SF3 Australia restoration costs?

S

Scrumhead

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After a bit of advice here. Don't really know where to post this so feel free to move it. I've been offered a 1976 SF3 that is complete however needs a full restoration. It was supposedly running when parked up but has been unregistered for around 20 years, so I assume the engine will need a complete tear down. A few bits like carbs and clocks already done but will need a full exhaust, paint and seat re covering. I'm not looking to make money but also don't want to seriously over invest. Any comments on value appreciated Cheers Paul
 
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There's what needs doing, and what you want to do. And how much money you've got and want to spend.

Paint, complete exhaust and seat cover won't cost a fortune if you do all the spannering yourself.
It would be better to strip the engine and renew all bearings, including crank.

It depends what the machine will have to do. If it's just for an occasional outing to look pretty at a local meeting, you could get away with simply a cosmetic restoration. There's a lot of old bikes like that out there.

Paul
 
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An engine number would be of interest? Back in the '80s, in QLD, I had an SF3 750-19477.
They all come with a story,, and lots of baggage. :cool:
Ciao, Mark
 
Possible but not necessarily need a complete engine refurb. Mileage and what it was exposed to in storage? I have seen long sitting bikes that just needed a freshen up in the engine and were fine, others that were rooted. I would be seeing if it starts first, after making the vital parts (cam, bores etc) were lubricated and take it from there. There has been plenty of time for the baggage, as Mark calls it, to accumulate but you never know.
 
I agree, engine may need no attention at all if the climate where you live is not too humid. He in inland Southern California when it does not rain much and no humidity, I have seen many motorcycles sitting for years with no corrosion inside the engine at all. My first Laverda 750 sat outside for 27 years. The inside of the engine looked perfect.

Had the bike lived in Florida it would have been a rusty mess.
 
I spent more than NZ $8000 juist on parts to bring my 1975 up to scratch.
And it wasn't a wreck to start with
That included a crankshaft rebuild with new (Carrillo) rods.
All the work done myself, so if you have to farm it out....mega bucks
 

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BOETJE said:
I spent more than NZ $8000 juist on parts to bring my 1975 up to scratch.
And it wasn't a wreck to start with
That included a crankshaft rebuild with new rods.
All the work done myself, so if you have to farm it out....mega bucks
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BOETJE said:
I spent more than NZ $8000 juist on parts to bring my 1975 up to scratch.
And it wasn't a wreck to start with
That included a crankshaft rebuild with new rods.
All the work done myself, so if you have to farm it out....mega bucks
Click to expand...
But a very nice result👍
 
What don't you like about riding it, I have never ridden a 750 Laverda twin so I cannot comment, I once did 30 minutes on an Atlas at slow speeds, I did spend donkey's years on Bonnies though. I have had an offer from a Sydney club member with a resent no expense spared resorted SF2 and will be interested to see how it goes compared to my 3c and Bonnie experience. I have been surprised at how similar all Laverda feel to the ones I have ridden some are very different but I can still feel the similarities. That was a bit of a shock how 3c and an RGS has that certain Laverda feel.
 
Hey Vince, you can re-live the Bonnie experience by pulling the middle spark plug lead off your 180° Laverda triple. You end up with a parallel twin of about the same horsepower as the old Bonnie. Once when my Jota stopped firing on the middle cylinder (some electrical gremlin) and I rode it the remaining few miles home on just the outer two cylinders, it occurred to me that it sounded and performed very much like my old Bonneville.
 
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Funny you mention that, on a Snowy Run my bike started running on 2. It was late in the day and so I continued to 60k or so to Kancoban and that night's stop on 2 cylinders, I replaced the closed gaped central plug that night, very odd with a comment from Steve B that maybe something had hit it. I road it home the 600k, it went ok-ish only to discover later that half the pistons ring land on the inlet side had made a disappearing act wacking the plug closed at the same time. It went ok as a twin, I was shiting bricks at the time so I wasn't too happy about it.
 
Probably the first thing to look for is rust, starting at the top end (boroscope down the bores, light shine into the cam and rocker area) and go from there. Getting the engine out and head & barrels off is a piece of piss and will reveal a lot in terms of actual mileage and general condition.

Very interested to know why you don't like riding your beautifully restored SF2 Boetje? Is it too clean?! :eek::ROFLMAO:
 
If you lose the left or right on a triple you'll get a 650 180 degree twin (surely the Japanese make/made one)? 500 Kwaka twin but bigger? I know! A Zane!
 
When I was 20 ( 45 years ago) I loved my SF2 to bits.
Went everywhere on it.
But now I can't remember it being so slow, and vibrate so much .

Plus it is not really suited for the crap pothole infested roads we have these days in NZ


I recently acquired a 2002 Ducati ST2....now that thing I really do like.

But we are getting side tracked again....
 
Dellortoman said:
Hey Vince, you can re-live the Bonnie experience by pulling the middle spark plug lead off your 180° Laverda triple. You end up with a parallel twin of about the same horsepower as the old Bonnie. Once when my Jota stopped firing on the middle cylinder (some electrical gremlin) and I rode it the remaining few miles home on just the outer two cylinders, it occurred to me that it sounded and performed very much like my old Bonneville.
Click to expand...
Did somebody say Bonneville?? :) :)
Dellortoman said:
Hey Vince, you can re-live the Bonnie experience by pulling the middle spark plug lead off your 180° Laverda triple. You end up with a parallel twin of about the same horsepower as the old Bonnie. Once when my Jota stopped firing on the middle cylinder (some electrical gremlin) and I rode it the remaining few miles home on just the outer two cylinders, it occurred to me that it sounded and performed very much like my old Bonneville.
Click to expand...
Just be prepared to pay what it costs with the SF3!!!! no good having a half job on any bike in my opinion just asses the risk, mechanical failure (big bang) or even worse broken down on the side of the road and having to go home on the back of a Bonnie!!
 

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That's a particularly specific Bonnie Maurice. Not a 72 with a conic hub front brake or a 76 with a disc rear. Halfway between. Never seen a white one either. As to that SF2, time moves on obviously and you cannot compare a 73 model bike with more modern bikes just as Machines only, you have to allow for when they appeared in their own time. Just me being a preachy dick, I like lots of different bikes, I rode a WLA around a car park once and loved that experience, but it wouldn't be my first choice on a sunny Sunday.
 
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BOETJE said:
When I was 20 ( 45 years ago) I loved my SF2 to bits.
Went everywhere on it.
But now I can't remember it being so slow, and vibrate so much .

Plus it is not really suited for the crap pothole infested roads we have these days in NZ


I recently acquired a 2002 Ducati ST2....now that thing I really do like.

But we are getting side tracked again....
Click to expand...
Fair enough. I wonder if your SF2 ended up being a 'good' one or an 'average' one, even after a rebuild. Many factors affect the vibes on SFs. I really have ridden some shitbox ones - slow and shaky. I guess the points you make are part of the reasons for me building the SFQ - but many owners are more than happy to accept that a 750 twin that had great performance in 1974 may not sparkle in comparison the a more modern alternative.

I reckon your best bet would be to sell the SF2 to someone who will like it and continue enjoying the ST2 that you love to ride.

I definitely understand where you're coming from, as i would definitely never want to go back to the drum brake SF1 I loved so much 'back then' - just couldn't live with those brakes. I like to ride hard and I like really good brakes. Each to their own.
 
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