Laverda - Odds and sods from the WWW

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Man, that looks so ... comfortable!! I trust he's just off to a track or race day!!

As for camping in Fritz's garden for 6 months - did the man teach him how to make them himself?! I trust they got along well!
 
If I remember correctly, Clem mentioned that his Egli vibrated a lot. Is that the general experience?
 
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I need to fill my SF frame with sand then because on 9 rides out of 10 I get pissed-off at some point with the vibration.
 
Not that I would assume in any way you wouldn't have considered this, but valve timing and carb-condition as well as their synchronization do a lot against vibrations. That said, the 750 SF engine I once had was completely overhauled by OCT and Piet took care of the right balancing. This was such a lovely and smooth engine, I must admit I wouldn't have sold it if I hadn't killed myself almost 3 times when riding out with it due to suspension and braking power... (to much on the rear, way to less on the front). I knew the way I want to ride such a bike has nothing to do with the way this bike is intended to be ridden, so I sold it.

on many 750's, if you twist throttle while they are on the center, the bike moves backward. have even seen one that turned in circles. Mine was just remaining on the same spot. Roger was quite impressed how smooth it ran when I was there for the first inspection... ;)
 
Thanks Lothar. Yes, all of those things are being considered and have been / will be attended to. Of course a 360° twin with pistons on the same axis (and no balance shaft) will vibrate. I'll start another thread so we can look at the subject in depth, rather then take up room on this 'general' thread. Vibration is the biggest Lav 750 disappointment for me.
 
Haggis said:
I need to fill my SF frame with sand then because on 9 rides out of 10 I get pissed-off at some point with the vibration.
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Please check whether your motor is really screwed at the rear side to the frame with four fine-thread screws and that these are tightened very firmly.
Also check whether the two fastenings at the top of the head are firmly tightened to the frame.

In my experience, in the past (on other people's bikes) the reasons for vibrations were:
- 35% wrong screws or too loose or already crack in the motor bracket.
Too thick a powder coating can also cause problems.
- 50% incorrect synchronization (carburetor, valve clearance or ignition)
-10% installation of different parts on both cylinders (piston pin, piston, carburetor slide
- 5% twisted or incorrectly balanced crankshaft.
Always use a good impact wrench, when tightening the primary chain sprocket or the starter freewheel !!!

In the forum here it was described several times how to easily check whether both cylinders are running synchronously.
With a properly treated 750 Laverda you have to have a clear picture in the rearview mirror beteen 3000 - 7500 rpm.

Thmas aus LAU
 
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Much has been written in this forum about this topic. I've ridden and worked on probably 20 or more SFs and virtually every one was different. Some were absolute shitboxes, but the owners had no history of prior abuse. Others (like my SF1) were really comfortable even at high speed in terms of vibes. Other owners who rode it were amazed, but it was a factory stock motor. There are definitely factors at play that cause it, but if people can afford to have an expert like Piet balance and check their cranks for true then it is money very well spent.

When I fitted a factory SFC crank the vibes changed - obviously a different balance factor to the std SF (and I doubt very much that every SF came with the same BF from the factory!). Still OK but definitely a tendency to shake more than it used to above 5000rpm.

I did my own conversion to 270 degrees in the early 90s on it to see if I could improve it. Being the first (unknowns to me, along with Phil Todd) to convert one I had no previous info on suitable BFs and went with 50% static. Pretty good, but more work has since been done, dynamically balanced via Red's guy, new Carillos, 60% BF. We shall see.
 
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Laverdalothar said:
I must admit I wouldn't have sold it if I hadn't killed myself almost 3 times when riding out with it due to suspension and braking power... (to much on the rear, way to less on the front). I knew the way I want to ride such a bike has nothing to do with the way this bike is intended to be ridden, so I sold it.
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Lothar, SFs are capable of having the wheels ridden off them (on the road or on the track) in absolute safety ... but, if you want to retain the original braking (drums front and rear!!!) forget it. Ditto with exhaust systems that liked to kiss mother earth. I quickly converted my SF1 to a 4LS and then twin Brembos up front. Rear brakes are take it or leave it AFIAC. Suspension was never an issue for me; set them up properly and maintain them - 35mm Cerianis were brilliant for their vintage, 38mm continued the high quality run. SFs have a rigid frame, a very low steering head (put one next to a triple and observe) and a pretty active but stable wheelbase. Weight is one thing you need to adapt to, but they weren't elephants by any stretch of the imagination.

Not sure exactly 'how' these bikes are meant to be ridden. I rode mine like I stole it. SFQ will be an interesting comparo.
 
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