SFC Replica Project

[Mastroianni]

It wasn't very clear on the first replica, but Bernard had already fitted the engine with an oil cooler because he used the bike on the track. The new replica will use this same engine but without the cooler; for the time being, a bridge pipe will connect the inlet and outlet ports on the crankcase. This winter, the engine will be stripped down and rebuilt with a different crankcase to ensure it conforms to the specifications of a 1974 SFC.






In the foreground, the installation of this radiator on the first replica, and in the background, the original SFC.

 

[MarnixSFC]

My 1974 SFC has an oil cooler too. A period modification and so I left it on.

Marnix

 

[Mastroianni]

I secretly hoped to find original ignition coil mounting brackets—or at least replicas—for this SFC frame reproduction. I knew it would be a tall order given how few of these frames were ever built, even after asking prominent figures in the Laverda community whom I know, such as JLO, Piet, and Marnix.
(My apologies to anyone else I might have missed.)
Despite their best efforts, it proved to be an impossible mission.
I had arranged for André—a fellow Laverda enthusiast and member of our site—to make a pair for me, just in case.
André is a true craftsman and a self-taught metal sculptor.
I am showcasing his work here to pay tribute to him.
Glory to you, André, and thank you.

 

[Mastroianni]

The next step for this project is installing the seat cover provided by our friend Steph, a member of our forum.
It’s a truly beautiful piece of craftsmanship; he actually has a few more in stock.
It is indeed the same motorcycle, even if the color appears different—evidently, the camera belonging to our friend Bernard—the mastermind behind this project—suffers from the same flaws as mine.
All that remains is to disassemble the engine—which has a hole in it, an unfortunate consequence of installing an oil cooler—and then rebuild it using new crankcases, a 13-fin cylinder block, and the corresponding cylinder head.
More to come in the next installment!