Re: What did you do to or for or with your Laverda today?

Went to Laverda HQ to investigate the rattly primary drive, Red waved his magic wand, all good except the worn out primary chains which we replaced and hey presto it's now as quiet as a quiet thing. Back to the spit and polish!
 
Went to the DMV to get the title transfer, registration and plate for the Jarama. No drama whatsoever, the bike was in the system and after writing a check for sales tax and another for the plate sticker and fees, I walked out with a plate.
Went over to UPS and sent it off to the bike's location. I will be on a plane in two weeks from today to go pick it up. :D
 
IMAG0943_zpsimljaq6v.jpg

I got one of these too.
 
Added a little more fork oil and double checked the tyre pressures to try to get on top of a handlebar wobble that the bike has always had.  Bike handles great, and all bearings are new and tyres are in good shape, frame gusseted and sound, but take your hands off the bars and WHOAA! :o

Think it must be too soft forks.  I hate the forks on this bike, they are rubbish.
 
Swingarm bushes are fine.  Shocks OK, not the best but servicable.  Feels like a front end problem to me.
 
Reggie its an RGS that is how they are having,  said that since I moved to the Pilot Active up front thus far it is not showing the same issue.  I let Vince ride it when it had the Pirelli on it and poor guy was soiling his pants all ride.. it has a worn Pirelli on it then.
I reckon has something to do with rolling resistance as when the tyre pressure is low they do it worse... I do hear that fitting a radial also remidies it.
The Corsa has a stock front end, the RGS has gold valves, springs and fork brace but with the half worn Pirelli was just as bad... Like I say the new Pilot Active sorted it well for now anyways have about 2K on it thus far. 

 
Does the wobble occur at a certain speed, or is it there at any speed?
Mine has GSXR wheels and radial, like yours, but it also has a Maxton fork conversion.
On the way to Italy last year it would shake it's head around 75mph or so.
Things improved as the tyres (brand new Bridgestones) wore down, so on the way back the wobble had all but gone.
Bear in mind it had Krausers fitted and it was windy on the way there.
 
Front tyre is in good shape not scalloped.  The wobble was there with the standard wheels and BT45s- I thought at the time the frame was cracked (it wasn't).

Bike is running Avon Storm radials, may have to experiment with pressures- my GS runs 32/36 solo on its radials and I find the best feel (I like the bike to feel planted, not skittish) is 33 front 36 rear on the RGS, but this may have to be increased.  I have a wee compressor and a place to plug it in to the bike, so fairly easy to experiment.

I did think the fork was diving a bit much pulling up, which is why I increased the amount of oil in there as a quick way to boost the springing.

I have dropped the yokes down the stanchions by 10mm, so there is a little more pressure on the front end, but not much, I suppose.  The wobble is there at most speeds, although I can't say for sure at high speed as I'm not about to take my hands off- could be on my ear in a second.  It's not noticable when riding with both hands, but needs to be cured. 
 
Wheel alignment is fine- checked at the MOT test and not touched since.

Will play around with pressures.  Cheap to do, which suits me at the moment... :D

 
Reggie3cl said:
... and all bearings are new ... but take your hands off the bars and WHOAA! :o
Click to expand...

Does that include the head bearings, Reggie?  And are they tightened up properly (not too loose, not too tight)?

Just askin' ... ;)

Craig
 
I'm using Avon Storms on POP, with GSXR wheels.
No wobbles on that one, but it has a heavily braced frame/swing arm pivot plus top end suspension.
Try raising tyre pressures. I know Bridgestones like higher pressures, not sure about Avons.
 
Does that include the head bearings, Reggie?
Click to expand...

They should be OK- installed and adjusted by himself in Glasgow 1500km ago.  Might have settled a bit, but don't seem too loose.

I know Keith runs his tyres at higher pressures than I do, but as I say I want to avoid that 'skittery' feeling I get with higher pressures.  Must be a compromise out there. 

I hate the forks- they go backwards and forwards more than up and down when hitting small bumps, in stark contrast to the movement on the GS.  I think it needs better forks.  Wonder if BMW K series ones fit?

 
My RGS runs fine with BT45s at 33/37psi, standard front end and Ikons on the back.
 
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