Laverda 650 Ghost - P188 APR

Recommission / refresh / rebuild

Research showed these had plastic cranks or at least cranks that were waiting to explode so I knew what I was buying, thankfully a replacement good engine from a Laverda specialist saved the day. So many great expectations on riding the completed bike only to be disappointed, may be I had ridden to many smooth Japanese bikes. 

Bike purchased in August 2013 with a partially stripped engine and broken crank

First thing I did was to rebuild the engine to see what was missing and note all damage

Although not that obvious the crank badly damaged and needed expensive specialist repair, also the head and valves were damaged as well

I therefore decided to strip the whole bike while I found an replacement engine

Very unusual fuel tank

Fuel pump, filter and pipes destroyed with time and old petrol
Rear sub-frame removed, indicators not on separate loom and had to be dismantled to get wiring out

Replacement engine installed and the start of the rebuild

Fuel tank and sub-frame back in, some wiring reconnected

Fuel injection and air box installed

Rebuilt and running, no clutch or brakes, ugly exhaust collector and scratched end cans

Polished and repainted end cans, new chain and sprockets

Brakes stripped cleaned and new seals and pads all round

Replacement clutch cylinder and repaint

Appropriate tank protector

Low mileage machine

Finished bike with replacement cross over exhaust collector and period mirrors