The Laredo has run me a bit ragged in a couple of areas, but it hasn’t put me off; the few pictures I’ve uncovered of the bike in late 1960s advertisements offer enough of a carrot to make me ignore the bent frame, mangy gearbox and general ill-health of the bike.
I’d struck up a pleasant rapport with Jon at PDR (Precision Dent Repair) in Lancaster and after I’d performed the non-invasive surgery on the frame I scooted along to his place with the bits that needed painting. I don’t have the patience or ability to create the finish that I’m after and I am optimistic that Jon can tick those boxes. Fast-forward a couple of weeks and I get the call from Jon to pick up the black bits; these are stunning and I feel that my hopes for the other painted parts might come good, fingers crossed.
Over the next few daysthe one… cleaning stuff! Everybody has their own technique here which generally involve time, sore fingers and copious amounts of elbow grease. I’ve stripped the rear shocks to fettle a couple of dents in the chrome covers; dismantling them is a tricky task as the top covers are actually screwed on to the damper rod.
