Keith Nairn

There will be many people wondering about their bikes and/or parts at Keith's workshop. I hope our Laverda community will show respect, understanding and patience whilst arrangements are put in place to facilitate repatriation.

Keith's partner will be relying on reliable and trusted Laverda friends to help with this. More information will be shared when it becomes available. Meanwhile, everything is being held securely.
 
Never met him personally , but spoke a couple of times on the `phone ........ It doesn`t seem that long ago we were reading about his rescue work regarding the Practical Sporsbikes acquired Mirage .........

Such a shame , and thoughts go out to his partner , family members and friends ..........
 
Very sad news.
One of the few competent people who we could entrust our Laverda to.

We spent a very enjoyable evening and night at Keith and Aileen's a few years ago, Laverda business of course but the opportunity to enjoy the hospitality, sample Keith's excellent cooking and for Corinne, his whiskys. :-)

A man with a personality which doesn't always go down well with some, and who greatly admired Vincent motorcycles.

He will be sourly missed in this household.

Paul
 
This is terribly sad news, Max and I have lost a dear friend and a true fellow engineer

We met Keith in Glasgow for the very first time in 2011
I felt it was a meeting of engineering souls, Keith had great knowledge of many things and it was my privilege to be able to converse with him swapping ideas.

Keith took us to a great bar that night, he had his drams while Max and I enjoyed the Scottish jam session from the locals, no need to say it was a great night.

We bonded over different techniques on how to repair issues on Laverda engines, many discussions were had into the early hours of the morning.
Met up with him 3 more times in the UK over the next couple of years and of course those times where always greatly enjoyed by us.

Of course many emails were sent after that swapping ideas on how to engineer the Laverda problems and engine issues.

We spoke about many different Laverda items that we had both engineered over the years between ourselves, it was such a benefit for both of us as we had similar thoughts.

Exchanged emails with him not that long ago and being Keith he said all was great and did I want to order any more of his head gaskets which he did such a great design of to me and which are an awesome kit

We are totally devastated that Keith is no more with us, he was a valued friend, a true Laverda Engineer and a real kindred soul.
Can not express enough how much I am going to miss him.

To dear Aileen, know we are feeling your loss and our heartfelt wishes are with you.
 
Very sad news to hear and a shock to the system,I never met or spoke to Keith but by reputation knew him as one of the best and most trusted engineers around,and I guess a true character also , he will be sorely missed by many and my condolences and sorrow are sent to his family and friends.
 
very sad news, my condolences to his family. I did not know him personally but as I read his was a very good technican in our Laverda world. RIP
 
Keith was certainly a no nonsense Scot and setting motorcycles aside he was certainly one of a kind.
I hope that the Forum will appreciate an action shot.
He is pictured attempting to loosen what he referred to as the’Fuck Off’ Nut.
This is very sad news indeed and a glowing beacon has gone out in the Laverda World 🌎
 

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Very sad news indeed!

Met him personally at the Bikers Classics in Spa/Francorchamps in July 2018 where he participated with his 3c.

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After this event he headed further down to Breganze, where he met up with Aileen and toured with her via France and Spain back to Scotland, 5800kms in total as I learned later.

Then again in 2020, when I purchased a set of Omega Pistons from him.

My impression remains a very positive one - as someone who delved deeply into technical feasibility (particularly Laverda) and held his work to high standards.

Condolences to Aileen and his family,

Jo
 
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I've copied the post below by Chris Ronson from the ILOC forum. It provides reassurance to anyone who has bikes or parts at Keith's workshop.

Please respect the request to avoid contact whilst his partner Aileen & family mourn their loss. I'm told that Keith's phone has been ringing repeatedly today.

-------------------------------

Keith was a great engineer and a great man to have as a friend. The cancer came back unexpectedly with a vengeance three weeks ago. I've visited him four or so times since then to try to help out.
Keith has been trying to contact people with bikes and motors with him since he learned that he had so little time left, but there may well be folk who have items still there.
From his life partner Aileen; she asks that people give her and the family some time to adjust to things and grieve before they make contact about the return of their items. You will not be forgotten, but she needs some undisturbed space at present.
I'm certain we can all respect that.
Chris R.
 
Such a sad loss. I got to know Keith when buying my ts mirage from him many moons ago, a very clever engineer with a great no nonsense sense of humour. I have not had the chance to speak with him for a fair while but he will be badly missed by his friends and the laverda community. R.I.P mate.
 
This is such sad news. I last saw Keith when he and Aileen came to stay with us in Inverness in late April. I was surprised and delighted by how well he looked and really hoped for the best, but sadly it wasn't to be. Although he was clearly a very talented engineer and one of the few people in this world with the knowledge and patience to keep these sometimes truculent machines on the road, I will remember him as a witty and warm friend who lived life to the fullest, and a demon rider with whom I shared many a high speed two wheeled adventure, along with a carefully chosen dram or three after. Capo, it was an honour and a privilege.
 
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Never met him, but he was such an honourable bloke to deal with. From the other side of the world, he did right by me 100%. Champion bloke sadly missed. Words seem so inadequate.
 
Such sad news, my thoughts are with his family.
I met Keith on a couple of occasions, once at his old workshop and latterly at his new place/home. I had a huge respect for his knowledge and skills, he allowed me to have a good nose around his machinery/workshop when I dropped my Monty engine off for rebuild and same again when I collected it. I remember laughing as he took a phone call from the owner of a Zane produced model, he couldn't hide his disgust and made it clear it wouldn't be welcome in his workshop, he was quite critical of the twins, definitely a triple man, a great character. RIP Keith.
 
I feel privileged to have been able to call Keith my friend. Knowlegable, witty, generous and kind, I especially appreciated his "no bullshit" attitude. Our mutual respect for one another made it easy to get along, without batting an eye he allowed me to use his lathe and mill when I arrived at his shop with a broken brake caliper bracket on my RGS, a rare trait for an engineer! Riding the Scottish National Rally with him will remain as one of my most memorable rides ever, the dash from Glasgow to Reggie in Inverness in 2012 was an eye-opener. My wife Dory found her whisky mentor in Keith, he went out of his way to find the next exquisite dram for her. It was a pleasure for us to host him on one of his continental trips.

Although we knew of the severeness of his illness, his passing has come as a shock to both of us. Keith and I chatted only about 3 weeks ago, our last email exchange has indeed turned into our farewells. His passing has created a void in Laverdaworld, one that will be difficult, perhaps impossible, to fill. Keith was an ambassador for the Laverda marque.

Our sincere condolences to Aileen and his family,

Rest in peace mate.

piet
 
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