Let me be first...
- Thread starter Dukedesmo
- Start date
Here's my 2018 Tuono V4 1100.
Bought new and with 13 k on it now.
Done a few 800 mile days on it to central France and it's very comfy. I'm a bit worried since a neighbour told me the French police don't like race cans and could impound the bike.
Bought new and with 13 k on it now.
Done a few 800 mile days on it to central France and it's very comfy. I'm a bit worried since a neighbour told me the French police don't like race cans and could impound the bike.
Mark64
UKMOC Member
New to me Husky 300tpi in one of the many dry riverbeds over here, it's great to be back on stinkwheels again, ring-a-ding-ding, unbelievably grunty from a few hundred rpm and yet still takes off like a scalded cat just like a proper 2-stroke, lovin the retired life.
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Darren69
Transmaniacon MOC
simwoo1009
UKMOC Member
Very long story. Spondon framed Laverda Jota with De Carbon rising rate monoshock, Forcelli GP forks & Spondon floating discs. This was all top-drawer bling back in 1989 when the project was started - and soon abandoned and shoved into boxes when electrics and fuelling proved too difficult to sort (no
internet, remember). It belonged to my Bro's mate, Simon, who died young in 2008. Simon left this and other bikes to my brother (who has no interest in bikes). Boxes sat in a lock-up for 12 years until covid. Guess the rest . . . .
internet, remember). It belonged to my Bro's mate, Simon, who died young in 2008. Simon left this and other bikes to my brother (who has no interest in bikes). Boxes sat in a lock-up for 12 years until covid. Guess the rest . . . .
Full marks for rare and exotic.
A Jota that probably doesn't let the tail wag the dog?
"Guess the rest . . . ." Sorry can't let you get away with that, I'd like to whole story please.
Glad you changed the seat for something very tasteful. What's going at the fork bottoms? Surly not some sort of adjustable trail?
A Jota that probably doesn't let the tail wag the dog?
"Guess the rest . . . ." Sorry can't let you get away with that, I'd like to whole story please.
Glad you changed the seat for something very tasteful. What's going at the fork bottoms? Surly not some sort of adjustable trail?
slob
.
an old friend of mine owns this one, used in the poster for performance bikes issue #1. currently a similar story, in boxes and he’s just trying to get all the parts together to put it back on the road. the v.rare mechanical anti-dive spondon forks having gone astray during storage and old dymag wheels being a bit of a worry.
simwoo1009
UKMOC Member
Thanks Mickj, it's a 'series 1' 180 supplied by Sports Motorcycles with the 4c cams and hi comp pistons. Oh, and the original 110w alternator which means you wont make it home if you ride with lights on. The 120's did have some improvements going for them, but Laverda hard-nuts took the change in the same way some Dylan fans did when he plugged a guitar into an amp
simwoo1009
UKMOC Member
Thanks Gazza, parked next to a std Jota it looks tiny - seat hgt is about 770 and it weighs 172kg, not 234kg, but has similar ground clearance. When I built it I wanted to keep it looking Jota ish and so lots of Laverda bits were adapted where possible. I also wanted to keep the build period-correct using only shed tools that would have been available to Simon, the original owner in the mid 80's. I rattle-canned the bodywork and got great results, until I spilt petrol on the 'petrol-proof' clearcote. The tank then went off to the paintshop who did a proper job.
I largely managed this with the notable exception of the front lower engine mount, which I did get laser-cut and tigged. I daren't drop the whole story here, soz. I've already shared more here than I have so far on either the Laverda or Spondon forums and this is afterall the UK Monster's Forum. I might share with Classic Bike or similar if I can be arsed to type it all over xmas though
Those Forcelli forks were designed for quick wheel changes and found on Bimotas, and some 80's endurance bikes. The sticky-out lugs on the lower legs are there for a paddock stand, so the wheel can be popped out when the hinged bottom spindle clamp is released.
I'm still doing shakedown so no red-line knee-down antics (yet), but the motor had a stage 1 tune back then and with the Mikuni RS36 Flatslides I'm currently fitting, I'm (maybe optimistically) hoping for similar real world performance to my S4R.
Thanks for fleshing that out a bit Simwoo. It just looks better the more I look at it.
I notice that they seem to have made the swingarm pivot as close to the sprocket axis as possible.
That's a nice touch, even though it does make the swinging arm look a bit clumsy. It certainly makes for a very smooth transmission when configured like that.
My own "Non-Monster" is built with the swinging arm pivot concentric to the motor and is super smooth.
I was just thinking it must be unique when Rob posted up his mates.. Like busses!
