GSXR wheels for a 1200 with a Corsa swinging arm

Piranha Brother 2 said:
Plus a chain guard?? I had to cut my chain guard down so that it comes to a point just rear of the widest part of the tyre, so the chain will scrape the inside edge of the guard and not the tyre when heeled over to the left. 'Reasonable amount' sounds too good to be true, Chris. Have you checked your sprocket/chain alignment using the centreline of the motor as a ref point?
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Q. Is not what I meant.  ::)

You are right, the chain guard has a cut out for the tyre.
But it does have a chain guard. The CF guard was ?just? too much of a squeeze between tyre and the inside edge of the guard. Mind, the CF guard is far narrower than any twin or triple factory guard.
 
chrisk said:
Q. Is not what I meant.  ::)

You are right, the chain guard has a cut out for the tyre.
But it does have a chain guard. The CF guard was ?just? too much of a squeeze between tyre and the inside edge of the guard. Mind, the CF guard is far narrower than any twin or triple factory guard.
Click to expand...

Cool. Got it now. What have you done with your CF guard? Maybe it would work on my chunky Honda swingarm? if you aren't gonna use it (and I think it is stylistically and aesthetically pleasing  :-* :-* :-* . ). Actually looks like I can adapt the shortened SF guard for it anyways ...
 
GSXR wheels on a Laverda... all it takes is time and money and someone who knows what they are doing.
If you are taking your bike to the track you may reap the benefits of your time and money but for street riding, I doubt you will see much difference in the real world.
Someone on this site recently stated how great the Dunlop TT100 were back in the day, back when 70's 80's Laverda were contenders, back when we all had a good right hook or sharp left. I ran them all Michelins, Dulops Pirellis Metzlers never a Bridgestone back then (FFS) Hey I ran with the best of em (including a few riders from this site, TOP riders) and I mixed it up with the very respectable Pete Davies at the 2005 North America Rally but I very much doubt a 150 or 160 tire would have improved my lap time. Laverda wheels may be getting old but so are the GSXR wheels people are spending thousands of dollars to get em set up.
If you are spending money on wheels and have yet to upgrade your suspension and brakes/tires that you can outride now you may want to think about what the true benefits are for you. Just saying, Dave.


 
Dave, not sure you have ridden a converted bike with GSX-R wheels, but the difference is really significant. sure the tire plays a role, but the unsprung weight of the whole wheel including

-lighter rims
-no tube
-lighter brake disks

is significantly lower than on standard Laverda rims. My Jota handles better (or at least equally) than a Honda VFR750, which is 30 years younger in terms of development. I had a direct comparison when I went to Willy Werndl's meeting 2006 or so and Willy asked me if we could change bikes as he had never ridden a Laverda with GSX-R-rims until then. He took of with the bike ahead of me and after some meters, he was driving serpentine lines on the road, shaking his head because he could not believe how easy that thing handles. His bike on the other hand felt like a train... it needed a really hard hand to make it turn in.

Sure the two were extremes and maybe also there was something wrong with his headstock tightening or so, not sure. However, I was really, really happy when we changed back... Willy was completely amazed and positively shocked about the difference.

The same happened when I gave the bike to a former OCT team member, who was thinking his 120? Jota (all original) was one of the best handling and performing Laverdas he had ever ridden. Michael wanted to go for a short ride (I thought maybe 10 Minutes...). He returned after more than an hour with an empty tank and a BIG grin on his face...

It is really amazing how much of a difference 3-5 Kilos per wheel can make...

Sure there is something in it with "having the real 70's experiance in riding" and yes, a tire can make a big difference. Todays Conti sports tires in the small sizes of the original rims will improve the handling for sure already compared to the old Dunlops, the Metzelers or what ever was THE tire in the 70's and 80's. However, a full conversion is something really different, believe it or not. I for one would not change back anymore. Never!
 
I measured 3kg lighter than stock on the front wheel (with tyre) and 1.5kg lighter than stock on the rear.
These are significant unsprung weight savings.
Associated with this is a change to the brakes as the GSXR 1100 discs are 310mm diameter, and most folk switch to 4 piston Brembos at the same time.
Then there is the choice of more modern radial tyre construction and compound.
When I converted my bike I also had the frame seriously strengthened (headstock, swingarm pivot and downtubes) and a Maxton fork conversion as well as a Wilbers monoshock using a braced and monoshocked standard swingarm.
I also converted my Corsa (wheels and brakes only) and that also showed big improvements.

