Waking up a sleeping 750 GT

Bram750

Bram750

New member
Location
Hilversum, Holland
Hi everybody, my name is Bram. Since last week I’m the owner of a 1971 750 GT.
The bike used to belong to an uncle of mine who passed away six year ago. I thought it would be nice to keep it in the family since he had it purchased in 1981 only a month after I was born, so I bought it.
I barely knew my uncle, because he left Holland in 1987 after basically selling everything he had besides the bike. The bike stayed in a shed at friends of him and he picked it up when he was in Holland to visit other friends and family. I only saw it ones in the early nineties and even I was only around 12 years old, I could see it needed some love but I liked it! The bike was kept in use until 2009 and didn’t runs since then. The first thing I have to check is if the engine is still free. Haven’t tried it jet, but I have good hope since everything else moves freely. The shed was pretty dry, that probably helped.
As you can see in the pictures it is a bit rough. My plan is to make it running again to check the state of the engine. Than fix it technically so I can have it inspected and the license activated again. And after that I will take it apart an make it look fresh again. Not planning on making it completely original, since it originally was red, and have been painted blue in its life also (pre 1981.) I want to keep it looking like a GT, only with some small things here and there differently. These changes will be driven by taste and cost probably, but the plan issn’t rigid.
I noticed in the papers it is called a 750GTF, does anybody knows where this F stands for? On the block I can find only “GT.”
Hope to get with updates soon!FB7C37CE-DA3D-4B14-8599-231AFC6A4DF4.jpeg21A6F951-F5DF-4981-8706-282CBD4E8F3F.jpeg7F526498-19AB-4448-A93A-856F60F77517.jpeg
 
Cool bike as it is! Love the base ball cap lamp and comfort seat as well. I would not change a lot, äh and willcome to our forum.
Andre
 
I believe it's a GTF because it has the Laverda F brakes - similar to S and SF - earlier GTs did not have the nice patent Laverda drums that are the F ""Freni on the SF that distinguishes them from the earlier S model.
 
arancia said:
I believe it's a GTF because it has the Laverda F brakes - similar to S and SF - earlier GTs did not have the nice patent Laverda drums that are the F ""Freni on the SF that distinguishes them from the earlier S model.
Click to expand...

This would be my assumption too. Welcome to the Forum Bram!
:)
 
Good on you Bram for keeping your uncles legacy alive. With only 53 thousand km (could well be genuine) on it, there is every chance the motor is in excellent nick. There is quite a bit of clean and tidying to lift it out of the "neglected" look but most of that is doable yourself if you are keen.
 
The Freni explanation sounds logic actually.
Nice to hear it could be the engine is in good condition, hope it is. I’ve been thinking about the mileage and I also think it’s correct. Can’t imagine it is 150k.
I’m used to fix everything on my bikes, the plan is to do everything (at least as much as possible) on the Laverda myself as well.
 
Ok, you can change the seat, you won't win a beauty contest with it.

But try to keep the rest in this state as much as possible. Your bike is a document of the times!
This is consistent. We old drivers don't use it either make-up, botox, or have hair put on the bald head or operate our abdomen smaler - is´nt it?

Thomas aus LAU
 
Last edited:
don't run the motor until you have soaked the pistons with Redex oil, and left for two weeks, this can easilly free gummed up and stuck piston rings.it has solvent in the oil, it was (in the past) added to petrol when at the fuel station and called "upper cylinder lubricant"
with the plugs still out, turn it a lot by hand, and then on the starter, prepare to catch the blown out oil, refit the plugs and try to fire, it may oil the plugs and will definitely smoke until clear. This has solved oil burning issues on two very high mileage cars that I owned, one was an Opel/Vauxhall Carlton and the other a V12 Jaguar.
CLEM
 
Thomas aus LAU said:
Ok, you can change the seat, you won't win a beauty contest with it.

But try to keep the rest in this state as much as possible. Your bike is a document of the times!
This is consistent. We old drivers don't use it either make-up, botox, or have hair put on the bald head or operate our abdomen smaler - is´nt it?

Thomas aus LAU
Click to expand...

Haha, I don’t use botox or something like that :-)
What is old? The bike is older than I am!
I would have kept it as it is when it had the original paint, but it doesn’t.
 
The seat is definitely not a genuine Laverda item, so by all means, make it look MUCH prettier and replace it. Unless it holds great personal and emotional significance for you. In my humble opinion it's in the same league as chopperised Laverdas! Other than that, a beautiful original with genuinely very few miles - barely run in, in fact!! My SF had 19,000 miles on it when I bought it ... barely run in.
 
I took the sparks out today, they were black and oily. Poured some engine cleaner and oil on top of the cilinders with the idea to let it soak for a while. Off course I couldn’t bring up the patience and turned the back wheel while in gear. Oil splattered against the wall of my garage, but at least I know the engine is free and making healthy puff puff sounds when I turn it by hand!
I’ll try next week if it will run.
I know it is against the law, but the seat has to go. It rusty, but worse; from a Honda :-)
7A144890-2759-4614-9ADA-2971D60F196F.jpeg5574461F-0B77-4186-8012-29DBB18DE52B.jpegF4F26498-D4E6-4E14-936B-6C0A4FAB9E3D.jpeg
 
Hi Bram, I have a GTF too 1973 as above Laverda brakes,it might have an F stamped under & to the side of the engine, also you should have the longer frame,Marnix may correct me.Here is mine. I have an improved updated wiring diagram when/if you need one. ShaunIMG_4663.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top