Are your wheels Magnesium?
I notice that they seem to have made the swingarm pivot as close to the sprocket axis as possible.
That's a nice touch, even though it does make the swinging arm look a bit clumsy. It certainly makes for a very smooth transmission when configured like that.
My own "Non-Monster" is built with the swinging arm pivot concentric to the motor and is super smooth.
I was just thinking it must be unique when Rob posted up his mates.. Like busses!
Are your wheels Magnesium?
simwoo1009
UKMOC Member
No problem Gazz. The Spondon swingarm does pivot from the exact centre of the gearbox sprocket, something that you wouldn't see on a modern bike of more than 100bhp. This arrangement does tidy up chain wear but takes away the facility for limiting 'squat' when you get on the power exiting a corner, which then gives you understeer and has you heading for the edge of the track. Some superbike teams in the past would change primary gearing rather than mess with sprocket sizes on the final drive once their rider was happy with corner exit. Ohlins published a helpful pamphlet covering this issue andKevin Cameron does a great breakdown of the physics involved on the CycleWorld podcast (Youtube), and I,ve hopefully copied a link below.Thanks for fleshing that out a bit Simwoo. It just looks better the more I look at it.
I notice that they seem to have made the swingarm pivot as close to the sprocket axis as possible.
That's a nice touch, even though it does make the swinging arm look a bit clumsy. It certainly makes for a very smooth transmission when configured like that.
My own "Non-Monster" is built with the swinging arm pivot concentric to the motor and is super smooth.
I was just thinking it must be unique when Rob posted up his mates.. Like busses!
It must be time to reveal your own Non -Monster now Gazz, cos unless it has 'Bimota' written on the tank I'm stumped . . .
simwoo1009
UKMOC Member
Hi Rob, 'Busses' indeed !
This bike did show up on 'Laverda Motorcycles' Facebook page a few weeks ago and there's a bit of history that your mate might be unaware of >>>
slob
.
Si R (leaning against the lampost) is the guy my mate, another Simon, bought it off - circa ‘82. Apparently it had no cams or pistons in the motor when it was photographed under the Westway for PB.
I sent my pal a link, he’d love to ask you some questions if you’d be okay with that?
I sent my pal a link, he’d love to ask you some questions if you’d be okay with that?
simwoo1009
UKMOC Member
Absolutely fine with that Rob. Please do.
There was a Laverda 75th Do in Willersley this summer. There I got an enthusiastic welcome from 2 other Spondon Laverda owners ( one has a custom streerfighter, and the other guy owns the ex Phil Oakey bike reffered to). They've knocked around together for years, convinced that they are the only owners of these bikes and were chuffed to have met up with number 3 (me).
So now there are four. . . that's a 100% 'kin increase!!
(23? of these frames were made, at least 1 is in Oz)
A bit of Newbee guilt creeping in now . . . hogging this Non-Monster page with Non -Monster stuff etc
simwoo1009
UKMOC Member
Sorry Folks, the relevant bit of the YouTube video that I linked starts back at the 17.45 timestampNo problem Gazz. The Spondon swingarm does pivot from the exact centre of the gearbox sprocket, something that you wouldn't see on a modern bike of more than 100bhp. This arrangement does tidy up chain wear but takes away the facility for limiting 'squat' when you get on the power exiting a corner, which then gives you understeer and has you heading for the edge of the track. Some superbike teams in the past would change primary gearing rather than mess with sprocket sizes on the final drive once their rider was happy with corner exit. Ohlins published a helpful pamphlet covering this issue andKevin Cameron does a great breakdown of the physics involved on the CycleWorld podcast (Youtube), and I,ve hopefully copied a link below.
It must be time to reveal your own Non -Monster now Gazz, cos unless it has 'Bimota' written on the tank I'm stumped . . .
simwoo1009
UKMOC Member
Can't fault your taste in bikes, DukedesOK, seeing as no posts in this section yet, I'll go first (and also load some pics as a test).
Non-Monster you say;View attachment 1
View attachment 2
So now, I've shown you mine, show me yours.
walkingpictures
preneolithic frebie
Sorry,couldn't resist
Darren69
Transmaniacon MOC
I own a Laverda 1200 Mirage, looking for pictures currently but dont have any on my phone. Built from boxes of bits over 3 years, nice bike gets loads of attention everywhere but the S4 is much better muscle bike hands down but d8fferent era I guess. Great for pillions though the Monster less so.
simwoo1009
UKMOC Member
That's definitely unique, flavours of Ducati, MV and Craig Vetter from the 70's (Triumph X75 designer)