Steve G.
Hero member
We’re talking an ‘84 900 Ninja, liquid cooled??? Those things could move quickly! They dominated all air cooled 1100 superbikes of their day.
Best bike for everyday road riding 1969-1984 ;o)
- Thread starter Laverda SF
- Start date
Perry
Hero member
- Location
- West Dorset UK
I reckon Hamish it was a question of who had more bottle, a contest you obviously won hands down. A lot of these episodes are determined by the the relative skill and bravery of the rider rather than the performance of the bikes.
Laverda SF
Hero member
Perry I agree you do have to practice all the time to become confident not only in yourself but also in the machine to achieve that fearless state.
In the early 80's I was up for a tuneup for my 70 Breganzie 750SF - Open Dellorto 30 VHB's, Slatter Bros 2 into 1 pipes and Richer Main Jets.
I came across 3 Brand New Yamaha 1100 LTD (Employee's of the Yamaha Dealership dressed in exquisite leathers) at the Start Line of the 1/4 mile on the Jack Pine stretch. Typical 2 lane Asphalt to a mine site in Northern Ontario.
I pulled up to the start line comprising of 3 brand new Yamaha's and one old 70 Breganzie dressed in cut off Jeans, Knee Pads and an old open face Bell helmet with a screw driver in my back pocket. This asphalt road to nowhere was my back yard play ground and Very Famous for Racing ;o)
On the count we we off, granted them Yamaha's accelerated fast but not that fast where I could not stay on the rear fender of the trailing Yamaha rider. I passed 2 Yamaha's in the 1st corner, one on the inside and the other on the outside then I passed the 3rd Yamaha in the 2nd corner and lost them. Pulled over and waited pretending to adjust my carbs with the screw driver - Have to say my Breganzie was peculating 110 octane Red-X fuel ;o)
In the early 80's I was up for a tuneup for my 70 Breganzie 750SF - Open Dellorto 30 VHB's, Slatter Bros 2 into 1 pipes and Richer Main Jets.
I came across 3 Brand New Yamaha 1100 LTD (Employee's of the Yamaha Dealership dressed in exquisite leathers) at the Start Line of the 1/4 mile on the Jack Pine stretch. Typical 2 lane Asphalt to a mine site in Northern Ontario.
I pulled up to the start line comprising of 3 brand new Yamaha's and one old 70 Breganzie dressed in cut off Jeans, Knee Pads and an old open face Bell helmet with a screw driver in my back pocket. This asphalt road to nowhere was my back yard play ground and Very Famous for Racing ;o)
On the count we we off, granted them Yamaha's accelerated fast but not that fast where I could not stay on the rear fender of the trailing Yamaha rider. I passed 2 Yamaha's in the 1st corner, one on the inside and the other on the outside then I passed the 3rd Yamaha in the 2nd corner and lost them. Pulled over and waited pretending to adjust my carbs with the screw driver - Have to say my Breganzie was peculating 110 octane Red-X fuel ;o)
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Laverda SF
Hero member
I've weeded myself through over 100 Hell's Angels Harley riders touring the North Shore who let me pass with a thumbs up signal - Could never do that on a Jap bike without a chain being thrown at you. Their ride in the Fields of Valhalla was a 250 Triumph Trophy.
Which I also owned:
Always wanted to mount a 550 in that bike - Terrible suspension and brakes - Great handling and torque though - Same frame as the sweet riding 69 650 Bonny ;o) Not that I did not have KZ175 or a CanAm Benelli for the bush - Had to give up bush riding as I was TOO CARELESS and needed the regiment of Cafe Riding - It was safer for me ;o)
The mopeds from 69 to 84 bikes are not even close to the performance or refinement of modern bikes but where relatively affordable and fast enough to keep your blood boiling.
Can't find a pic of my Suzuki 500 Titan 500 Cafe right now - Although for a 2 Stroke she was a stinky Sweet Heart for winding the Asphalt corners and hills of the Cambrian Shield.
