New Member - First Laverda

S

Scout63

Junior member
Location
Orleans, MA USA
Hello to all - I am a new member of the forum living on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. I am married with two daughters about to graduate from college. Professionally I am a land use attorney, but in reality I just think about motorcycles most of the time.

I purchased today a 1977 Laverda in parts. I'll get it shipped home and then start evaluation and assembly. Here is a link to photos as sent to me by the seller in AZ, whom I really like though haven't met:

https://imgzeit.com/albums/jota

I intend to repaint the bodywork back to silver and assemble to as close to original condition as possible. I've never owned a Laverda and have a great deal to learn. I have found that the forums are the best source of information when restoring, and also for me great personal connections with other riders. I really look forward to getting to know some of you.

I am on the Wildguzzi forum daily with the same user name. It was a great resource in my first Moto Guzzi restoration. I am now in the process of a full restoration of a '73 v7 Sport. The Laverda is slated to be my next project after that is finished. I tend to do about one restoration a year as well as some smaller projects at the same time. Right now I am also wiring and updating a '69 Ducati 450 Jupiter which was sitting for many years.

My other bikes at this point include a '46 Vincent Rapide, '71 R75/5, '72 Norton Commando Combat Interstate, '77 Ducati 860 GT, '78 Ducati 900 SS, '78 Yamaha SR500 '79 Moto Guzzi G5 and 2019 Husqvarna Vitpilen. I ride and maintain them all and love them all dearly.


Ben Zehnder
 
Welcome to the Laverda Forum Ben. Nice looking pile of bits you have there. At least everything is clean, unlike some of the basket cases we see on here.

It seems pretty much complete at first glance. Looks like you even have an original tool kit. Actually, it's more than complete. I've never seen a bike with 9 indicators before! :) (some of them are original Laverda equipment, some not). A few parts are absent from the photos (rear grab handle and headlight lens are a couple that come to mind), but they might be in those boxes.

It's interesting to see that it has a Bosch HKZ ignition. I thought they were phased out in 1975 or 76. My own Jota is 1976 and has an earlier engine/frame number than yours, but it came with the later Bosch BTZ ignition (since been replaced with a modern ignition system). I'm not sure what's going on there. Some of the rivet counters on here will have an answer.

There's a lot of information in the Library section of this forum. Workshop manuals, wiring diagrams, etc.

I reckon you'll have some fun assembling that motorcycle kit. If when you come across something puzzling, just ask here. Like any bike, Laverdas have their oddities. There's no such thing as a dumb question, especially as a first timer assembling an unfamiliar bike.

Cheers,
Cam
 
Thanks Cam and everyone. Warm welcome. I have so many questions but I will try to get them out there in some order. I feel as if I’ve jumped into the Laverda pool feet first.
 
A honest-to-goodness Jota sold by Rickey Racer! That's cool. Congrats on the project & welcome to the forum-
Bob-
 
Ben: A Guzzi and Bevel enthusiast that certainly proves your bonafides. Contact me via PM (which in my
limited computer knowledge I think means more like one on one !...I think ) regarding your V7 Sport as
I may have some things which you won't find. There I have set the trap. Greg
 
Dellortoman said:
Welcome to the Laverda Forum Ben. Nice looking pile of bits you have there. At least everything is clean, unlike some of the basket cases we see on here.

It seems pretty much complete at first glance. Looks like you even have an original tool kit. Actually, it's more than complete. I've never seen a bike with 9 indicators before! :) (some of them are original Laverda equipment, some not). A few parts are absent from the photos (rear grab handle and headlight lens are a couple that come to mind), but they might be in those boxes.

It's interesting to see that it has a Bosch HKZ ignition. I thought they were phased out in 1975 or 76. My own Jota is 1976 and has an earlier engine/frame number than yours, but it came with the later Bosch BTZ ignition (since been replaced with a modern ignition system). I'm not sure what's going on there. Some of the rivet counters on here will have an answer.

There's a lot of information in the Library section of this forum. Workshop manuals, wiring diagrams, etc.

I reckon you'll have some fun assembling that motorcycle kit. If when you come across something puzzling, just ask here. Like any bike, Laverdas have their oddities. There's no such thing as a dumb question, especially as a first timer assembling an unfamiliar bike.

Cheers,
Cam
Click to expand...
I have a 1978 1200 with the HKZ ignition.
 
Welcome aboard Ben. Good luck with the build. There are not that many areas where Laverda peculiarities come to the fore (as they are sensibly engineered on the whole). Appraisal and assembly of the cyclinder head is worth calling out for advice about, for example. Just shout up and we will be alongside. (y)
 
Welcome Ben, I am sure you will have much to talk about, dont always take the answers as gospel, we all make mistakes, me more than most!
I have been a Laverda nut for very close to 50 years, just a few months shy of my first purchase in May 1973. I still have that SF1. There are plenty of very knowledgable people on here and the dealers in Europe and elswhere are usually very co-operative as well, we are also blessed with contact with ex dealers who all have very good memories. Special tools can very often be improvised, but not always so be carefull, If you take my advice, the very first thing to bolt onto your frame will be the centre stand and its springs, followed by the swingarm, and then the motor, various ways of installing that lump not all of them conventional, I always make a pair of lifting handles using 10mm rod inserted through the front mount holes and the lowewr back mount holes, and cover the painted frame with the outfall hose from a washing machine split down its length, but centre stand and springs first
CLEM
 
Hi Ben, not sure about the decals on the tank, they may have been different for US export?.someone else on here might be able to advise - though everything else should be same.
 
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