Laverda service in New England usa

R

RGSteve

Junior member
Location
Unity Maine USA
I bought an '83 RGS last Fall and I need some service assistance. The engine has been completely rebuilt by Scot Potter. What it needs is head retorque, valve check and a good tune up. It was tuned originally for Colorado altitude and I'm nearer to sea level. I'm familiar with delorto's, having owned Guzzi's and Ducati's for years, and have gotten the jetting close but it still is a bit rough. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks All.
Steve M, Unity, Maine
 
G' day Steve you may struggle to find someone that specialises in Laverda as I believe they were quite uncommon in the US.
You are probably best to find someone that is a good classic bike mechanic, the machines are quite simple so someone with some mechanical empathy will certainly be able to help you.
 
This question has been asked many times. In the USA I am not aware of any bike shops that will work on a Laverda anymore. The last being Lance Weil in Pennsylvania but he passed away years ago. As there are so few Laverda's on the road here in the US, the demand is small for such a business.

Italian bike shops selling new bikes won't work on them do to liability insurance issues. As none of their mechanics have any Laverda factory training and many replacement parts today are reproductions, they don't want to get taken to court when a problem arises or someone gets injured on a bike they worked on.

This is not just a Laverda issue. My local BMW and Ducati dealers won't work on older bikes, even a bike they sold new to the same customer who has brought it in for service 20 years later. It is the same problem as none of their mechanics were trained on how to service a 1978 R100 even if it is a simple job. I have a 2003 BMW K1200RS which I service myself and on a trip to the dealer for parts, other than the dealership owner who had been there for many years, no one else at the dealership had ever seen one.
 
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There's a gent about 40 miles from me, whom I'd met on various times over the years at a big annual vintage motorcycle gathering, who used to sell Laverda and still rides a 1200 to the meet each year. For years he's been the go-to Laverda guy in the area. However, when I went to see him about giving the bike its first service after the rebuild, he declined to his age and I totally understand. He's approaching 80 and won't service a bike if he can't test ride it, and the RGS is too big and heavy for him now. I hope I'm as wise when the time comes. At 74 now, it won't be long I'm afraid.
 
So who is going to buy all these lovely Laverda's when we (I include anyone over 60) drops off the perch. I just don't know any 50 year olds that would spend the money on an obscure, although fantastic bike the nobody will work on ? Ducati's yeh maybe. They are a bit like fashion.
 
Wow, the US has really gone down the litigation black hole and disappeared eh! It's certainly a worry for owners who don't have the experience to do major work themselves. How bizarre it sounds that a place won't touch a bike it sold!!
 
The other side of the coin is that manufacturers are refusing to allow owners to fix their own equipment. This is happening with all sorts of farm machinery and has spurred Right to Repair legislation forcing them to sell manuals and parts!
 
There was a video series maybe a year or 2 back on youtube with some Pommey bloke living in the USA having a bike shop rebuild his Triple, it descended into some hippy trippy shit before the bike was finished, maybe Covid killed it. There must be individually owned and run old-school bike mechanic shops scattered about in the USA. Surely someone must know these people in the vintage bike world.
 
What do you do in the States if you ride a 1912 Humber?
You'll have to do the same with a Laverda.
The world has moved on.
Paul
 
Vince said:
There was a video series maybe a year or 2 back on youtube with some Pommey bloke living in the USA having a bike shop rebuild his Triple, it descended into some hippy trippy shit before the bike was finished, maybe Covid killed it. There must be individually owned and run old-school bike mechanic shops scattered about in the USA. Surely someone must know these people in the vintage bike world.
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I think part of the problem lies in the bifurcation between the people who will pay "Vintage Specialists" to "build" a vintage bike, correct in every detail, but not meant to be ridden, and those who seek someone to maintain a rideable one.
Cosmeticians are making the big bucks.
Mechanics are thin on the ground.
 
I suspect that many of the cosmeticians would love to maintain ridden machines if asked. They just rarely get asked to do so. In classic car circles there is a growing appreciation of the fact that a machine is only original once, hence the popularity of the preservation class. And there are events that cater to the desire to put one’s automotive masterpiece to use as god intended, such as the Colorado Grand and others.
 
@RGSteve you will almost certainly find a lot more success (and fun) in rolling up the sleeves and solving it yourself. The biggest pain in working on an RGS is the removal of the tank and fairing but even those are super-simple compared with modern stuff. You'll need to hold a finger over the breather pipe near the steering head as the tank is removed - it's easier if the tank is at half full or less. Beyond that they are still pretty simple devices if approached with respect and caution. If you've a modicum of spannering empathy you should have no problem, or perhaps enroll in a bike maintenance course if such a thing exists in trade schools etc near you. Youtube can contain some total shite, but has an awful lot of golden info (not necessarily Laverda-specific but you get the vibe).

Full workshop manuals are available here:

Workshop manuals

www.laverdaforum.com www.laverdaforum.com

Retorqueing the head is straightforward* as is checking the valves. Adjusting the valves is more complex, but see if it needs it first. As for carbs, if you're familiar with Dellortos via the Guzzi world then the only difference is the way they're mounted into the bank of three and balanced together. Going back to original jetting usually sees them running fine, which was 65pilot, K1 needle middle notch, AB265 needle jets, 60/2 slides, 108 mains and idle screws 1.5 turns out. If everything is stock and fine that should run pretty well. If you don't have balance gauges you can get carb balance pretty close by setting the gaps under the slides (with carb rack on bench) all the same with a 1/16" diameter drill or similar, then wind back the main idle screw so there's just a small gap under them for installation. If it still has the original Bosch ignition, those are often problematic by now and are best upgraded with a DMC, Sachse or Ignitech but hopefully it has one of those already?

Use the advanced search function here or google a search term followed by "site:laverdaforum.com" and you will find basically everything has been discussed back and forth. Adding the username "sfcpiet" in the "posted by" field in the advanced search is a top tip, he is one of the worlds most experienced Laverda mechanics and has posted here very generously for years - it's an amazing resource. Once you've tried to read up, come back with any questions.

(y) (y)

* - noting that the factory RGS manual head torque values are generally agreed to be too high. Most stick to 25ft-lb for the M9 studs and 18ft-lb for the M8 studs. Confusingly, all have 13mm hexes. Searching will reveal extensive discussion clarifying it.
 
I think if you are reasonably ok doing maintenance amd basic repairs on older Italian bikes... then use the advice given to spend some time using the search function and then going step by step its possible for you to find and fix the issues. Just start a thread and come back to the forum for speficic questions, or even what the hell do I do now!
 
RGSteve said:
Well, I feel like the cowardly lion having just visited the "Wizard of Oz". Afresh with newfound courage thanks to you breganzane and henrtwillms!!
I've wrenched on Guzzi's for decades so I really don't know why I've been so timid around the RGS. Time to read up and dig in I guess!
Thanks ALL!
Steve
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And before you know it people will be ringing you up for advice, being the only Laverda expert in New England.
 
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