Laverda 30th Grab Rail

B

Blackngold79

New member
Location
Nottingham
I've just acquired a 30th anniversary 1200, but it's missing the grab rail (possible part number 60-128-616, although that's for the chrome plated version). The bike was fitted with pannier mounting brackets/rear carrier, but I don't need that. If there is anyone on the Forum who has a spare grab rail - preferably second hand - as it will be re-finished in Black, it would be most gratefully received! I'm based near Nottingham. I'm new to the Forum, but presumably you can contact me via private message for contact details etc?
 
Yep, got your message, unfortunately I'm not off to the show.
I will box it up for you and send it Royal mail, with all the issues with Hermes ATM. Can you send me Postal address.
 
hello blackangold79 (no other name available) from Nottingham.

I think this must be the ex John Philipp (3 P's, 1 L) Anni, I know/knew this bike very well, as no doubt you will have already found out, be carefull, not all grab rails are the same, there is the short type and the long type, my 1200TS has a luggage carrier that is confusing me, I cannot for the life, remember which type is fitted to the Anni, but plenty on here will know. Be sure you are getting the correct one.

What you see on the milometer (in k's) is correct, this engine had the failed centre mains, but missed the recall, it let go in in 1998 and stood for 13 years until 2011 when I met "The Old Duffer" or Duff for short, and refreshed it for him, it had the two dodgy centre mains replaced with the correct type, honed bores and new rings, cleaned up head with some new valves (due to them getting bent by the sloppy crank), and new valve springs, it is fitted with one of my copper head gaskets. It went well ever since, until Duffs demise, I did all the servicing, just routine stuff, with the exception of badly needed head stock bearings about 5 years ago. I did not fit the LED winkers or non stock reg/rect. The Triumph master cylinders was my invented mod a good few years ago and gave a much lighter clutch (since moved on and fitted even better types) but the unusual thing about this bike is that the clutch slave piston IS NOT the normal 31mm or 30mm size but the factory original (and better why did they change it?) 35mm it was very hard to find the O ring for that slave piston, being 35mm is not the problem, but gettingit in Viton was, perhaps that has changed as well and is now easier. I have not seen any other triple with 35mm slave piston, any ther Anni's out there?

CLEM
 
CLEMTOG said:
hello blackangold79 (no other name available) from Nottingham.

I think this must be the ex John Philipp (3 P's, 1 L) Anni, I know/knew this bike very well, as no doubt you will have already found out, be carefull, not all grab rails are the same, there is the short type and the long type, my 1200TS has a luggage carrier that is confusing me, I cannot for the life, remember which type is fitted to the Anni, but plenty on here will know. Be sure you are getting the correct one.

What you see on the milometer (in k's) is correct, this engine had the failed centre mains, but missed the recall, it let go in in 1998 and stood for 13 years until 2011 when I met "The Old Duffer" or Duff for short, and refreshed it for him, it had the two dodgy centre mains replaced with the correct type, honed bores and new rings, cleaned up head with some new valves (due to them getting bent by the sloppy crank), and new valve springs, it is fitted with one of my copper head gaskets. It went well ever since, until Duffs demise, I did all the servicing, just routine stuff, with the exception of badly needed head stock bearings about 5 years ago. I did not fit the LED winkers or non stock reg/rect. The Triumph master cylinders was my invented mod a good few years ago and gave a much lighter clutch (since moved on and fitted even better types) but the unusual thing about this bike is that the clutch slave piston IS NOT the normal 31mm or 30mm size but the factory original (and better why did they change it?) 35mm it was very hard to find the O ring for that slave piston, being 35mm is not the problem, but gettingit in Viton was, perhaps that has changed as well and is now easier. I have not seen any other triple with 35mm slave piston, any ther Anni's out there?

CLEM
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Hi Clem, yes this is indeed the ex-John Philipp bike, and it came with a comprehensive history file - you certainly appeared to keep "Duff" on the road. I am currently undertaking a sympathetic restoration, as it was rather "tired" - particularly after been upside down in a French ditch! I have a very good local metal workshop, and we've managed to save the front mudguard and even the headlight rim which was severely dented. The downpipes and (straightened) handlebars are currently being refreshed in new "black chrome" and the original silencers which came with the bike will be Zircotek treated in satin black. The satin black engine covers have been re-finished as per the original; fortunately John had sourced a new alternator cover, as the original was damaged. Leighton's have re-covered the seat to be more like the original (it was fitted with a "standard" seat) - I think John had found the original too uncomfortable. Having sat unused for a few years, the front brake and clutch master cylinders need a full re-fresh - they are still your Triumph fitments. I would like to go back to the Brembo type, but I know the clutch can be a problem with the original (hen's teeth?) Brembo master cylinder. I can only assume that the factory didn't really get the correct cylinder sizes when they launched the hydraulic clutch system on this bike. I will be re-fitting original indicators. The grab rail is, I understand, the "short" version, and the one I've bought is finished in black, so possibly off an Anniversary bike anyway. If it's a long one, I can modify it to fit, but fingers crossed that won't be necessary. John had fitted GIVI panniers and mounting frames to the bike - hence the removal of the grab rail. I still have the frames, but the panniers were beyond repair. All in all, a great project, and will make a lovely - and quite rare - bike when finished. I'll keep the Forum updated!IMG_4441.jpeg
 
