RGS - SFC 1000 turn signals?

1200ts

1200ts

Hero member
Location
USA - Riverside CA
While moving the SFC1000 across the yard in snow, I managed to drop the bike. The only damage was the front right turn signal which broke. Luckily no other damage at all. I spoke to Wolfgang and he said the turn signals are made of unobtanium. He has lenses but not the rubber stem or housings. He is looking to see if he can even find a used one. Andy Wagner does not have them either.

So what other motorcycles use these turn signals? Are they unique to Laverda?
 
Hens' teeth, rocking horse poo...

I've searched high and low, no success. Closest must be '90-'91 Guzzi LeMans MkV, but these have slightly different body and lens shapes and lack the rubber stems. Made by the same manufacturer as those used by Laverda.

No need to inquire at OCT, none there either.

piet
 
Last edited:
Just from looking at on-line photos of SFC 1000, they don't ring any bells as being the same as those fitted to other bikes.

Black plastic/rubber indicators must have been in vogue in the 80's because my Ducati MHR had something similar. Only problem with the Ducati ones is that they go brittle and powdery after nearly 40 years and they break if you look at them too hard. The ones on my MHR fell apart and new ones were unobtainium at the time so I put "universal" black plastic indicators on the bike. Now they're re-making the original style so I bought a set and I'm keeping them wrapped in cotton wool in a box. The next owner can fit them if he wants the bike to look original.

Anyway, if just the rubber part that's busted, you can cast a new one. I was about to do just that with my Ducati ones. I bought all the moulding stuff, then the replica ones came on the market, so I didn't need to bother.

Use moulding silicone to take a mould of a good part (one of the other indicators?) then use that mould to cast a new one. The silicon mould will pick up all the fine detail of the original part so the new casting will be indistinguishable from the original. The pourable rubber compound comes as liquid in 2-parts. Mix them together and pour it into the mould. It's available in a range of hardnesses. I think some types of pourable rubber have the facility to adjust the hardness by mixing in various amounts of a catalyst. Your casting rubber supplier should be able to advise what hardness you need and how to achieve it.

 

Attachments

  • indicator sfc.JPG
    indicator sfc.JPG
    75.4 KB · Views: 28
Unless you really want to keep the originals, which in my opinion are crap, you would be better served by fitting a set of modern after-market items. Ones that can be seen.
 
1200ts said:
While moving the SFC1000 across the yard in snow, I managed to drop the bike. The only damage was the front right turn signal which broke. Luckily no other damage at all. I spoke to Wolfgang and he said the turn signals are made of unobtanium. He has lenses but not the rubber stem or housings. He is looking to see if he can even find a used one. Andy Wagner does not have them either.

So what other motorcycles use these turn signals? Are they unique to Laverda?
Click to expand...
I might have a spare body-will check in the morning.
 
I agree, I also searched the web for similar ones. Seem they have been special made for Laverda. I even searched for Truck equipment as sometimes they have blinkers that need to stick out a bit - nothing...

take off the 3 remaining ones, put them somehwere where they are safe and can be found any time and install some new ones.
 
1200ts said:
While moving the SFC1000 across the yard in snow, I managed to drop the bike. The only damage was the front right turn signal which broke. Luckily no other damage at all. I spoke to Wolfgang and he said the turn signals are made of unobtanium. He has lenses but not the rubber stem or housings. He is looking to see if he can even find a used one. Andy Wagner does not have them either.

So what other motorcycles use these turn signals? Are they unique to Laverda?
Click to expand...
Will any of these help?
 

Attachments

  • 20220227_103338.jpg
    20220227_103338.jpg
    184.8 KB · Views: 41
  • 20220227_103358.jpg
    20220227_103358.jpg
    176.9 KB · Views: 42
  • 20220227_103411.jpg
    20220227_103411.jpg
    191 KB · Views: 39
  • 20220227_103429.jpg
    20220227_103429.jpg
    101.8 KB · Views: 36
  • 20220227_103446.jpg
    20220227_103446.jpg
    121.9 KB · Views: 38
Wolfgang has found me a used housing and new lens. The rubber mount appears to still be OK.

He says parts for the turn signal other than the lens, are not available anywhere. So it looks like it's time to wrap them up and put them away and fit modern turn signals.
 
1200ts said:
Wolfgang has found me a used housing and new lens. The rubber mount appears to still be OK.

He says parts for the turn signal other than the lens, are not available anywhere. So it looks like it's time to wrap them up and put them away and fit modern turn signals.
Click to expand...
Good ol' Mr Haerter! Glad you have it sorted.
 
I've heard enough about the lack of availability for these turn signals to decide mine are coming off and being replaced with reasonable aftermarkets. Any recommendations would be appreciated. I'll check out the turn signals recommended by sfcpiet '90-'91 Guzzi LeMans MkV. In the mean time I'll look into 3D scanning my originals and 3D reprinting. The whole stem doesn't need to be rubber (I hope) and I can get away with a rubber inset to absorb vibration.
 
parrishsteve said:
I've heard enough about the lack of availability for these turn signals to decide mine are coming off and being replaced with reasonable aftermarkets. Any recommendations would be appreciated. I'll check out the turn signals recommended by sfcpiet '90-'91 Guzzi LeMans MkV. In the mean time I'll look into 3D scanning my originals and 3D reprinting. The whole stem doesn't need to be rubber (I hope) and I can get away with a rubber inset to absorb vibration.
Click to expand...
What other plastic/rubber parts need to be reproduced due to originals being made of "unobtainium" (love that term).
 
While I still have the original indicators on my bike, some of the plastic clips and loops in the rubber stem have broken, so if a batch of stems or housings were able to be commissioned, I would be keen in a possible group order, no idea how feasible it is but I’m sure there is enough interest
 
When I bought my RGS there were two things that disappointed me; the indicators looked cheap and nasty, flopped around and gave very poor indication that they were functioning.

The other disappointment were the rear brake and gear levers; chrome plated pressed steel that again flopped around once a bit of wear on the brass bushes set in.

The first disappointment was rectified by a visit to a decent shop where a suitable set of indicators were bought and the second by making my own levers pivoting on ball bearings.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top