Which I also owned:
Always wanted to mount a 550 in that bike - Terrible suspension and brakes - Great handling and torque though - Same frame as the sweet riding 69 650 Bonny ;o) Not that I did not have KZ175 or a CanAm Benelli for the bush - Had to give up bush riding as I was TOO CARELESS and needed the regiment of Cafe Riding - It was safer for me ;o)
The mopeds from 69 to 84 bikes are not even close to the performance or refinement of modern bikes but where relatively affordable and fast enough to keep your blood boiling.
Can't find a pic of my Suzuki 500 Titan 500 Cafe right now - Although for a 2 Stroke she was a stinky Sweet Heart for winding the Asphalt corners and hills of the Cambrian Shield.
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chrisk
Hero member
- Location
- Brisbane, Australia
I saw my Jota past the speedos 240kph mark.
Maybe it was out, but it was moving pretty quickly, and had nobody else with me to confirm it.
piranha-bro2
Hero member
- Location
- Melbourne
An accurate GPS speedo can be a sobering experience ...
Laverda SF
Hero member
Approaching a corner at over 120mph is Scary !
Fastest I've ridden 2 wheels was a mid 80's Suzuki GXR 1100 Kantana at just over 140mph - TOO EASY and TOO FAST for me. Say that's after 84 ?
Sold her at the end of that summer and enjoyed my 750SF Breganzie when well tuned tended to peek out around 115 /120+ mph down any straight.
Did 170mph in a supped up 1972 Dodge Challenger 340 Mag Rally with 2:72 gears @ 7200/7400 rpm.
Racing a RCMP 427 Chevy Interceptor from Old Man River to Calgary early one morning descending from the Rockies with the sun in our face. He bogged and slowed to 122 mph going up the hill so I shifted into 2nd and floored it (3 Spd 727 Auto - Really an unforgiving tyranny, Blew 3 of them - Wonder why ;o) By the time the RCMP Interceptor topped the Old Man River Hill I was parked in Calgary - Simply disappeared off the prairie. Seemed he could not do much more then 130 mph - LOL
Yes I shifted into 2nd at 122mph then shifted into 3rd at 140 mph with that 727 Auto tyranny considering I had 2:72 gears and a 7400rpm V8 engine - 3rd gear pegged my 150 mph speedo and she kept going Faster - Nothing like threading the center line in a 5 point harness at over 150 mph thinking are my tires going to explode I was running BF Goodrich Radial T/A's on 15" x 10" Dodge Ralley Rims - Hope they hold on ;o)
Loved Perilli Phantoms on my 70 Breganzie 750SF at the time.
Neither the engine or the transmission survived after 75,000 miles but I did manage to cross Canada 5 times within 2 years with that Dodge as her tinfoil body simply rotted away after 2 years. Like I was 24 years old 5'11", 138lbs, Ontario Salem Ski Champ, Golfed 3 under for 9, and a Photographer for Chromalloy with Free Air Tickets to anywhere in North America making approx $40,000 in 72 - I had it made - Well Life just goes on, you get Older and Older and you end up who you are Now ;o)
As far as Cars go for that period you can not beat the 140 and 240 series Volvo - The Toyota Crown was a fantastic automobile. Wish they still made cars like that today.
Made a few mistakes in my life and I don't regret them because if it were not for mistakes you haven't lived.
FUCK the Chrysler 340 had issues with Oil Distribution (Primarily with #6 rod journal) and a corked head where as the Chevy 327 was a PERFECT small iron block 8000 rpm V8 engine for it's time - Easy 425 Hp with some tweaking and she would survive.
Fastest I've ridden 2 wheels was a mid 80's Suzuki GXR 1100 Kantana at just over 140mph - TOO EASY and TOO FAST for me. Say that's after 84 ?
Sold her at the end of that summer and enjoyed my 750SF Breganzie when well tuned tended to peek out around 115 /120+ mph down any straight.
