"CLASSIC OF THE DAY"
Countdown to Christmas
Featuring
COTSWOLD COLLECTORS CARS
It's not often we feature bikes in our " Classic of the Day" and that is mainly down to my ignorance of eveything two wheeled, however now and again my wife & Deputy Editor comes up with something she thinks we should cover, and today is one of those days.
1984 LAVERDA JOTA
Laverda motorcycles started as an
offshoot of the large North-East Italian agricultural machinery firm in
the 1940s concentrating on small capacity machines for postwar Europe.
This did not stop them racing and various small capacity Laverdas competed in long distance events such as the Milano-Taranto and the Giro d’Italia during the 1950s. In the 1960s Laverda took advantage of the greater public wealth and started building larger capacity machines firstly with their 650cc twin and then, what would become their legendary, 750cc twins including the 750 GT/S, 750SF and the race based 750SFC.
It was a British company though which gave rise to Laverda’s most famous model – the 3 cylinder, 1000cc Jota. Laverda had released the 3C triple in 1973 but at the suggestion of the Slater Brothers from Bromyard, Hereford, Laverda tuned up the motor with hot cams, high compression pistons and high flow exhausts - renaming it the Jota. The Jota was aggressive and expensive - producing 90bhp, with a top speed of 140mph and in the mid 1970s it was the fastest machine on 2 wheels winning the UK production series 4 times in ’76, ’78 – ’80.
The Jota was altered several times over the following years the most notable alteration being the crankshaft. Starting off initially with a 180-degree crank it was changed in 1981 to 120 degrees in an attempt to reduce vibration that had plagued the bike since conception. A 1200cc version was produced largely for the American market and finally the RGS and RGA triples came in the 1980s. Despite good performance their prices were high compared to the Japanese tide that was arriving in Europe and sales were disappointing, resulting in Laverda going into receivership in 1987
This 1984 RGA bike is an excellent example of the last of these wonderful, 3 cylinder motorcycles with the smoother 120-degree crank. It is finished in dark blue with a black seat, all the paint and bright work is in excellent condition. The mechanical condition matches the cosmetic finish. The forks have been over hauled and given new seals, the brakes where gone through with new fluid and pads. It has done 21,000 miles, it starts easily and rides as well as you would imagine.
COTSWOLD COLLECTORS CARS
It's not often we feature bikes in our " Classic of the Day" and that is mainly down to my ignorance of eveything two wheeled, however now and again my wife & Deputy Editor comes up with something she thinks we should cover, and today is one of those days.
1984 LAVERDA JOTA
This did not stop them racing and various small capacity Laverdas competed in long distance events such as the Milano-Taranto and the Giro d’Italia during the 1950s. In the 1960s Laverda took advantage of the greater public wealth and started building larger capacity machines firstly with their 650cc twin and then, what would become their legendary, 750cc twins including the 750 GT/S, 750SF and the race based 750SFC.
It was a British company though which gave rise to Laverda’s most famous model – the 3 cylinder, 1000cc Jota. Laverda had released the 3C triple in 1973 but at the suggestion of the Slater Brothers from Bromyard, Hereford, Laverda tuned up the motor with hot cams, high compression pistons and high flow exhausts - renaming it the Jota. The Jota was aggressive and expensive - producing 90bhp, with a top speed of 140mph and in the mid 1970s it was the fastest machine on 2 wheels winning the UK production series 4 times in ’76, ’78 – ’80.
The Jota was altered several times over the following years the most notable alteration being the crankshaft. Starting off initially with a 180-degree crank it was changed in 1981 to 120 degrees in an attempt to reduce vibration that had plagued the bike since conception. A 1200cc version was produced largely for the American market and finally the RGS and RGA triples came in the 1980s. Despite good performance their prices were high compared to the Japanese tide that was arriving in Europe and sales were disappointing, resulting in Laverda going into receivership in 1987
This 1984 RGA bike is an excellent example of the last of these wonderful, 3 cylinder motorcycles with the smoother 120-degree crank. It is finished in dark blue with a black seat, all the paint and bright work is in excellent condition. The mechanical condition matches the cosmetic finish. The forks have been over hauled and given new seals, the brakes where gone through with new fluid and pads. It has done 21,000 miles, it starts easily and rides as well as you would imagine.
Cotswold Collectors Cars Ltd.
Fulbrook
Oxfordshire OX18 4BX
England
Telephone Numbers:
Office: 01242 821600
Angus: 07974 694010
Richard: 07881 715007
Website: http://www.cotswoldcars.com/
NB: Visitors strictly by appointment only
ALL TEXT & IMAGES 2014 COTSWOLD CLASSIC CARS
DISCLAIMER
Fulbrook
Oxfordshire OX18 4BX
England
Telephone Numbers:
Office: 01242 821600
Angus: 07974 694010
Richard: 07881 715007
Website: http://www.cotswoldcars.com/
NB: Visitors strictly by appointment only
ALL TEXT & IMAGES 2014 COTSWOLD CLASSIC CARS
