Laverda

Moto Laverda was an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in 1949 went late 1980s into insolvency. 1993 International Moto Laverda SpA re-established, Laverda was taken over by Piaggio Group in 2004 and has since existent only as a brand.

History

Francesco Laverda, the grandson of the agricultural machinery manufacturer Pietro Laverda, founded in 1949 in the Moto Laverda SpA Breganze and started the production of vehicles from about 1950 with the motorcycle Laverda 75th 1955 the Laverda 100 was added. These small motorcycles with four-stroke engines were simple and cheap machines in the postwar period, the motorization of the population in Italy, among many other manufacturers made ​​it possible.

Massimo Laverda ( † 26 October 2005), son of the founder, in 1968 released the Laverda 650 whose engine capacity was increased a little later to 750 cc. There were two-cylinder machines whose distinctive feature of the open bottom frame and the supporting engine was. The type designations were 750S, 750GT, 750SFC, 750SF, 750SF2, 750SF3 and 750GTL; 1977 ended the production of the 750 models.

Laverda 1000/1200

1970 saw the development of a machine with three-cylinder engine and 1000 cc capacity. The first prototypes were created by growing a further cylinder to the two cylinder engine; the frame was, in contrast to 750, a bottom closed double cradle frame. In series of three-cylinder engine went ( with 180 ° firing interval of the mean piston, the outer run in parallel ) in a modernized form with two overhead camshafts ( DOHC) and tappets. The first fifty machines (1973 ) had spoke wheels with drum brakes, a three-in -one exhaust system and the tank was made ​​of plastic; from the start of series production in late 1973, the tank made ​​of sheet metal and exhaust system was a three -in- Two version, model name was Laverda 1000th

The end of 1974 ( model year 1975) the Laverda 1000 3C out ( efficiency according to vehicle registration: 78 DIN hp at 7,750 min -1; specified in the manual: 80 hp at 7,250 min -1). The engine with 980 cc displacement has a five-speed gearbox, dual disc brakes (diameter 280 mm) in front and a rear drum brake ( Ø 230 mm). In a test conducted in April 1975 of the magazine "The bike " ( Issue 8/ 75), a speed of 209.4 km / h (solo long lying) and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h resulted in 4.7 s The machine was offered in early 1975 in Germany for DM 9,000 including 11% VAT, which is about 16,900 euros today.

From the end of 1976, there were 1000 3CL, now with cast aluminum rims, a rear brake disc ( Ø 280 mm) and a " Heckbürzel "; 1977 1200 T was set aside; Unlike the 1000s were larger cylinder bore and oblique Asked rear shock absorbers. The Jota 1200 and TS were in the equipment (eg trim, fittings, side panels, slightly higher power) changed 1000s or 1200s. The offered from 1983 120 ° - 1000 RGS models had a completely different double tube frame with elastically suspended motors; 1000 SFC is a slightly modified " RGS " and in 1987 was the last in Breganze produced motorcycle.

Other models (1977-2002)

The 1977-1984 built 500 ( for the Italian market and the same design as the 350 ) were significantly less prominent than the 750 and 1000/1200er models and found only few buyers; their DOHC twin-cylinder engines were independent structures in light chassis; In addition to the street machine a series Formula 500 was produced as a race machine for young riders. With an all-terrain suspension and 600 cc Enduro Atlas 600, which, however, also not a sales success was developed.

In the 1970s and 1980s Laverda also built light machine with two-stroke engines, including road motorcycles with 125 cc and 250 cc. 125cc street bikes, like the NAVARRO with 125 cc from 1993, but were mostly equipped with their own, with Zündapp older engines; these two-stroke models were sold almost exclusively to the Italian market.

A blatant sales and financial crisis ensued. She was primarily due to a non- market-oriented product diversification. After bankruptcy and stopping production in the late 1980s the name Laverda was sold and the brand came in the middle of the 1990s back with one, developed from the old 500cc engine two-cylinder engine ( 668 cc ) was first air-cooled; these last built under the name Laverda motorcycles called after the location of the assembly plant " Zane " - models.

The type designations were from 1993-1997, the 650, 650 Sport, 668 Sport 668 Ghost 668 Ghost and Legend; the Ghost models were there with extruded aluminum or steel tube frame.

The engine produced 70 hp (51.5 kW) at 8,000 min-1 and a torque of 60 Nm at 6,500 min -1.

From 1997, de engine capacity was increased to 750 cc and converted to water cooling.

The type designations were 750 S, 750 S Carenata in Italy, 750 Strike, 750 Ghost Strike, Ghost Strike 750, 750 Diamante with tubular frame, 750 S Formula, 750 Supersport and 750 t 8

The first engine version of the 750 S and 750 S Formula produced from 1998 92 hp ( 67.6 kW) at 9,000 min-1 and a torque of 75 Nm at 6,500 min -1.

The S 750 for Italy, 747 cc and half fairing, only produced 82 hp (60 kW) at 9,000 min -1 and had a torque of 74 Nm at 7,000 min -1.

The other models from 1998 to 2000 contributed 85 hp (62.5 kW) at 9,200 min -1 and had a torque of 75 Nm at 7,200 min -1.

As of 2000, there were the models 750 S Formula with 95 hp, the 750 Super Sport, 750 Strike, Strike 750 Black, each with 92 hp and the " 750 Sport " with 82 hp at 8,250 rpm -1. Last had only a torque of 74 Nm at 7,000 min -1.

2002 production according to various model tests has been set, the machines were immature and are still considered very unreliable and prone to failure.

From 2004, part of the Laverda brand, as well as Moto Guzzi, Aprilia for the Group, which was acquired by Piaggio in 2006.

Using the name " Laverda " we developed a model based on the Aprilia Mille 1000 V2, with a special frame and mounting hardware. A prototype has been realized. At the Bologna Motor Show in 2002 presented the Laverda 1000 SFC called development. The project has been discontinued.

Racing

Laverda also won some race wins ( route (country ) - Placement - driver):

1971 ( all at 750 SFC):

  • Zeltweg (A) - 1st place - Brettoni
  • Zeltweg (A) - 2nd place - Cretti
  • Barcelona ( E) - 1st place - Brettoni / Angiolini
  • Vallelunga (I) - 1st place - Bertorello / Loigo
  • Bol d' Or ( F) - 2nd place - Brettoni / Cretti
  • Modena ( I) - Course 1 - Angiolini
  • Modena ( I) - 2nd place - Brettoni

1972 ( all at 750 SFC):

  • Monza (I) - 1st place - Gallina / Pescucci
  • Vallelunga (I) - 1st place - Gallina / Pescucci
  • Barcelona ( E) - 2nd place - Gallina / Schreyer
  • Zolder (B ) - 3rd place - Cash / Wittich
  • Modena ( I) - 1st place - Gallina / Pescucci
  • Modena ( I) - 2nd place - Bertorello / Loigi
  • Modena ( I) - 4th place - Cereghini / Falletta

1973 ( all at 750 SFC):

  • Imola / 1 ( I) - 3rd place - Brettoni / Loigo
  • Imola / 2 ( I) - 2nd place - Gallina / Nicola
  • Zandvoort ( NL) - No. 1 - Van der Wal / Strijbos

1974 ( all at 1000 3C):

  • Barcelona ( E) - 6th place - Lucchinelli / Fougeray
  • Mugello (I) - 3rd place - Brettoni / Cereghini
  • Spa ( B) - 2nd place - Gallina / Cereghini
  • Spa ( B) - 3rd place - Lucchinelli / Fougeray
Laverda (harvesters) Motorcycle frame
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