Did 170mph in a supped up 1972 Dodge Challenger 340 Mag Rally with 2:72 gears @ 7200/7400 rpm.
Racing a RCMP 427 Chevy Interceptor from Old Man River to Calgary early one morning descending from the Rockies with the sun in our face. He bogged and slowed to 122 mph going up the hill so I shifted into 2nd and floored it (3 Spd 727 Auto - Really an unforgiving tyranny, Blew 3 of them - Wonder why ;o) By the time the RCMP Interceptor topped the Old Man River Hill I was parked in Calgary - Simply disappeared off the prairie. Seemed he could not do much more then 130 mph - LOL
Yes I shifted into 2nd at 122mph then shifted into 3rd at 140 mph with that 727 Auto tyranny considering I had 2:72 gears and a 7400rpm V8 engine - 3rd gear pegged my 150 mph speedo and she kept going Faster - Nothing like threading the center line in a 5 point harness at over 150 mph thinking are my tires going to explode I was running BF Goodrich Radial T/A's on 15" x 10" Dodge Ralley Rims - Hope they hold on ;o)
Loved Perilli Phantoms on my 70 Breganzie 750SF at the time.
Neither the engine or the transmission survived after 75,000 miles but I did manage to cross Canada 5 times within 2 years with that Dodge as her tinfoil body simply rotted away after 2 years. Like I was 24 years old 5'11", 138lbs, Ontario Salem Ski Champ, Golfed 3 under for 9, and a Photographer for Chromalloy with Free Air Tickets to anywhere in North America making approx $40,000 in 72 - I had it made - Well Life just goes on, you get Older and Older and you end up who you are Now ;o)
As far as Cars go for that period you can not beat the 140 and 240 series Volvo - The Toyota Crown was a fantastic automobile. Wish they still made cars like that today.
Made a few mistakes in my life and I don't regret them because if it were not for mistakes you haven't lived.
FUCK the Chrysler 340 had issues with Oil Distribution (Primarily with #6 rod journal) and a corked head where as the Chevy 327 was a PERFECT small iron block 8000 rpm V8 engine for it's time - Easy 425 Hp with some tweaking and she would survive.
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chrisk
Hero member
- Location
- Brisbane, Australia
Laverda SF
Hero member
There was no GPS between 69 and 84 - It was a seat of your ass experience.
I use my phone on the bars as a GPS, one of the rides we do is pretty remote and allows some up there speeds. My speed gets more inaccurate the faster I go and I get to look at both Speedo and GPS less and less the faster I go. Remote roads don't get much maintenance either, rounding fast sweepers requires looking for road surface colour changes, especially after all the rain we have had recently. That same roadside has some very big rocks to land on if you get it wrong.
Exmoor beast
Hero member
- Location
- Minehead,Somerset, ENGLAND OF COURSE
chrisk
Hero member
- Location
- Brisbane, Australia
Fuck…. I wish Lil was on the back to verify the claim.
I knew, I fucken knew, if I wrote it there’d be nay sayers.
That’s it, Sock and I are heading for The Huntsman….. 155mph will seem slow after a few beers.
Laverda SF
Hero member
My Back Yard Play Ground was a 20 mile Illegal Race Course with PERFECT 2 Lane ASPHALT to an Iron Ore Mine that wondered through the Cambrian Shield with a 1/4 mile straight. Contenders came from Winnipeg, Montreal and the Northern States - 2000 People would gather there on Hot Summer Week Ends and camp in Gravel Pits that aligned the 1/4 mile to see the Spectacle of FAST Machines Racing 2 lanes through the 60's into the early 70's. 2 lives were lost before the RCMP permanently shut it down in 72: BUT, One could always find a linger or 2 or more on any given week end years after. It was Famously known as the "Jack Pine".