Yes we were all heroes back in the day, riding on skinny, hard tyres, wooden brakes.
But this is now, and this technology is available, so why not?
 
chrisk said:
??? Er, I have cut it to clear the tyre, mounted it on the swingarm, directly above the chain.

Psst, it's still fitted.
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Misunderstood - I thought it was too close and you'd had to abandon it - on second reading it makes perfect sense! But I will post a request for a std twin or triple chain guard in the Wanted thread at some stage - in any condition (cos it will be cut and powder coated).
 
Hi Dave, hope you did not feel bad by our responses. I am just soooo convinced of this conversion (and can not thank Piet enough, who introduced it to me and made all the machining for 2 of my bikes), that I might over-argue my standpoint sometimes.

And for the ones amongst us that want to stay original and love it that way, it is absolutely OK, too, from my point of view! I did the same with my 750 SF (0) when I restored it and loved the look, the sound and most of the rest of it. Just not the suspension and brakes unfortunately... that was why I sold it, cause I could not see me converting it to a standard where I feel safe on it, that would have felt like a crime for me.

On the Jota and the 1000 SFC, I stored all the other (original) parts in the basement and can easily put it back into standards if I ever want to (or someone who buys them from me or my then widdow or my childs). Until then though, I follow what Piero Laverda once said to me about modified Laverdas: "You know, ower focus was that the owner has fun with our bikes as long as possible. And if the modifications make you have more or longer fun with our bike, this is absolutely what we intended!"  ;)

I have my Jota since 1992, my 1000 SFC since 2000. There were several ocasions where I thought about selling the Jota (and/or the 1000 SFC), but every time I found a solution to improve it, I changed my mind and kept it. Maybe a bit of what Piero said... ::)
 
Lothar, no worries and each to their own ideas of what their bike needs to be.
    Hey, I am definitely not a rivet counter and my own 78 has several modifications to improve the riding experience, 4 pot Brembos, tubeless, full Racetech front suspension and Konis rear, sag set, Witt ignition, cams, and carbs dialed correctly these few mods transformed the bike.
    No, I haven't been lucky enough to ride a Laverda with bigger/lighter rims although I did ride MotoddRob's bike and that was an amazing bike (even before his recent upgrades). I like to see how members on this Forum modify their bikes there are some very clever people here, so keep sharing and posting pictures, Cheers Dave.  (Lavflag) (bikebend)
 
I'm just starting on this project myself,  I have the wheel and carrier at the machine shop ...have bought the 4 pot brembos 40mm mounts , what is the preferred M/C for the 30/34 calipers /, I  will be using the 310 discs. 
Also , out of curiosity , how much wider is the Corsa swinger at the rear axle than the stock 3CL ?
many thanks
Paul
 
Laverdalothar said:
I follow what Piero Laverda once said to me about modified Laverdas: "You know, our focus was that the owner has fun with our bikes as long as possible. And if the modifications make you have more or longer fun with our bike, this is absolutely what we intended!"  ;)

... but every time I found a solution to improve it, I changed my mind and kept it. Maybe a bit of what Piero said... ::)
Click to expand...

Pretty much sums up my relationship with my SF since i owned it. Having had the experience of riding a pretty std SF1 and compare it to various incarnations of my own SF1 - which has nothing in common with an SF1 any more - I can confirm that it has always been successfully modified with the aim of improving it to suit my riding style. When I fitted the 17 inch wheels and various modern RSU front ends I realised I'd gone too far without completing the package. The current build, which is hopefully my last!!!, addresses all the issues and then some. I haven't held back in doing what's required to hopefully get it right.

Interestingly, if you look at nearly every moto manufacturer today, they are producing (and selling in big numbers) bikes that are 'retro' in style but have modern suspension and brakes. That's pretty much what I'm making now. Would I do to an XS Yamaha what I'm doing to the SF? No, never - you have to have faith that the frame and basic design is suitable. SF frames are really strong, but heavy - the downside - but they vibrate (even as a 270), so the weight works in its favour in terms of rideability; plus I want to to still basically be the bike I bought in 1974 under me. Otherwise I'd build a new frame as well! If  owned a triple, i don't think I'd feel the same - hence bikes like Rob's Motodd, Scorches etc. Not saying you can't improve a triple from stock - obviously you can - a lot - but with limits. Who cares, anyway?! We all love our bikes, no matter what incarnation they find themselves in.

I was never born to be a rivet counter. And I love Piero's sentiments.
 
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