Description
Please note: The seller has asked that we re-list this Jota 1000 with a lowered reserve to help it find a new home!
Click here for an VINData Motorcycle History Report on this 1977 Laverda Jota 1000. Please note: VINData erroneously lists the bike as being salvaged and crushed twice. Iconic believes this is because the VIN is a simple four digit number and therefore shared by multiple vehicles. Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
Triple cylinder motorbikes have made a bit of a comeback in recent years with the excellent offerings from makes like Yamaha and MV Agusta but this unique powerplant saw fairly widespread use in a number of bikes before inline fours and twins became the standard, and among the triples of the past the Laverda Jota 1000 is legendary. Produced from 1976 until 1982 the Jota 1000 was for a brief period in time the fastest production bike you could buy in the mid 1970’s.
The Laverda brand has a long history dating back to its founding in 1873 as an agricultural engine company, but it really cemented its high-performance reputation during the late 1960’s when it released larger 750cc variants of its twin cylinder bikes following increased competition from other makes, notably the Japanese builders. The triple cylinder bikes that would follow in the early 70’s were spurred on by the British Laverda importer Richard Slater, who urged the Italian firm to produce the bike and worked closely with the factory to develop a high-performance version of the bike. These early Jota’s were offered only in the UK in 1976 and they quickly set the high speed record for a production motorcycle using high compression pistons, performance cams and less restrictive exhausts.
The early Jota 1000 was noted for its unique 180 degree crank that gave the bike an almost rough but dramatic feel and noise, this was later changed to a smoother running 120 degree phasing crankshaft setup in 1982. The engine has a total displacement of 981cc with its 3 cylinders and makes 80 horsepower. Featuring dual overhead cams and air cooling, the engine was updated to electronic ignition in 1981.
Despite weighing in at just over 500 lbs, the Jota still has a very svelte appearance, aided by its slim waistline thanks to the compact three cylinder engine. Disc brakes front and rear helped slow things down and handling was about average for bikes of its time. By the time 1982 rolled around, the Jota 1000 was showing its age against the more modern Japanese offerings and it would only be a few more years before Laverda would cease trading along with many other European makes that were unable to keep up with the blistering pace coming from Japan.
This example is VIN: 5136; Engine: 5136. The seller inherited the bike from his father one year ago, but has decided to sell as he is in the market for another bike. Regarding the bike’s history the seller states, “Recognizing the performance of these machines, Lance Weil imported a number of the “silver bullets” into SoCal for resale. Lance, inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 1971, was no stranger to performance motorcycles. He sold this machine, one of a batch of three, in Albuquerque where it remained until 2010. Its sister motorcycles, one higher numbered VIN, one lower, are part of the Laverda scene today. I have a photo of the bike when it was about a week or so old alongside what I understand to be Lance Weil’s personal bike, and a letter from Slater confirming that this is a bona fide Jota.” The bike underwent a full restoration in 2011. Per the builder, Scott Potter: “The 1977 bike was restored in 2011 and was named bike of the year on the LaverdaForum. it was also featured in Bike EXIF. Frame is paint, not powdercoat. Color is Polaris Silver as used on the 1979 and later machines. Ishtar Arancio is the basecoat with a mid coat of Orange Pearl. I seem to recall it was about 5 years ago the seat and indicators were switched out by the deceased. The solo seat mentioned in the ad is a one-off and not available anywhere.”
During his ownership the seller has covered approximately 10 miles. The odometer shows 29,290 miles.
Maintenance:
Per the seller, “Very extensive down-to-the-last-nut-&-bolt engine & frame rebuild by Scott Potter, at a mileage reading of 27,600. The objective became: build something very special, changing/replacing/fixing whatever was needed, while preserving original parts wherever possible:
• Full engine rebuild – everything including bottom end, pistons, honed bores, valve & seats, transmission, clutch etc.
• Painted frame is Sonic Silver; a high metallic content silver very close to the Jota hue but with a bit more sparkle in the sun. Tank & side covers are Lamborghini Arancio Ishtar with clear coats.
• Some rechroming.
• Buchanan’s shouldered Excel rims (2.15 front & 2.50 rear) w/stainless spokes, using an SF2 front hub & and a Suzuki rear hub.
• Race Tech cartridge emulators; new shocks.
• New forged Jota-spec pistons along with one of Clem’s copper head gaskets & Axtell-spec camshafts.
• New kits for masters & cylinders along with new pistons, pads and hardware.
• Rebuilt gauges with new faces.
• DMC ignition.
• Keihin full stainless exhaust, headers & mufflers, weighs nothing and sounds truly magnificent, pure music.”
Modifications:
Painted frame.
Repainted tank.
Keihin exhaust.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Pirelli Sport Demon tires with date codes of 2807.
The sale includes one key.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Charleston, South Carolina, this Laverda is offered on a clean South Carolina title. Have any Jota 1000 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