It was on that track where I learned to ride FAST Cafe before I was 22 with a slightly modified 1970 Breganzie 750SF - My Newfie friend had 71 Ducati 750S - We practiced together on that track - My Breganzie always beat him but just barely probably because I was 5'11" @ 138 lbs and he was 6'1" at 160 lbs. Other then a few Guzzi's, he and I were the only ones to campaign Italian Cafe Bikes in Northern Ontario. Man the reverberating echo of them two Hi-Revving Italian Twins racing the Shield was Wonderful ;o)
Today the mine has long sense closed and the asphalt is in terrible condition - Driving over her now only brings back fond memories ;o(
Picture watching 2 Honda CBX 6 Cly's facing off or Hemi Roadrunner's Vs 454 Chevelle's, 340 Duster's Vs Mustang's racing the "Jack Pine" even English Ford Lotus Cortina's - I owned one, beat the crap outta her and she took it ;o)
Gotta love the sweet handling of the 69 to 73 Bonney's and Norton's for there low end torque and acceleration up to 80 mph - did not do much above 112 mph - Vibrated and not very dependable for distance - Plus them horrendous Amal Carbs and Kick-Starters which tended to leave you stranded before she kicked in with a sore ankle ;o)
It was on that track where I learned to ride FAST Cafe before I was 22 with a slightly modified 1970 Breganzie 750SF - My Newfie friend had 71 Ducati 750S - We practiced together on that track - My Breganzie always beat him but just barely probably because I was 5'11" @ 138 lbs and he was 6'1" at 160 lbs. Other then a few Guzzi's, he and I were the only ones to campaign Italian Cafe Bikes in Northern Ontario. Man the reverberating echo of them two Hi-Revving Italian Twins racing the Shield was Wonderful ;o)
Today the mine has long sense closed and the asphalt is in terrible condition - Driving over her now only brings back fond memories ;o(
Picture watching 2 Honda CBX 6 Cly's facing off or Hemi Roadrunner's Vs 454 Chevelle's, 340 Duster's Vs Mustang's racing the "Jack Pine" even English Ford Lotus Cortina's - I owned one, beat the crap outta her and she took it ;o)
Gotta love the sweet handling of the 69 to 73 Bonney's and Norton's for there low end torque and acceleration up to 80 mph - did not do much above 112 mph - Vibrated and not very dependable for distance - Plus them horrendous Amal Carbs and Kick-Starters which tended to leave you stranded before she kicked in with a sore ankle ;o)
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Laverda SF
Hero member
You can NOT beat one of these things in a down pour - In other words I'm Hydro-Plaining my Breganzie.
My Buddies 82 1300 Harley Twin FXWG - LOTS of Harley's in Ontario but tend to weed out the further you get into the Cambrian Shield.
Anyone care to comment about the Yamaha XS650 - It was rather popular during the 70's - For what reason I do NOT know - Tested one and would sooner take a Norton - Other then it vibrated like hell and the front end was a rattle trap but it was much cheaper then a Norton. Perhaps why they were used for Dirt Tracking in the States ;o)
My Buddies 82 1300 Harley Twin FXWG - LOTS of Harley's in Ontario but tend to weed out the further you get into the Cambrian Shield.
Anyone care to comment about the Yamaha XS650 - It was rather popular during the 70's - For what reason I do NOT know - Tested one and would sooner take a Norton - Other then it vibrated like hell and the front end was a rattle trap but it was much cheaper then a Norton. Perhaps why they were used for Dirt Tracking in the States ;o)
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rocketonarail
Hero member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
Now it`s been re-named best bike for everyday road riding ........... If everyday riding includes using the same bike to travel to work five days a week , all year round , in all weathers , as well as getting out and about at the weekends ....... then every bike I`ve ever owned has been used for that ...... they all did the job .... it`s more difficult to choose which was the best ( or not ) .........
