Laverda SF
Hero member
SF3 may not have had the Raw Brute of the SFO but she was refined - Beautiful ride ;o)
Not as bad as an SFC1000 as an end to a glorious line of triples now thats a serious botox job gone wrong.I always thought of the SF3 as a rather sad end to a glorious line of bikes. A bit like a beautiful woman, or man, who cannot accept ageing and plasters her/himself in makeup.
Paul
I wonder what, if Laverda was still in business, would be building now. Many motorcycle manufacturers have a range of ‘retro’ bikes based on earlier models. I suspect it would more likely be a ‘modern’ triple rather than a twin. Discuss!Paul at his best
At the time of it's release most road bikes on the market were getting cast wheels, triple discs, and similar tail end.
I rode lots of them as a service mechanic and can't really find the same as Clem says, I found them just like an SF2 to ride, nothing wrong with that for me, as my ownership and racing attests. Laverda could have done like Guzzi and plugged on with them but the focus was on the triples, and the 500 that I guess they hoped would take off big.
New Beetle and Mini, or Kawasaki W800 are perfect examples. Let the dead lie and leave commercial reasons to the sales department.I wonder what, if Laverda was still in business, would be building now. Many motorcycle manufacturers have a range of ‘retro’ bikes based on earlier models. I suspect it would more likely be a ‘modern’ triple rather than a twin. Discuss!
Guzzi still make motorcycles, and sell them.Paul at his best
At the time of it's release most road bikes on the market were getting cast wheels, triple discs, and similar tail end.
I rode lots of them as a service mechanic and can't really find the same as Clem says, I found them just like an SF2 to ride, nothing wrong with that for me, as my ownership and racing attests. Laverda could have done like Guzzi and plugged on with them but the focus was on the triples, and the 500 that I guess they hoped would take off big.
Guzzi still make motorcycles, and sell them.
Paul
Don't worry, the vast majority of under 60s aren't aware of that.Sadly, after the scooter company bought Guzzi, they were never the same.

That's a proper bike!This bike is in the Lavertory at the moment - much loved by the owner, prefers riding to cleaning! Needs valve shimming and possibly new cam chain, plus some electrics. Not sure how I'll break this to the owner but today I removed some of the priceless patina from the engine since I will be taking the top off.
Another Canterbury bike but not quite like Paul's (diminishing) collection!
SF1 has a 5/1 cam; SF2 a 7/1. Don't know if that would make a big difference.most people when being allowed a ride on someone else's bike do not "run it hard" and understandably so, my own SF3 would take off and really rev, remembering that its a 750 four stroke twin, when getting higher than (maybe) 7,000rpm, my own SF1 would not do that, and would drop off at not much more, initially I thought the SF3 was under geared a tiny bit, but no it was 19/40, then the opportunity arose to ride another SF3, and I asked, "can I red line it" and was grated permission, the same applied, and the last was not very long ago at all, and yes it revved out, I was, and still am convinced of a difference, over SF1 and 2
sadly the nearest bike shop to me now don't import or sell bikes, only helmets, whenever a Laverda came onto their stock, I was usually told and helped a bit with the selling of same, all sorts, some 125's, 200's odd Chotts/2TR's and 750 twins but never a triple.
CLEM
Thats the same with so many things, you see the kids racing for National teams in class dinghies going and choosing their one design masts, all made the same way in the same factory, but none the same, must be that human touchThere was a lot of difference between individual bikes that was immediately noticeable even just riding them up to the registration place. Some felt tight and awkward, others felt bloody fantastic straight out of the box and just wanted to go. That was even more the case with BMW that we were also agents for, than with Laverda,. It made you think it would be great if you could test ride a bunch of new bikes before choosing the one to buy. They were all assembled from the parts that were next in line, and sometimes the tolerances probably just hit jackpot.
Makes a huge difference. 7/1 cam is most definitely the sweetest all-rounder, it lacks a bit at the top end, but the additional punch lower down more than makes up for it. Stock fitment to SF2 and 3.SF1 has a 5/1 cam; SF2 a 7/1. Don't know if that would make a big difference.
Paul
I have one on my bike. It sounds great And I had no issues with the IOM authorities... mounted a new exhaust to my 100 Sport Lusso. I hope the authority will be happy with it.
Ciao, Gert