Hello: new Mirage owner

In a past life used to write maintenance procedures for submarines. Learnt lots about writing in 'active voice' and punctuation in general.
One of my pet hates was, and still is, is the incorrect use of apostrophes.
 
Legs said:
In a past life used to write maintenance procedures for submarines. Learnt lots about writing in 'active voice' and punctuation in general.
One of my pet hates was, and still is, is the incorrect use of apostrophes.
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As long as it doesn't give you apoplexy ...... thus your editing could be erased with the 'stroke' of a ........ oh never mind.

Jim
 
Time to update this: there is a fresh instalment of the project series in the April issue of Practical Sportsbike with loads of pics and more detail, but sum it up somewhat...

I've stripped it to a bare chassis. The signs are promising: apart from a couple of rear mudguard bolts and one front engine mount, none of the fasteners put up a fight, and most of the bike came apart like it was all torqued up yesterday. Most of the bike looks like fairly straightforward to restore, too. The fuel tank has some heavy pitting to sort out, and the front mudguard has a split/dent that has already been declared not worth saving. Cylinder three has ingested a lot of water, so I'm expecting at least that pot to need new valves, and a rebore on all three.

The frame is now away for blasting, and it'll be braced around the headstock to ward off the crack/snap issues I've read about on here, and any other areas that need metal putting back. Rust is fairly minimal despite the neglect, thought the chain has rubbed through the lower crossmember to a significant extent, and the centrestand is heavily pitted too, but I think it's structurally OK and will just need prettying up. I'll be abusing my friend who can weld in the near future!

I'll be needing some parts as it progresses - a front mudguard, stepped dual deat stock low-rise handlebars, chrome clock backs and a tail piece stand out so far, if anybody has any good (or viable to restore parts) to sell. I see Laverda Paradies sell pattern handlebars and mudguards - can anyone vouch for the quality? The mudguard bracket will be fine to clean and replate at least. A shame the fender itself got damaged along the line.
 
But I can't find any evidence he sold Laverdas... Anybody aware of him dealing in them at the time?
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Yes GK's were Laverda official dealers - we (Motodd) took over their dealership. Bought a few bits off them and my 2nd 3C. Saw this is a 1979 Mirage - so may well have the wrong centre mains - no problem if Keith does rebuild though. - Regards - Phil
 
And of course Wolfgang Haerter in Canada, providing you order more CAN$ 40 min order from UK.
Again he holds massive stock. Ignore the website which doesn't begin to do it justice. Suggest that you compile a full list of requirements and email it.
 
Jo said:
Have you thought about OCT as source for parts? They have no internet shop as LP has, but they have everything (and in most cases a lot cheaper).
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OCT? Not familiar with them. Any contact details?
Rob said:
And of course Wolfgang Haerter in Canada, providing you order more CAN$ 40 min order from UK.
Again he holds massive stock. Ignore the website which doesn't begin to do it justice. Suggest that you compile a full list of requirements and email it.
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In the first instance I'm after the larger parts which would be replaced with genuine. To keep something of a lid on budget I'm looking at workable used parts first, I can imagine a NOS seat or front guard from any of those sources would have a hefty price tag, if they're available at all. Smaller sundries and consumable will be bought from the likes of the above once I've got a decent shopping list to make it worthwhile shipping overseas.

phil37 said:
Yes GK's were Laverda official dealers - we (Motodd) took over their dealership. Bought a few bits off them and my 2nd 3C. Saw this is a 1979 Mirage - so may well have the wrong centre mains - no problem if Keith does rebuild though. - Regards - Phil
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Thanks for clarifying that. Even the GK memorial site, which is relatively detailed, doesn't mention Laverda at all. I guess these things can fade in time. The side panels have GK stickers on, I'll look at getting them replicated as a nod to its origins.
.
 
rucksack said:
OCT? Not familiar with them. Any contact details?
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Here the contact info: Orange Cycle Team
The site is in German only, but basic contact details are included. Roger isn't a fan of the internet, but don't let that put you off.
Call (be patient), or write an email...
:)

Piet here on the forum is working there. One customer called the shop "Mototope" once, there is something to it. German MOTORRAD Classic magazine did an article about OCT in 2013: Orange Cycle Team - The Laverda-Specialists in Dom-Esch

Cheers,
Jo
 
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I remember Gus Kuhn selling Laverda's, I subbed to a firm that were only about 400 yards away from their shop (nearer Stockwell than Clapham, right oposite the tube), and I was a reguar visitor to the showroom, in 1973 I was considering an MV four and (at the time) believed the advertising that stated 160MPH (yeah right) I went off the idea when I came accross a running example outside the shop about to depart, and it clanked like a petter engined concrete mixer, which put me off, then I got to talk to an owner having arived at a race meeting simultaneously,I was on my ten month old Rocket three, and he couldnt stay with me accelerating out of corners and roundabouts, he was dissapointed talked of barely 115MPH and was going to sell it! the Laverdas came a bit later to GK and I viewed them there, but nothing more, I wanted a road test of a Guzzi 750 and went to the then importers at Redhill, but they would let me ride one, also went to Slaters, who chucked trade plates on a new bike (SF1) and gave me 50p (which was weird new money at the time) for fuel, and the wirds from Roger, "dont come back until you have used it"
when I got back a new SF1 was organiseed through their dealer Commerfords in Surrey. Some friction arrising from Slaters selling to dealers and direct, which (understandably) was not popular with the dealers
CLEM
 
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Your MV story is pretty familiar Clem. That was a bike where the hype was stratospheric above the reality, but they looked cool and had "the" image which is represented in their current sale prices. Best not to take a ride on one. I liked their little 125 though.
 
rucksack said:
I can imagine a NOS seat or front guard from any of those sources would have a hefty price tag, if they're available at all.
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You'd be surprised. Both OCT and Wolfgang have NOS, together with newly made parts, often specially commissioned from the original suppliers... and used too.
 
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