Blackngold79 said:
John had fitted GIVI panniers and mounting frames to the bike - hence the removal of the grab rail. I still have the frames, but the panniers were beyond repair.
Click to expand...
What sort of GIVI panniers were they?

The reason I ask is because I have a set of GIVI keyless panniers in pretty much brand-new condition looking for some frames. I found them in the local tip shop for $30.

I actually bought some steel tube a couple of days ago to make some frames for them to fit either my Laverda Jota or Kawasaki 1300. But if you have some frames you want to get rid of it might save me a bit of messing around. That's assuming the postage from UK to Australia isn't exorbitant.

GIVI keyless.JPG

They'd probably look rather too bulbous on a Jota, but they're great for toting huge amounts of stuff around.
I have an identical set on my Benelli Tre-K. I actually bought them as spares for the Benelli, in case I chuck if down the road and mangle a pannier. But then I figured if I do that, they'd be covered by insurance anyway, so don't need to carry my own spare parts supply.

Benelli at ferry terminal.JPG
 
Dellortoman said:
What sort of GIVI panniers were they?

The reason I ask is because I have a set of GIVI keyless panniers in pretty much brand-new condition looking for some frames. I found them in the local tip shop for $30.

I actually bought some steel tube a couple of days ago to make some frames for them to fit either my Laverda Jota or Kawasaki 1300. But if you have some frames you want to get rid of it might save me a bit of messing around. That's assuming the postage from UK to Australia isn't exorbitant.

View attachment 81759

They'd probably look rather too bulbous on a Jota, but they're great for toting huge amounts of stuff around.
I have an identical set on my Benelli Tre-K. I actually bought them as spares for the Benelli, in case I chuck if down the road and mangle a pannier. But then I figured if I do that, they'd be covered by insurance anyway, so don't need to carry my own spare parts supply.

View attachment 81760
Click to expand...
Sorry, I don't know what specific type of panniers they were, as I didn't receive them with the bike. They were damaged beyond repair. The frames seem ok, and have a GIVI rack/top box mount fitted to them. They aren't in the best of condition, and to be honest, I would imagine postage to Australia would be horrendous! I was going to buy a Norton Commando cylinder head a few months ago, from the USA, and the couriers wanted about $600 to ship it to the UK - ridiculous! Shipping costs don't seem to be a problem from China..............
 
Actually it was me who supplied the new inner alternator cover from my stocks, brand new and unused, perfect as it is black, and Duffs one was toast, he had found a nice polished (used) one which I swapped with him, good all round, I needed the polished one and he needed the black one .New for old? well yes buy hey ho who cares
CLEM
 
CLEMTOG said:
Actually it was me who supplied the new inner alternator cover from my stocks, brand new and unused, perfect as it is black, and Duffs one was toast, he had found a nice polished (used) one which I swapped with him, good all round, I needed the polished one and he needed the black one .New for old? well yes buy hey ho who cares
CLEM
Click to expand...
Hi Clem, yes, the inner cover was very good, and I've fitted a new bearing and seal. The other engine covers, as I've already mentioned, were re-finished in satin black, as per original. The black chrome on the downpipes and handlebars is great, and the collector box and original silencers will be done by Zircotec in their heatproof black finish (which is brilliant - I've used them before). Next job is to strip and rebuild the carbs, and sort out the fasteners which need re-plating in gold-passivate zinc. I've also had the side stand straightened and re-finished, so it will actually work - it was bent both on the main shaft, and the frame bracket. Likewise I've sorted the centre stand. I'll post pictures when more progress is made - unfortunately I'm also very busy sorting, amongst other things, a 1961 TVR Grantura...............
 
Dellortoman said:
What sort of GIVI panniers were they?

The reason I ask is because I have a set of GIVI keyless panniers in pretty much brand-new condition looking for some frames. I found them in the local tip shop for $30.

I actually bought some steel tube a couple of days ago to make some frames for them to fit either my Laverda Jota or Kawasaki 1300. But if you have some frames you want to get rid of it might save me a bit of messing around. That's assuming the postage from UK to Australia isn't exorbitant.

