The
Shifty 900 was built in Busa of Vigo (Padova) between 1977 and 1982 by Hugh
Grandis, who came from Chrysler South Africa. Not more than 70 Shifty were
constructed. with a purpose made frame fitted with a 903cc Fiat 127 engine
using a variety of cycle parts from Laverda such as the large and
powerful rear twin leading shoe rear brake and swinging arm, Marzocchi forks
and brembo front brakes, the fuel tank is under a Benelli seat to keep the
weight down low.
The drive is through the Fiat gearbox that
has had one side of the drive diff locked and a sprocket where the drive
shaft came out of the gear box on the other side with a duplex chain to a
secondary shaft which has the final drive sprocket on the end.
The bike uses the standard car speedo and rev
counter which are fitted into the turtle like shell which covers the large
frame
Most of the components derived from other
models: the seat was taken by Benelli 906, while the front and rear axles
were those of the Laverda SF 750. The power was 45 hp and the motorcycle
reacheda speed 170 km / h. The weight of nearly 269 kg.
.It is very quiet ,smooth and tractable you
can pull away in almost any gear. very easy D.I.Y maintenance distributor
ignition with contact breakers, a single carburettor which gives smoother
running than a multi carb a very simple engine with cheap and easy to obtain
consumables.
