A muscular custom The Laverda 1000 Jota leads our pick this week, with a rare collection of classic British and European bikes at the bottom of the list. Interspersed between them was a wild Suzuki pair; a custom ’90s Suzuki GSX-R750 SRAD and a new 25th anniversary Hayabusa.
Laverda 1000 Jota by Motorcycle Mania Despite being one of the lesser known Italian brands, Laverda there is always a certain mystique around them. After their founding in 1949, they continued to produce a range of unique (and often orange) bicycles to compete with Moto Guzzi and BMW.
Laverda came under pressure from the big four Japanese manufacturers in the 1960s. Their answer to the Land of the Rising Son in-line four-wheelers was a new 1,000 cc tricycle, based on gorgeous twin Laverda 750 of the time. The Laverda 1000 produces good power — and while it’s not light, it handles well.
The Laverda 1000 Jota debuted in 1976 — a trio of 1,000 cc derived from racing cars with a variety of extreme speeds. Total output was increased from 85hp to 95hp, and it clocked over 130mph, making it one of the fastest production bikes at the time.
You don’t often see Jotas (or Laverdas in general) riding around, let alone custom examples. This bike was built by Stephen Anstis of Motorcycle Mania. Based on his workshop in Frome, a town in Somerset, England, Stephen has been in the game for over 40 years.
Stephen started out with a 1983-style Jota 120 (named for the 120-degree spin phase), then basically scrapped everything. A pair of large diameter USD forks are fitted to the front wheels, along with modern cast rims with tubeless tires. The twin-piston Nissin brake calipers take over the front brake; A significant upgrade over the factory option.
The Jota also has large single headlights and an all-new cockpit. At the back, a custom subframe supports the rear end and a handcrafted saddle. The water tank is also custom—it’s a far cry from the classic lines of the original, but it works.
Down below you’ll find the side swingarm and belt drive from the BMW F800S, tuned to fit the Laverda. Three cross-cut mufflers protrude from the open side of the rear wheel. The red and orange paintwork is still as lush as they appear, while the reworked engine looks clean enough to eat away.
The bike was on display at this year’s Bike Shed Motorcycle Show, and it won the Jury Excellence Award at the recent Kickback Thruxton Custom Classic Bike Show. Why are we not surprised? [Via]
Suzuki GSX-R750 SRAD by Mim Moto We love classic supercars—especially those made by Suzuki. There’s something about their line, color scheme, and outstanding performance that makes you feel right. The early Suzuki GSX-R models are fast becoming cult classics and you’d be crazy if you didn’t want one in your garage.
Late 90’s Suzuki GSX-R750 SRAD (‘Suzuki Ram Air Direct’) is a prime example. With 134 hp to the touch and the only driver aid that is your right wrist, the original fuel-injected Gixxer was a streamlined monster. Even the bulging, well-proportioned bodywork is starting to return to trend — something no one expected.
However, one person who has seen it appear is Ammar, the owner of this 1997 SRAD model. Ammar wanted to fill the empty space in his garage with a ’90s race bike, something with vintage headlights, a steel bar behind a large fender, and a bulky tail. Naturally, the old SRAD tops his list.
He finally found a well-preserved model with only 21,000 km [13,050 miles] on the odometer. He brought it home and rode it… a much. But in the end, Ammar decided it was time to add some customization details to his SRAD.
Ammar started by upgrading the brakes to Brembo brake calipers with braided stainless steel wire; an obvious weakness of the bike. But before long, he sent the entire bike to a SRAD-loving friend who was working under Mim Moto. This is no small job, as Ammar is in the Netherlands and Mim Moto is in Türkiye!
Mim took the bike apart and rebuilt it with brand new factory parts. Suzuki is said to have an excellent vintage parts division, which makes this step even easier.
No classic supercar would be complete without custom graphics and this GSX-R is no exception. Inspired by the J.David Porsche 935 Moby Dick Le Mans race car, Ammar chose a beautiful blue and white color to place the RAD in SRAD. Instead of painting the factory shields, he opted to swap them out for racing items, which is a good move.
The final modification is the just-in-time Yoshimura exhaust — why not? Next time we’re in the Netherlands, you better believe we’ll beg Ammar for a test ride. [Via]
Suzuki Hayabusa 25th Anniversary Edition How do you feel today? Old? Then look away now, because this will make you feel very long in your teeth; Suzuki Hayabusa turns 25 years old next year.
That’s right—the big bird has grown, has left home, graduated from college, and is paying taxes on a full-time income. How fast time passes.
On the occasion of its 25th birthday, Suzuki decided to highlight the upcoming Busa 2024 with a special old paint color. The special edition features a unique orange and black color scheme that recalls the 2008 model. (We’d love to see Suzuki bring back the ‘Busa’ classic bronze and silver scheme.)
Aside from the paintwork, the badge on the fuel tank is unique to the anniversary edition. There are also commemorative engravings on the muffler and on every sixth link (this is a weird bend, but that’s okay). The rear saddle cover is included in the package, the brake rotor holders and the chain adjuster are anodized gold.
When the Hayabusa arrived in 1999, it had 175 horsepower and a top speed of 294 mph. The motoring world rejoices again when Suzuki unveils the third generation Hayabusa in 2022. Current output is a whopping 190 hp, although the limiter limits its top speed to 186 miles. / hour.
In an era where so many iconic models are violating the latest Euro emissions regulations, it’s great to see Suzuki have succeeded in pushing the ‘Busa over. Now boasting a host of modern electronics and material upgrades over older models, it should last for years to come.
Now if only Suzuki took a page out of Kawasaki’s book and added a supercharger. [Suzuki Hayabusa 25th Anniversary Edition]
Anthony R. East Classic Motorcycle Collection Excited after the Isle of Man TT in 2023, auction house Bonhams has announced the sale of the upcoming Anthony R. East motorcycle collection.
You may know the ARE Classic Motorcycle Collection if you are an Isle of Man TT regular. Assembled by collector Anthony R. East, it is located on the grounds of The Old Vicarage in Kirk Michael—a village on the TT Course itself.
Tony East has had a successful career as an auto parts supplier and his passion for motorcycles started when he was quite young. He retired in 2002 and soon moved to the Isle of Man, taking with him his impressive collection. He was the president of VMCC’s IoM department, organizing and hosting events at his museum for many years.
Sadly, Tony passed away in 2022 and he left behind what some have described as the finest collection of privately owned vintage Triumphs in all of the British Isles. More than 80 motorcycles are being auctioned at Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale in October.
Some enthusiasts will be particularly interested in the meticulously restored early Triumphs. This includes 1938 and 1951 Speed Twins, a series of 1930s Triumph Tigers and a wonderfully fascinating example of the 1937 Ariel Red Hunter.
There are Nortons, BSA and even some European bikes in there. The 1952 Moto Guzzi 500 Falcone Sport (complete with a sausage flywheel) looks pretty good, like the Sunbeam S7 and the Greeves 24RDS Silverstone.
There’s something for everyone in the auction. It shows Tony’s love for motorcycles, and we’re glad that even after his death, this love can still be shared. [Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale]