View attachment 81759

They'd probably look rather too bulbous on a Jota, but they're great for toting huge amounts of stuff around.
I have an identical set on my Benelli Tre-K. I actually bought them as spares for the Benelli, in case I chuck if down the road and mangle a pannier. But then I figured if I do that, they'd be covered by insurance anyway, so don't need to carry my own spare parts supply.

View attachment 81760
Click to expand...
Very attractive bike, I love the frame color. I see you have the rear eccentric in the top position, how does it handle with it in the lower position? Is the steeper rake noticeable? I’m going to have to keep my eyes open for these, they look like a nice alternative to the common Triumph triples.
 
Alzero said:
I see you have the rear eccentric in the top position, how does it handle with it in the lower position?
Click to expand...
That seems an odd question to me.

I've never swapped it around so the axle is at the bottom, and quite frankly I have no intention of doing so. The cornering clearance and alacrity of steering are perfectly adequate for my riding style, and I'm certainly not looking for an increased seat eight. I've never gone anywhere near scraping any hard bits on the road, and the handling braking and suspension are excellent as it is. It's a touring bike, not a racer.

In fact, a bike racer mate took it for a 5-minute ride along a very familiar bit of twisty road and came back with a big grin on his face, the tyres scrubbed right around to the shoulders of the tread, and the outside edges worn off the toes of his boots. He said "there's nothing wrong with the handling of that bike!"

I suspect that steepening the steering angle by jacking up the rear end by 1½" might be detrimental to the bike's handling.
 
That swopping of the rear ride height reminded me of when a few years back I frequented a US-based forum with a very active 4-valve Ducati section and it was absolutely hysterical. The trending topic was moving the steering to the steeper of 2 settings they came with using spacers to adjust frame rake, and that resulted in instability so the next trend was the factory Magnesium extended swingarm to fix that instability then the next trending topic was Carbon Wheels. These mods were insanely expensive, the bikes were not cheap either.
 
Alzero said:
Very attractive bike, I love the frame color. I see you have the rear eccentric in the top position, how does it handle with it in the lower position? Is the steeper rake noticeable? I’m going to have to keep my eyes open for these, they look like a nice alternative to the common Triumph triples.
Click to expand...
If you mean the eccentric on the rear dampers, the bike was fitted with a pair of Progressive Suspension rear dampers (apparently, the original dampers were "solid") and the last time the bike was ridden was on a trip to Breganze. The bike would, at that time, have been fully loaded with luggage etc. - hence the top position of the damper eccentric. The bike was unfortunately involved in an accident on the return trip, and hasn't yet been ridden since. When I return it to the road, I will probably start at the lowest setting. The damper springs supplied for Duff were correct for his weight; as I'm a similar build, I'm sure they will be fine for me. In the cause of originality, it would be nice to fit a correct pair of Marzocchi rear dampers back onto the bike, but I get the impression that they are not very good?
 
Vince said:
That swopping of the rear ride height reminded me of when a few years back I frequented a US-based forum with a very active 4-valve Ducati section and it was absolutely hysterical. The trending topic was moving the steering to the steeper of 2 settings they came with using spacers to adjust frame rake, and that resulted in instability so the next trend was the factory Magnesium extended swingarm to fix that instability then the next trending topic was Carbon Wheels. These mods were insanely expensive, the bikes were not cheap either.
Click to expand...
When I had my Computrack franchise in LA we worked with a lot of Ducatis when the single sided swingarms were the newest thing. They had a huge diameter eccentric to adjust the chain that we called the rake adjuster!
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Rob
Blackngold79 said:
In the cause of originality, it would be nice to fit a correct pair of Marzocchi rear dampers back onto the bike, but I get the impression that they are not very good?
Click to expand...
They’re “adequate”, and for the sake of originality I have kept my original Marzocchis…

…on a shelf in the garage, leaking quietly 👍
 
OK - I'll stay with the Progressive Suspension units, and see how they perform! I suppose the only other move would be to fit either Ohlins or Wilbers..................although I do have a pair of Koni's lurking in the back of the shed which may well fit. It's all down to the damping qualities of the shocks I suppose: damping is expensive, springs are cheap.
 
Alzero said:
When I had my Computrack franchise in LA we worked with a lot of Ducatis when the single sided swingarms were the newest thing. They had a huge diameter eccentric to adjust the chain that we called the rake adjuster!
Click to expand...
Yes, the early Hinckley Triumph's had a similar, albeit smaller, eccentric adjuster - for chain tension adjustment. I recall the early Mk1 Speed Triple Challenge bikes were jacked up at the back to give a more suitable rake angle for circuit use.
 
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