Can't wait for the good weather to come!
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I managed to find a Laverda dealer sign in France recently.
It's going to need a little bit of work to get it the way I want it, but it will make a nice addition to the workshop. It's from the Zane era factory but as I work on all things Laverda it will fit right in here. I have now completed all the online applications for 6 bikes, exhibitors etc for the 2020 Scottish Bike Show. It's on the 7th and 8th March at the Royal Highland Showground, Ingliston, Edinburgh. I will be taking 2 beauties, the black SFC 1000 and the red 1200, recent winner of Best Continental at the Bristol Bike Show.
The red 1200, number 7 off the production line, recently (last week) won the Best Continental award at the Bristol Classic Bike Show. Well done to Alan, the owner.
By the way I am bringing it to the Laverda stand at the Scottish Bike Show on 7th and 8th March in Ingliston, Edinburgh. The gold bodywork is now finished, all badges, taps and cap are in place. I have started on the seat. Powder coated base, new foam edgings and next step is fitting the Eldorado seat cover. In the coming week the plan is to get 3 freshly powder coated frames back to rolling chassis. Then they start to look like a proper bike again.
Lots of freshly painted and powder coated parts. I also had to resuscitate a new pair of discs that seemed to have discoloured, so etch prime and top coat. Took the SFC 1000 out into the weak winter sun today. She does look great. Already there is some interest in buying it. Check out the For Sale section for more info. I restored this from nothing more than a bare frame and matching crankcases. Why? Well the frame/engine number told me it was the 7th production 1200 that the factory built, so I had to save it, and make it as close to original as possible. Even before it was finished someone bought it. I view this as the nicest one I have restored to date. I collected the flyers and pop up banner that I will use at the Scottish bike show in March.
I still have some other stand stuff to organise but I want everything ready in time. Today I had a few things to do. Delivered a frame, swing arm, brackets and wheels to the powder coater. Then I dug out the mule (to be the subject of some future project no doubt) to use it to set up another GSXR wheel/brake conversion. I will be using this braced swing arm so I wanted to see what was required by way of a torque arm for the floating rear caliper. I need to do more checking but it seems it will need a shorty (in yellow) arm that will render the caliper fixed, as the bracing might foul a longer torque arm fixed to the frame just behind the engine. I will also check brake hose lengths required. The plan is to run a pair of hoses direct to the front calipers as the new front brake m/c has a micro switch built in. The GSXR wheels allow safe fitment of wider tubeless radial tyres with modern sticky compounds, larger discs, and via CNC-machined adaptors, 4 pot Brembo calipers out front. The weight saving is big, saving around 3kg on the whole front wheel assembly (lighter wheel, no tube, thinner stainless discs), and around 1.5kg on the rear wheel. This has a knock on effect on the suspension too. |
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