Description
Gorgeous Laverda RGS 1000.
I bought this from the previous owner last year as a winter project. He had owned it since 1996, and had put it into dry storage in 2005, and it was in this ‘barn find’ condition that I received it.
The key thing that struck me was the originality of the bike; it even still retains the original Laverda part-numbered exhaust system, including the centre collector box section that usually disintegrates. The carbs were completely gummed up, so there was no chance of running if before dismantling, however a compression test gave 170psi across all three cylinders, and differing by only 3 psi between all.
I set upon recommissioning the bike with the intention of not doing a full restoration, but only the necessary things to get it useable. Well, it ended up being nearly completely stripped, with only the engine remaining in the frame, and the following was carried out:
Front brake and clutch master cylinders rebuilt by Ducati Paddy
New brake calliper seal kits
New EBC brake pads
New clutch seal kit
New stainless braided brake and clutch hoses
New rear brake master cylinder
New front and rear brake switches
New tyres (Bridgestone Battlax) and tubes
Wheels powder coated
New wheel bearings
New battery
Good condition carb inlet rubbers from my box of spares
Carbs dismantled and sonically cleaned and rebuilt with new Dell Orto kits
Fork tubes hard rechromed, and ground by
Brooks Suspension, and forks rebuilt.
Various rubbers, bolts, stainless clamps and other perishables replaced
Good quality LED headlamp bulb fitted to improve visibility and reduce load on charging and wiring system
Replace ignition wiring and connectors between crank pick-ups and ignition box coupling where the wiring insulation had disintegrated.
Completely de-gunge and clean everything
Remove covers and check chains, tension and valve clearances.
Drain old oil and clean filter – this was incredibly clean with nothing scary deposited in the filter or drain container
Strip and blend new paint onto the frame in several places where it had chipped and was less than pretty.
New petcocks
Thoroughly flush and clean the fuel tank (which was brimmed with 20-year-old leaded fuel, and which had done an excellent job of preserving the inside of the tank)
Koni Dial’a’Ride rear shocks fitted
So, although this wasn’t a full restoration, it turned out to be rather more than a recommission. As you can see in the images, the bike is lovely and ready for the coming season. Registered as historic so tax and MOT exempt.
