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

Managed to start 1977 Laverda Jota SN 5238 today. As far as I know it has been silent for 8 or 9 years. And boy it made up for it today. Its been probably 30 years since I heard one in the flesh and it sounded fantastic. Few bits and pieces to sort before I can take it for its first ride. I now cannot wait to get on Pacific Highway 1 and let it stretch its legs.
 
rode down to Eastbourne on TOG yesterday to watch son #1 (Tom) do a practise day on his new flat tracker (motocross based) and his own "framer".
The young Oliver Brindley (yes from that famous Brindley family) is certainly away with it, and at only 16 years old, a couple of guys over from France (no flat tracking over there) and look good as well, what is making it special now is the "vintage class" where we are seeing Triumphs, (Metisse) and Harleys even side valvers, loads of fun.
TOG ran really nicely and the new blade type fuse box is working well, my confidence is rising again since she..........
a) kept going for the entire trip (about 100 miles)
b) kept on charging as well.

The last bit was important since I diverted on the way home to the kidney clinic for a four and half hour dialyse, and of course it was dark when I rode home, the Cibie headlight was giving me a good spread of light on the unlit A21, but was pointing down too low, could'nt be bothered to stop and nudge it up (it was raining) so it limited my speed a bit, haven't ridden the bike at night since God knows when. I was also thinking that the gearing was too high (I have used 19/38 for decades, and this was mainly to aid long distance touring, but now the feeling is that the ratio's are too far apart, giving a wide ratio effect, it was nice once on the A21 again, but.......... (really weird this) the special shape, uneven handlebars that I made in 1980, to accommodate my restricted right arm movement, now feel "odd" I have of course been riding the Pan with its standard bars, but I now think that I don't need this change, so will have to make a new set of handlebars in the conventional matching sides mode, looks like two jobs then, back to standard gearing and new handlebars. It was very good to be riding and enjoying my old friend again
CLEM
 
I spent much more than I intended after I'd compiled a list of replacement fasteners for various bikes and decided that rather than paying stupid prices for one or two at a time I might as well buy in bulk.

How can some cheeky bastards justify asking ?0.70 for a tiny nylon washer when I can buy 100 for just under ?3? That'd be the plastic bag and sticky label telling me what's in the bag then  ::)
 
Nice one Clem, confess the weather was too miserable for me though wanted to get out on the Jota...contented self with watching a women's triathlon on telly...those gals are amazing! My tennis cancelled as raining...a real couch potato day, and I hated it. Hey , there was an article in the Sat Times on investing in classic bikes...glad Jota mentioned as fastest production bike etc, cheered me up :D
 
Rode to work on the SF2, just lovely.
On getting home Monday PM, I'd twiddled the air screws since no more leaks from exhaust stubs.
Yesterday I pulled the plugs and they were a nice light tan. Thought I'd change them and put in my last set of B8ES before ordering a new box.
Set off early this morning. Crisp start, settles down to iddle at 1000 revs after 3 km and pulls like a train from 1500 in third.

Note to myself: change plugs more often!!! I tend to do it once a year on a machine mostly used in town.

Paul
 
Paul Marx said:
Rode to work on the SF2, just lovely.
Set off early this morning. Crisp start, settles down to iddle at 1000 revs after 3 km and pulls like a train from 1500 in third.

Note to myself: change plugs more often!!! I tend to do it once a year on a machine mostly used in town.

Paul
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:o Can you pull wheelies at 100kph @ 7,000rpm in second? That's when you know it's on song!  ;)
 
Dragged the bikes out of the garage to try to fit 2 more in. Bloody things are breeding in there.



 
Some making good of paintwork on the 120. With no proper spraying facilities and no previous experience, it's 3 steps forward one back, but I think I'm getting there
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Grant said:
Dragged the bikes out of the garage to try to fit 2 more in. Bloody things are breeding in there.

Click to expand...

You definitely have too many bikes in there. Tell you what. If I fly over to Spain this summer, you could lend me that Corsa for a few weeks, I could buy you a few cases of wine in return and that would give you time to sort out some space?

Haven't been to Segovia or La Granja's fiesta for far too long. Haven't danced 'til dawn or fallen off tables....... could probably make it down to the Mulhacen road on that thing.
 
I don't lend* bikes and I don't ask for rides* on others' bikes, but happy to see you if you are in the area.

* Too many hassles in the past.
 
I swopped the front brake light switch on the 1000 SFC, so now the brake lights now come on when you would expect them to.The fluid was pitch black, so I figured I'd best change the clutch fluid as well.
The clutch master cylinder was half full of water, with black lumps in it. : :o
It failed as soon as I tried to bleed it. :-X
Fortunately, I had a spare in stock, recently rebuilt at OCT. Fitted that, and two minutes later everything was working again.
Still need to do the rear brake, but ran out of energy. Beer O'clock...
Also need to fix the horn.

Steve



 
Fitted the sachse over the week end, got no joy on Monday when I tried to start it, Fk it when down to the house started the fire, kicked back and relaxed.

Today I swapped the wiring around for the ignition coils it fired and ran at the touch of the button. Will need to wait for next week end to get out and see how it goes, settings on 4 at the moment.
 
Sounds like you need an escort Ian, how about Saturday, I've got a CFS workshop thingy at Riverton on Sunday. Will give you a chance to admire my 530 chain conversion ::).
 
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