As this is a Laverda forum , then the Mirage coped very well indeed , on a 40 mile a day commute which included a little bit of motorway work ....... It was nice to ride a bike which was a little bit " special " ........... ( " Did you see that Laverda job parked outside ? " was one comment I overheard in the works canteen ) ..... but it wasn`t always the best everyday bike ..... especially when you had just slid off the bike on black ice on a dark morning at 6.30 am ....... at that point of time the Laverda was definitely not the best every day bike .......
At the other end of the scale , a Yamaha TZR125 was good for 85 mph motorway work , ( once you adjusted the powervalve to the midway point ) , and was light enough to pick up if you fell off it ......... and still good enough for 900 miles in 36 hours ( competing in a couple of National Rallys ) ........ so that might count as a good every day bike .......... but the best ??
...... The definition of a good every day bike will often depend where you live and where you ride ...... the only thing is , if you don`t ride every day , then you`re hardly in a position to judge which is the best every day bike , are you ? .....
As this is a Laverda forum , then the Mirage coped very well indeed , on a 40 mile a day commute which included a little bit of motorway work ....... It was nice to ride a bike which was a little bit " special " ........... ( " Did you see that Laverda job parked outside ? " was one comment I overheard in the works canteen ) ..... but it wasn`t always the best everyday bike ..... especially when you had just slid off the bike on black ice on a dark morning at 6.30 am ....... at that point of time the Laverda was definitely not the best every day bike .......
At the other end of the scale , a Yamaha TZR125 was good for 85 mph motorway work , ( once you adjusted the powervalve to the midway point ) , and was light enough to pick up if you fell off it ......... and still good enough for 900 miles in 36 hours ( competing in a couple of National Rallys ) ........ so that might count as a good every day bike .......... but the best ??
...... The definition of a good every day bike will often depend where you live and where you ride ...... the only thing is , if you don`t ride every day , then you`re hardly in a position to judge which is the best every day bike , are you ? .....
Laverda SF
Hero member
rocketonarail: Shaft drive 72 BMW 750S 2 Cyl Boxer - Smooth and probably the best 2 up mopeds ever designed and do 115 mph - Expensive ($2,100 CDN back in 71/72) - I know because a friend bought one when I was negotiating for my 70 Breganzie 750 SF ;o)
Breganzie 3 Cyl's were not available then ;o(
Breganzie 3 Cyl's were not available then ;o(
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Exmoor beast
Hero member
- Location
- Minehead,Somerset, ENGLAND OF COURSE
Agreed- take each bike for what it is. I’ve had great fun on a Puch maxi , Honda H100 that would rev so hard the rev counter needle would go past the hi beam warning light! Harley XLX 1000 everyday to work, BMW R80 with double adult chair .
For me K75 or Kawasaki GT750 - both long term loan bikes, or my beloved Guzz-work horses but could do a bit of everything and never once did I think they were not going to start- could be why the dispatch riders chose them. Shaft drive should really be compulsory by now.
rocketonarail
Hero member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
...... Or one of those WW2 BMW outfits , with the machine gun mounted on the front of the sidecar ....... that would make them think twice about pulling out of a side road in front of you ........... reverse gear as well , can`t fall over on ice ......... but not much good for filtering .......
Still , four out of five isn`t bad for an every day bike ........
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Laverda SF
Hero member
Always dreamed of owning a Laverda 1200 TS Mirage - Unfortunately IMPOSSIBLE to find in Canada ;o(
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Laverda SF
Hero member
Is this a Jota or a Mirage !
https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/roadtests/laverda_1200_jota_78_cycle.html
Over 700 lbs - Really a heavy Moped for my 5'11" 138 lb body to be throwing around ?
Seems I was always restricted to a 750cc Sport ride because of my weight.
Never stopped me from racing Bigger Rider's on Bigger Bikes ;o)
https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/roadtests/laverda_1200_jota_78_cycle.html
Over 700 lbs - Really a heavy Moped for my 5'11" 138 lb body to be throwing around ?
Seems I was always restricted to a 750cc Sport ride because of my weight.
Never stopped me from racing Bigger Rider's on Bigger Bikes ;o)
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