intro.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gabow
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Gabow

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I have just become a member so a brief intro. I'm 63 year old fitter machinist who rides to work every day. I have 5 bikes, 955 Daytona, 1050 Sprint, 900 Tiger, 650 Bonnie, Yamaha XT500 and I've just purchased a 1982 Jota 120. So hello everybody, is the 120 Jota any good, no answers containing "its not the mans version". I also tour Europe every year if only for a week or two so I'm not just on sunny Sundays rider.
 
Nice bike to look at, and sounds good, particularly with the 3-1 Harris pipe, but don’t handle particularly well compared to later 120 models. However, it wouldn’t necessarily put me off owning one.
 
Be interesting how you compare it to your other triples. It's an odd bike between the 180s and RGS series bikes but info on the technology, parts, and repairs and maintenance can all be found here.
 
There are approx 8 or so in Oz, some think there the best bike Laverda ever made, but some don't like them compared to other models. My only ride of one was interesting, you could feel the Laverda in there, but it was a bit tame compared to the 180s I am used to. BTW that was 2 laps of a Suburban block so hardly a fair test.
 
The engine is a peach - the frame is the same as the series 2 180 Jotas so it’s a hybrid - nothing wrong with either - only in production for a year - change the oil regularly, good tyres , maybe check the steering head bearings and the frame around the headstock - enjoy !
 
thanks for your input, do all 120's come with a fairing. If so I need to make some enquires 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
 
The Jota 120 is basically an interim model, it uses the cycle parts of a 180 and the engine of a 120 which appearead a year later in the RGS, the problem is that the 180 was designed with a ridgid engine, the Jota 120 uses ruber mounts because the engine vibrations would be intolerable without them, so you have what was a ridgid engine and chassis and now is rubber mounted so the engine "cannot help" with ridgitity as before, hence the handling might be a bit less predictable, most wont notice though
welcome to the madhouse
CLEM
 
CLEMTOG said:
The Jota 120 is basically an interim model, it uses the cycle parts of a 180 and the engine of a 120 which appearead a year later in the RGS, the problem is that the 180 was designed with a ridgid engine, the Jota 120 uses ruber mounts because the engine vibrations would be intolerable without them, so you have what was a ridgid engine and chassis and now is rubber mounted so the engine "cannot help" with ridgitity as before, hence the handling might be a bit less predictable, most wont notice though
welcome to the madhouse
CLEM
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Its ok I served my apprenticeship on Japanese 2 strokes and a Z1 :ROFLMAO: . will I need to put additives in the petrol or are they ok on E stuff.
 
Vince said:
There are approx 8 or so in Oz, some think there the best bike Laverda ever made, but some don't like them compared to other models. My only ride of one was interesting, you could feel the Laverda in there, but it was a bit tame compared to the 180s I am used to. BTW that was 2 laps of a Suburban block so hardly a fair test.
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Vince, there are at least 15 in Aussie that I know off

their engines are an oddball, the gearbox cluster is unique to that model, 1st, 2nd, 3rd gears and the Mainshaft do not interchange with either the 180 degree triples or the RGS engines
 
1st gear is a long way from 2nd, which is only a hassle in 15km/h hairpins, otherwise it is a hoot.
 

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Red I think you mentioned that before, must update my brain. If a model doubles in numbers in Oz by private imports over a few years that tells me there very desirable as Private importing isn't an easy hoop to jump through.
 
Thanks for all your informative feed back. Now as an Engineer I will be needing a destruction manual. Anybody got a good one to sell or know of. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
 
The Sock said:
E5 Super is the preferred option, by me, though there are those who claim they run 95 Octane E10 without problems.
See also 'Oil thread'?
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Yes, I find my Triumph triples run a lot better on E5 even the new Tiger 900.🤘
 
Gabow said:
Thanks for all your informative feed back. Now as an Engineer I will be needing a destruction manual. Anybody got a good one to sell or know of. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
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Owners manual is in the Library - https://www.laverdaforum.com/xf/resources/59/download

Dunno if the factory ever produced a workshop manual for this model. You may need to interpolate between the 1000/1200 for 180 triples and the later RGS workshop manual - they're in the Library too.
 
Great Laverda to have. Pesonally love the styling. Maybe not so much seat shape. I saw one race around Amaroo Park back in the day. Test rode it after working on it in shop. Would love to have one.
 
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