This blog records the success and failure of my ambition to get my seven Laverdas road legal. I won’t repeat my previous mistake of setting a target date to save my WWW embarrassment of failing yet again! Suffice to say this project has been running for a few years.
This is the only triple running! I’ve owned it Laverda since 1987 when I traded up from my BSA A65. It’s a fantastic machine but it had led a hard former life and the work to bring it back to life after 120,000 miles was beyond normal spannering. The bike spent some considerable time with a specialist in Scotland and hopefully the bike is settled and just in the process of being ‘road hardened’. If the Jota proves reliable like before then I intend for this to become my good weather ‘daily rider’.
The Jota was followed by a low mileage RGA Jota – bit ugly but fantastic 120 degree motor that served for somewhere like 120,000 miles before once again the crank needed sorting. The crank has been sorted and it’s just down to me to assemble it! Bad news for the RGA…
Back in the day it was cheaper to buy another triple than undertake a major resto’ and lucky for me I picked up a tired RGS. What a great bike…and once again around 120,000 miles the crank went (tho’ in fairness I did contribute to this by running it without oil…). Crank fixed and now waiting restoration…
I knew the RGS was going to die long before it finally gave up so in anticipation found myself a 600cc Atlas. I never fancied the 750 twins so thought let’s get something a bit different. This bike now languishes in the shed with cylinder head problems…
If you have a slightly oddball bike then you seem to attract others so I was offered a second Atlas at a very good price…which now has a very noisy cylinder head…
Not to worry however because along the way I got a third Atlas which gave up last May with an incurable misfire (cylinder head?)…
My little 1958 Laverda Turismo was acquired along the way and tho’ tired after its 2009 ride to Breganze still runs and is now my only road legal Laverda!
My approach to motorcycles is never to fix what isn’t broken – trouble is I’ve broke them all! Putting this aside don’t be put off buying either a Laverda triple, 750 two valve twin or the 500/600 eight valve twins (only buy a Zane twin if you are feeling brave) – they will keep going despite their owners…
Nick 
Bent screwdrivers, big hammers and old Laverdas 
Hi nick re three nations I did my first English in 1992, welsh in 94 and Scottish in 96.Used a Yamaha FJ1200 up to 2005 and a Honda deauville up to now. I have quite a few photos etc if I can be of any use please reply.
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Hi Nick
Good to read of your trips and tribulations with the Atlas . Spoke to Dean recently, it’ll be good to meet up again at Le Mans although it will seem like a run down the shops compared to your usual jaunts !
All the best , Gary .
Hi Nick,
Amazing what you have done with the little Turismo!
I have my fathers original 57 Turismo, which he bought just before coming to the UK. It needs a little attention and wonder if you have found a good source of parts?
Thanks
Andy