How standard is standard

[rocketonarail]

I`ve always had this thing about keeping a bike in standard spec , as the factory intended .
Obviously this is not possible in the strictest sense , if you`re going to use it then as soon as you replace the battery ,change the fork oil or put new pads in you are altering it , but I like to keep to the spirit of originality as far as possible .
I was never inclined to try to improve or upgrade things like chassis parts or brakes , mainly due to the belief that if the brakes felt a bit wooden , or the bike tended to weave a little when leant over in some corners or had a tendency to run on in others , then that was just the way it was , that was the way a Laverda behaved ......the authentic 1970`s experience if you like , to try to make changes that would dilute or nullify that raw original riding experience would be missing the point.....

But it did make me think about how original is original ......below is a pic of the Mirage on it`s fortieth birthday ( I know the indicators are missing but that was just a temporary thing...pretend they`re there )...

It may appear to be fairly standard but the only original parts that remain as they left the factory are basically....

Front mudguard
Headlamp lens and bulb holder
Handlebars
Ignition key
One front brake caliper body
Oil cooler
Oil filter
Oil pump
Starter motor
Starter gear
Front brake hydraulic junction
Rectifier
Fuse holder
Cam cover
Engine cases
Crankcase breather pipe and ball
Cam chain pedestal
Clutch actuating mechanism
Fuel lines
Petrol taps
Gear clusters
Foot rests
Gear lever
Rear brake lever
Rear mudguard
Rear wheel
Rear disc
Rear brake caliper body
Rear brake hydraulic reservoir and master cylinder
Rear grab rail
Rear light bracket
Rear chain adjusters
Tail piece undertray

And I think that`s about it....however I don`t claim to be perfect and may have missed some parts that have remained original......if you can think of what they might be then let me know and I`ll try to prove you wrong.....( you`ll only have my word for it so you`ll just have to trust me...)...

 

[Andy J]

Can’t comment on your bike as I don’t know enough about the 1200.
As for my bikes, I’ve always been more interested in keeping them running than keeping them standard. However, I do believe in making sure certain bikes are kept as authentic as possible if I am trying to maintain or ‘restore’ a bike to how it was at a certain point in its history, particularly ex-race bikes.
I also dislike bikes (or perhaps that should be the seller) that are advertised as a ‘Jota/Montjuic/Formula’ when that was not their original form but they have been dressed up to look like one and the seller has made no effort to make this clear.

 

[Rob7]

Its all personal preference - but some things are just "worth doing" as they are better (and perhaps safer) than 40 years ago - tyres, lights, ignition, oil (how would one keep that "original"?) etc. The bikes are to be enjoyed and how one does that is up to the individual.

 

[Legs]

Forty+ year old fuel lines
On a serious note, keeping a bike original could depend on usage:
My RGS spent it's first ten years as my only transport (including a 100km commute through Sydney's northern suburbs) so laying it up waiting for an original part was not an option, maintenance on Sunday after a ride to make sure it was good to go for the Monday commute, hence the non-standard fuel lines and other 'improvements'. Wasn't until I moved to Adelaide and saw the light and got a small trailbike for the daily commute that I was able to lay the Yellow Peril up for some serious upgrades.

 

[rocketonarail]

Forty+ year old fuel lines

Cavis Benz !

Quality counts.....