 

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