Italian Machines

I was wondering if anyone has owned a Laverda Jota I would buy one if I could. What do you think of it?

 

Nice bike would love to own one but a bit tall for me seat height is if I recall 32 inches

 

Yes they are high. A friend had a Jota years ago what a great noise it made. Engine was simple too six valves if l remember rightly. His was the 180 crank it was the fastest production bike in its day. Very expensive now Jetfixer.

 

My brother has one, he doesn't ride it much though - seems a bit of a brute. ATM he has the engine sent away for a 1500 GBP rebuild. The builder mentioned that something (primary drive gear?) had come loose on the crank and chewed up
some splines - not sure of the full implication of that yet but it's not an unusual problem apparently - Starting price is a bout 10 000 GBP I think. I once owned an Alpina (500 twin)and apart from the lousy chrome-work it wasn't a bad machine - slow
compared to an XJ550 but better torque at the low end and quite light (in comparison) I recall.

 

Yes the Jota was a brute and the fastest production bike in its day l think. I like them but they are too expensive now and my XJ900f is so robust and reliable it won't be going. Be interested to know how your brothers bike engine goes. Slaters in England were Laverda importers.

 

DUCATI 900 SS is another bike I would love to own

 

Never tried a Ducati unfortunately but l tried my cousins Aprillia V 1000 and liked the power delivery. I am sure Mike the Bike Hailwood raced the 900SS at the Isle of Mann TT and there is a road based replica of the desmodromic V twin. Red and Green it was with Gold wheels fully faired. Beautiful bike it was.

 

Here it is a beautiful Ducati 900 Hailwood replica. He raced at the Isle of Man not Mann, I hate spelling mistakes lol.

 

I like this one too Jetfixer

 

I want to own a 900 bevel-head one day.

 

Yes l would like to try a Ducati l think the power delivery will be great especially as l am used to fours. Yes gear driven cams on those Ducatis.

 

On the other side of the pond Europe has some cool bikes we rarely see here in the US Laverda,MV Agusta,Ducati, Motor Moroni( think it is French) Apprila even Vespa all are great bikes to own . Singles,twins, triples, 4 cylinder are all fun .

 

Yes the Moto Morini V twins , the Jota 180 and later 120 degree triples were nice Laverdas as were the MV bikes. Then there were the NSU car engined bikes (a bit of an ill handling monster l believe) and the Bennelli Sei which had a six cylinder SOHC engine and three carburettors with six silencers. But l prefer the Laverdas and Ducatis most of all.

 

Forgot about Benneli 6 cylinder lol

 

I would never have bought one, l had a Honda CB 750 K2 which l sold much to my regret.

 

Have you tried the 900 l bet it is great through the corners.

 

I know a guy with a 70's vintage Darmah. I asked him recently if he planned to keep that long-term and he said yes. I'll work on him some more. He has a ton of bikes and can surely part with one... maybe that old BMW R75/5 instead... hmm.

 

I had the "Mille" version of that bike for several years, old school handling was improved by the Ohlins rear shocks I fitted and the brakes are better than any XJ I have ridden with the right pad compound, 24 litre tank could do about 200 miles between stops, loved it but I just didn't use it enough, they are very expensive if you need any major motor work but nowhere near as temperamental as people seem to think

I also previously had a Darmah which I covered about 50,000km on all over NZ

I'd have a Jota in a heartbeat but they're out of my price bracket

 

Yes the engines are expensive to fix. I watched Andy's Motorcycle Obsessions on You Tube about doing the valves on a Ducati. Quite a few bits to be removed before he got to the valve covers but that is part of motorcycling, servicing and fixing bikes yourself. I think he is from New Zealand, he built an XS 1100 Cafe Racer. Jotas and Ducatis are expensive here too mabe I get one one day?

 

Forgot my wish list Moto Guzzi several model are on my list ...but no$$$$ (sorry Brits no pound symbol) but you get my drift , guess I will settle for my favorite bike sitting in corner of my garage XJ750 Seca

 

Here is a tour on a Moto Guzzi Spada Jetfixer.

 

My 850 Le Mans MK2 took me all over the UK/Europe.....and yes, to the Guzzi factory.....it WAS a tractor though, and quite a shock stepping off my '79 GS750 Suzy!!, but once you got it 'dialed in' to a corner, it really did 'run on rails'....I'd say, at the time, it was THE best handling bike out there, even better than the sweet handling GS....

 

I liked the 850 Le Mans but I have never ridden one but I liked the look of them.

 

I only rode the MK 2, 850....great machine.....in the early 90's, but quickly outclassed for speed......and eventually handling, by the Japanese bikes.
Switchgear we used to affectionately call 'lego' 'cos it resembled lego blocks!!...Wiring was always a bit iffy, and the brembo cast iron discs rusted after an hour parked.......even if it wasn't raining!!...But, they worked very well, linked braking too, if I remember correctly...oh, and a 32ah battery you could start a small car with!!

Ahhh...I see you're from Jockland....< no offence..I lived in Dundee for 4 years, 3 of those with my Guzzi....commuted from Dundee across Fife, chasing the Lightnings from RAF Leauchars everyday..........great lads an lasses, the Scots !!!

 

the 2 stroke HD's were a fun little bikes

 

I remember a two stroke Harley trail bike which l believe was manufactured in the 1970s looked good. Not sure if it was a 250.

 

yup made in the 70's

 

Weren't those "Harleys' Not Harleys though....Italian owned AMC??

 

They were built by Aeromachi and labeled as AMF Harley Davidson Sprint

 

AMF.....almost correct, lolz!!!

 

American Machine and Foundry (AMF) l did not know about them.

 

had one of those amf harleys back in the day, a 90. what a p o s

 

the bowling ball era of harleys when AMF was associated with them

 

A pretty little thing that I rescued from 14 years sitting in a back yard.

 

Nice
Had an 850 Le Mans 2 in the early 80's...

 

I've given one of those a spanking, on a windy road they can deal to much bigger bikes if you can carry the corner speed

 

The first pic is of my 1984 Moto Guzzi California 2, aka : Gus. I got to put him together when he came out of the crate. Many mods, aftermarket seat, Vetter fairing are the most obvious. He could stand some refurbishing and I will get to that one of these days.
The second is of a 1980 ( I think) Ducati Darmah 900 SS. He belonged to the fellow I bought Gus from and was the victim of a drunk driver. His brother still has the Ducati and likely will never let go of him. I have right of first refusal. It hasn't been started since 1984, still has the Italian air in the tires, never been titled, still on the the MSO.... sigh.....
John

 

Always liked the 80's Dukes....lived in Manchester, UK....used to get my Le Mans serviced at Sports Motorcycles....who built and sponsored Hailwoods Duke for the TT...often looked enviously at that bike whilst my Le Mans was in the shop.......also the lovely Jotas and Mirages they had in stock!!

 

Yes indeed Mike the Bike what a racer he was. I liked the Jotas and Mirages too.

 

I worked at Comet electrical on Deansgate at that time, I was in there every day looking at the bikes.

 

I worked at Comet couriers, up by Oldham rd/Hyde rd, about 9 years later !!

 

I wonder how many times we were within a mile of each other back in the day

 

Lol...probably swapped some paint !!