Slater Brothers (also referred to as Slater Bros.) was a British, and later American, motorcycle dealer and importer. They are best known as the UK importers of Laverda motorcycles, and for developing high-performance versions of Laverda models, especially the Jota.
History
In 1969 Roger Slater started building Vincent Motorcycles using Fritz Egli designed frames and refurbished Vincent 1,000 cc (61 cu in) v-twin engines. In an attempt to get new engines manufactured, he visit Massimo Laverda at the Laverda factory in 1970. Laverda declined but showed him a new 1000 cc engine that was in development. As a result of this meeting Slater, along with his brother Richard, formed Slater Brothers who in addition to the Vincents would import Laverdas to the UK.[1]
By 1972 the Laverda side of the business was the main component. Although Slater had been the official Egli frame importer since 1968, in 1973 Eric Cheney built frames were used.[2] This was the last year of manufacture of the Slater Vincents.[3]
In 1975, Slaters were offering the 1,000 cc (61 cu in) Laverda 3C with endurance camshafts, higher compression ratio and a less restrictive exhaust. This was later manufactured by the factory as the Jota. Slaters entered a Jota in production racing and won the UK championship in 1976 and 1978.[4] After the triple was enlarged to 1,200 cc (73 cu in) in 1977, Slaters increased power output by fitting endurance cams and the Jota exhaust. This was the basis for the factory built Laverda Mirage.[5] Slaters also built a higher performance version of the 1200, the Laverda Formula Mirage.[6] Laverda had introduced the 500 cc (31 cu in) Alpino in 1977 and soon after a racing version, the Formula 500 which won the 24 Horas de Montjuïc [es] in 1978. The following year Slaters produced a road-legal version of the Formula 500, the Montjuic.[7]
In February 1977 Slaters started importing Enfield India350 Bullet[8] and exhibited it at the 1977 Motorcycle Show as a Royal Enfield. This caused controversy as the ownership of the Royal Enfield name was in dispute.[9] The bike was aimed at the 'more mature' riders but the price was expensive compared with other manufacturers 350s and there were supply and quality problems.[8]
Massimo Laverda asked Roger Slater to take over Laverda operations in North America. After a brief stay in Canada, Slater emigrated to the US in February 1980[3] setting up Slater Brothers Inc in Kenwood, California[10] and importing Laverdas.[11]
In 1981 Slater Brothers stopped importing Enfield Indias[11] and Laverdas into the UK. In 1982 Three Cross Motorcycles became the new Laverda importers.[12] and later Evesham Motorcycles started importing the Enfields.[13]
By 1985 Laverda were struggling in the US and Slater Brothers Inc closed.[14] The following year Slater Brothers was restructured and the name changed to Slater Laverda. It was now run by Richard Slater and Mary Bufton and supplied Laverda spares to the trade and the public.[15] Slater Laverda closed in 2021 when Slater and Bufton retired.
