Your seat appears to be shaped. The one above is flat, I suspect that would hurt.
Commando engined Laverda
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holtcorseaux
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Hi, there is an article in Moto Revue (FR) about it 2006, says the frame donor was a Laverda 650 ghost. Photos of the donors at the end of the article.
Have a good day
Martin
Norton Classic Racer 850 Ala Verda : Le bitza LaverTon - Moto-Station
Voir aussi :Spéciale : Yamaha XRS Café Racer Les fond d’écran de la Norton Classic Racer 850 Ala’Verda Pilote à ses heures et fou d’Anglaises, Daniel, le propio de cette superbe machine, voulait de l’exceptionnel. La naissance de cette moto s’est d’abord opérée dans sa tête, quand il y 2 ans, il...
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Pretty much flat as. Just the hump where the rear mudguard is and a very small under nut hump.
I was VERY shocked at how long I could ride in the saddle comfortably.
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Worntorn and Derek were worried about vibration. Note what he did to alleviate that.
–" long forged aluminum connecting rods
– lightweight, short-skirted, forged pistons"
"reworked Yamaha FJ 1200 pistons "
I wonder where he got the long alum connecting rods?
–" long forged aluminum connecting rods
– lightweight, short-skirted, forged pistons"
"reworked Yamaha FJ 1200 pistons "
I wonder where he got the long alum connecting rods?
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LOL - go back and reread my post - not worried about vibration at all - besides, not my bike, will never get a chance to ride it. The fact that it is not street legal means it would not really appeal to me anyway...
But if I were, my butt would be the first casualty, long before HAVS set in.
I am really interested in what is going on inside that ventilated Mk 3 primary....
Over the years, I've restored a few stock bikes plus built 3 one-off type bikes. For the stock bikes it's been straightforward as the design is already done and generally all of the new parts needed are made by other people, I just bolt them on or fit them carefully.
We know exactly how the bike goes together and what the finished product should look like. There are parts books, shop manuals, repair or restoration manuals and even DVDs to help.
For the custom items on the one-off, there is none of that. You are on your own with your imagination as the main tool.
The one off bikes definitely require a lot more head scratching. I end up making a lot of parts as the part I want or need often doesn't exist. First it has to be designed, then it has to be made. It takes a few tries to get it right sometimes.
It's a treat to do a stock bike afterward, but the challenge of the one-off is also rewarding.
Glen
We know exactly how the bike goes together and what the finished product should look like. There are parts books, shop manuals, repair or restoration manuals and even DVDs to help.
For the custom items on the one-off, there is none of that. You are on your own with your imagination as the main tool.
The one off bikes definitely require a lot more head scratching. I end up making a lot of parts as the part I want or need often doesn't exist. First it has to be designed, then it has to be made. It takes a few tries to get it right sometimes.
It's a treat to do a stock bike afterward, but the challenge of the one-off is also rewarding.
Glen
baz
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I love building custom bikes I started in the early 80s
One thing I regularly do is think of a simple design for a bracket or something
Then I complicate matters by having 10 more ideas for the same bracket when the first Idea was fine and the most simple
Then someone else will see the bracket and comment saying it's easy !
People don't realise you've had that bracket on and off many times with many tweaks to make it perfect
Because they watch the fake programs on the TV about custom built cars and bikes
Fast Eddie
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Well said Baz.
Where to put the bracket so that it supports properly, how to ensure it’s strong enough and not going to crack or cause something else to crack. How to design it so it doesn’t get in the way of other things, inc cable routes and wiring, etc. Or when assembling / disassembling other parts of the bike. Etc, etc. Then there’s how to make it look good / minimalist. This could all easily take a day, or more.
Then you make 1. Then you make 2 or 3 other versions!
There could be days between 1, 2, 3 above.
Then, finally, you fit it. You stand back, look at it, reflect on all the points above, and conclude that your happy.
Then you move onto the next.
No one else ever notices it !
Where to put the bracket so that it supports properly, how to ensure it’s strong enough and not going to crack or cause something else to crack. How to design it so it doesn’t get in the way of other things, inc cable routes and wiring, etc. Or when assembling / disassembling other parts of the bike. Etc, etc. Then there’s how to make it look good / minimalist. This could all easily take a day, or more.
Then you make 1. Then you make 2 or 3 other versions!
There could be days between 1, 2, 3 above.
Then, finally, you fit it. You stand back, look at it, reflect on all the points above, and conclude that your happy.
Then you move onto the next.
No one else ever notices it !
Hi Keith,
I was much amused by your comment about transplanting the Norton motor to increase reliability
But in all seriousness I really don’t know much about Laverdas, they were always a rather rare breed here in Australia.
I know the Jotas were incredibly fast. I have no knowledge of their 750s other than having seen a few. I wonder how they compared to our bikes. In general they seemed interesting bikes but they never seemed to quite live up to their potential.
So I guess I don’t know if it’s a Norton engined Laverda or a Laverda framed Norton. Did it bring together the best of both makes or the worst.
just a thought
al
I was much amused by your comment about transplanting the Norton motor to increase reliability
But in all seriousness I really don’t know much about Laverdas, they were always a rather rare breed here in Australia.
I know the Jotas were incredibly fast. I have no knowledge of their 750s other than having seen a few. I wonder how they compared to our bikes. In general they seemed interesting bikes but they never seemed to quite live up to their potential.
So I guess I don’t know if it’s a Norton engined Laverda or a Laverda framed Norton. Did it bring together the best of both makes or the worst.
just a thought
al
iOwned and worked on Breganze Laverdas for over thirty years, seen this machine before and I think this is a real good looking well executed bike and a great use of the Zane Laverda frame and running gear, the engines in these things were an utter catastrophe. In fact this could be the first time in history where someone has transplanted a Norton engine into a motorcycle and made it more reliable.
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the older 750 twins vibrated quite badly, according to an owner I knew in the 70s. The Laverda/Norton was for sale a few years ago, so assume builder no longer has it, AFAIK?
Fast Eddie
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I often think that when I see ‘specials’!
Also, when a ‘better / faster’ engine is installed in an older frame (Gixer 1100 motors in old GS frames for example) I ask myself ‘have they made an old bike faster… or a modern bike handle badly…?’
Deckard
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It's pretty and obviously a lot of effort to achieve what you see. Whether it performs better than a Seely framed Commando, only those who ride both could tell you.......
As said, Isolastics make riding a Norton engined street motorcycle the pleasure we can appreciate every ride.
As said, Isolastics make riding a Norton engined street motorcycle the pleasure we can appreciate every ride.
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Back in the 80's a fellow would show up at the national rallies riding a Norton with a wooden seat. He said it was the most comfy seat he ever had for long distance riding.
I know I get along better with a very firm seat for long days but I never went quite that far.
But this is a good looking track bike. The flat seat is where you put the trophy when the day is done...
I know I get along better with a very firm seat for long days but I never went quite that far.
But this is a good looking track bike. The flat seat is where you put the trophy when the day is done...
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I have done 2 full seasons with a knock-off AirHawk seat cushion on my Fastback seat. It has been great - can go through a whole tank of gas (180 miles) without any discomfort.
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