Slater Brothers
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motorcycle import and dealership |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founder | Roger Slater, Richard Slater |
| Fate | Ceased UK imports in 1981; US operations ceased in 1985; reorganized as Slater Laverda in 1986; closed in 2021 |
| Headquarters | Kenwood (for US operations) , United Kingdom; United States (from 1980) |
Area served | United Kingdom, United States |
Key people | Roger Slater, Richard Slater, Mary Bufton |
| Products | Imported motorcycles (Laverda, Vincent, Royal Enfield), performance models (Jota) |
Slater Brothers (also referred to as Slater Bros.) was initially a British motorcycle dealership and importer that later expanded into the American market. The company gained prominence as the official UK importers of Laverda motorcycles and for their development of enhanced performance models, most notably the Jota.
History
Roger Slater began assembling Vincent Motorcycles in 1969 by combining refurbished Vincent v-twin engines with frames crafted by Fritz Egli. In 1970, while searching for alternative engines, Roger met Massimo Laverda, who declined to sell engines but disclosed plans for a new model under development. This encounter led Roger and his brother Richard to establish Slater Brothers, which imported both Laverdas and Vincents into the UK.
By 1972, importing Laverda motorcycles had become the company’s main focus. Although Slater had been the official importer of Egli frames since 1968, from 1973 onward they switched to using Eric Cheney frames, marking the final year for Vincents assembled by Slater.
In 1975, Slaters introduced the Laverda 3C equipped with endurance camshafts, increased compression ratios, and less restrictive exhaust systems—upgrades that were subsequently incorporated into the factory-produced Jota. The company entered a Jota in production-class racing events, securing UK championship titles in both 1976 and 1978. After increasing the triple engine’s displacement to in 1977, they further boosted power output through endurance camshafts and Jota-style exhausts, innovations that contributed to the creation of the factory Laverda Mirage. Additionally, Slaters developed a high-performance variant known as the Laverda Formula Mirage.
In 1977, Laverda launched the Alpino model along with its competition version, the Formula 500, which achieved victory in the 1978 . The following year, Slaters produced a street-legal adaptation called the Montjuic.
Starting in February 1977, Slaters began importing the Enfield India 350 Bullet, marketing it under the Royal Enfield brand at motorcycle exhibitions. This move generated controversy due to ongoing disputes concerning the Royal Enfield trademark. Aimed at an older demographic, this model encountered supply chain and quality control issues and was priced above rival 350cc motorcycles.
Massimo Laverda invited Roger Slater to manage operations in North America. After a short stint in Canada, Roger relocated to the United States in February 1980 and founded Slater Brothers Inc in Kenwood, California, continuing to import Laverda motorcycles.
By 1981, Slater Brothers had ended imports of both Enfield India motorcycles and Laverdas into the UK market; from 1982 onward, Three Cross Motorcycles assumed responsibility for Laverda imports while Evesham Motorcycles later took over Enfield distribution.
Struggling within the US market by 1985, Slater Brothers Inc ceased operations. In 1986, the business was reorganized as Slater Laverda, under the leadership of Richard Slater and Mary Bufton, focusing primarily on supplying Laverda spare parts to dealers and customers. This enterprise continued until it closed upon their retirement in 2021.
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