Looking for '80's Laverda superbike pics

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drdezmo

Junior member
Location
Sunny Arizona
I'm going to put my 1977 Jota back together in '80's superbike style. Problem is, I can't find a lot of superbike racer pics for inspiration. Plenty of endurance racer pics, but I suspect not a lot were raced in superbike class. Could someone inspire me with some vintage pics from the era? The only one I've found is below.

Thanks in advance!

Mike
 

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It is hard to find pictures in SBK style, looks like most were either stock standard race bikes, or converted to full on race / enduro bikes.
However I like your thinking, they lend themselves to that superbike style. Will certainly be unique/cool when done.
 

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I don't think they could be made competitive enough in Superbike classes (generally). It was too easy to double the horsepower of the big Jap fours. Plenty used in prod racing (well 'plenty' is relative! The pic above looks like stock std for proddy racing to me.
 
The dog is an absolute riot, I was playing catch with it today. It actually would catch the basketball in its front paws. Huge fun.
 
I have acquired a triple frame that was modified for racing ...... (almost have ...... covid has it stuck on wrong side of border). The frame has extra bracing and extra frame tubes. I don't know the exact year as I can't access the frame yet but my plan is to use my spare 1000 motor and build a late 70's/early 80's superbike. I expect I will end up using wire spoked wheels to start but mags would be appropriate. I really don't know how I will style it except it will have stock tank and sidecovers ....... not sure if I will go 3C seat or 3CL ....... or SF seat as in the photo attached.

I am going to enjoy this thread!

Jim
 

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helicopterjim said:
I have acquired a triple frame that was modified for racing ...... (almost have ...... covid has it stuck on wrong side of border). The frame has extra bracing and extra frame tubes. I don't know the exact year as I can't access the frame yet but my plan is to use my spare 1000 motor and build a late 70's/early 80's superbike. I expect I will end up using wire spoked wheels to start but mags would be appropriate. I really don't know how I will style it except it will have stock tank and sidecovers ....... not sure if I will go 3C seat or 3CL ....... or SF seat as in the photo attached.

I am going to enjoy this thread!

Jim
Click to expand...
Never seen that type of frame bracing before...... how did they get the carbs to squeeze in that space?
 
Early frame to, got the tangs on the seat rails for the early 3c type seat and also had bracing welded where the top tube meets the rear top crooks tube. Will be interesting to see what number the frame is she you get it Jim😊👍
Tom
 
Strange way to brace a frame. Massive tubes welded in for no apparent reason, but no bracing around the highly stressed areas like steering head and swing arm pivot. Seems to have been done by someone with no clue about stresses in a motorcycle frame. No personal offence intended if it was done by someone on this forum. I'm just saying what I think. And what I think is that it doesn't make sense.

Hey Jim, I'd cut those additional tubes out if it was my frame. Like Chris already said, they'll be a pain in the arse for carby installation unless you wanna run with a manifold and a single carb. I reckon the 1-3 manifold should have a vertical intake stack poking up between the tank and seat, then you can plonk a vintage Zenith downdraught car carburettor on it with big old oil-bath air cleaner :)

While you're prepping the frame, it would be a good idea to put some bracing around the steering head where the old triple frames are prone to failures. There's plenty of info on the forum about cracks around the steering head and various bracing methods to prevent it.

Cheers,
Cam
 
helicopterjim said:
I have acquired a triple frame that was modified for racing ...... (almost have ...... covid has it stuck on wrong side of border). The frame has extra bracing and extra frame tubes. I don't know the exact year as I can't access the frame yet but my plan is to use my spare 1000 motor and build a late 70's/early 80's superbike. I expect I will end up using wire spoked wheels to start but mags would be appropriate. I really don't know how I will style it except it will have stock tank and sidecovers ....... not sure if I will go 3C seat or 3CL ....... or SF seat as in the photo attached.

I am going to enjoy this thread!

Jim
Click to expand...
Nothing that can't be fixed there Jim, I think I saw this frame for sale a while back (eBay maybe). Looks like the front down tubes have previously been welding in the place where triple frames were prone to cracking, some bracing there would be the ticket.
 
Dellortoman said:
Strange way to brace a frame. Massive tubes welded in for no apparent reason, but no bracing around the highly stressed areas like steering head and swing arm pivot. Seems to have been done by someone with no clue about stresses in a motorcycle frame. No personal offence intended if it was done by someone on this forum. I'm just saying what I think. And what I think is that it doesn't make sense.

Hey Jim, I'd cut those additional tubes out if it was my frame. Like Chris already said, they'll be a pain in the arse for carby installation unless you wanna run with a manifold and a single carb. I reckon the 1-3 manifold should have a vertical intake stack poking up between the tank and seat, then you can plonk a vintage Zenith downdraught car carburettor on it with big old oil-bath air cleaner :)

While you're prepping the frame, it would be a good idea to put some bracing around the steering head where the old triple frames are prone to failures. There's plenty of info on the forum about cracks around the steering head and various bracing methods to prevent it.

Cheers,
Cam
Click to expand...

I will be taking some proper photos whenever I can get the bloody thing over the (closed) border ........ it does have some steeringhead bracing and also some in the vicinity of the swingarm as well as an extra crossbrace on the swingarm. Not sure just what I'll have to do to make it work ..... I will be very curious to see if the carbs could fit at all ..... maybe it ran individual carbs instead of on the manifold plate ..... the bike came from the widowed wife of Hamm from Hamm's Cycles in Florida. It seems he raced .... or had it raced a long time ago.

Best part is it was cheap and I won't feel bad mucking about trying to make something useful from it ..... I may use some of the bracing tips from this fellow 1200 Mirage Dreeson ....... and whatever else I can find from the forum.

Jim
 

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The boss welded to the frame near battery tray and the blobby thing on the headstock made me wonder if it had a sidecar, then I remembered you 'okes do LHD. Maybe speedway sidecar racing??
 
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