Exmoor beast
Hero member
- Location
- Minehead,Somerset, ENGLAND OF COURSE
3 Cross very first Zane 650
- Thread starter Exmoor beast
- Start date
Sir Sidney Ruffdiamond
Hero member
- Location
- Cotwolds
That’s very pretty in silver !
Laverdalothar
Hero member
- Location
- Germany
Interesting, thought the first ever built one hat the small "letter box" headlight (see picture) and only came in red, yellow, green and blue. But maybe the first that 3X imported, later, when other colors were available? Does it have that small headlight? Maybe it was re-painted
Attachments
The very first broschures that became available, containing renderings instead of photos, depicted the bike in silver, next to red, blue and green.
That same mechanic rode to the ILOC meet at Baskerville, "hot off the press" so to say where he recieved loads of "oohs" and "aahs"! He crashed directly in front of me on the afternoon ride-out. The RH clip-on failed at the clamp, where they all eventually did, and he went down in a downhill right hander because he simply couldn't turn in due to the handlebar being jammed in the fairing.
It was silver all right, don't remember the headlight but it should be the early narrow version.
piet
Andy J
Hero member
- Location
- Isle of Man
If I recall correctly that bike was also in the photos used by MCN etc when the bike was launched.
rocketonarail
Hero member
- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
I remember seeing a pic of Ross Haygarth trying out a silver looking ( the pic was b/w ) 650 for size ..... presumably this same one ............... and I think it had the letter box headlamp ........
I seem to recall the opinion was that these early 650`s with the small headlight , and kevlar fairings I think ? ...... were supposed to built to a standard a cut above those that followed ( large headlight ) ........ although reading Piet`s story about the clip on , maybe it`s all relative ........
Always thought those early Zane 650`s were one of the best looking bikes to wear the Laverda name on the tank .... or in this case , fairing ..........
Small and chunky , like a four stroke RGV .............
I seem to recall the opinion was that these early 650`s with the small headlight , and kevlar fairings I think ? ...... were supposed to built to a standard a cut above those that followed ( large headlight ) ........ although reading Piet`s story about the clip on , maybe it`s all relative ........
Always thought those early Zane 650`s were one of the best looking bikes to wear the Laverda name on the tank .... or in this case , fairing ..........
Small and chunky , like a four stroke RGV .............
Last edited:
Sir Sidney Ruffdiamond
Hero member
- Location
- Cotwolds
But then the Formula arrived 
Moto Witt recieved a red pre-production example for evaluation. It was definitely a hand-built bike, the plastics were fragile and ill-fitting. The entire staff took turns at riding as much as we could and was returned 2 weeks later with two DIN A4 sheets listing defects, complaints and suggestions. The plastic bits were falling apart, the engine leaked oil from just about everywhere and made concerning, rumbling noises.
I rode that bike for a weekend putting over 400km of B-roads into one day while also letting friends and relatives have a spin on it. Goal was to get as many opinions as possible... not many were positive.
The black "Kevlar" model came later as a special edition. While the production bikes by then had injection-moulded plastics, the kevlar stuff looked very hand-lain.
piet
rocketonarail
Hero member
- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
I can almost hear those 3,900 " guests " scribbling away making notes !
Oh well , never mind ........
.............
Laverdalothar
Hero member
- Location
- Germany
I was on the IFMA when they booked the booth, but never showed up. Still the bikes were on display and if I remember correctly, no silver one was there but blue, yellow, red and green. That said, that is 34 years ago and my memory might let me down
Laverdalothar
Hero member
- Location
- Germany
So - true... what makes it even more hurt is that in 4 years, the very last of them are declared "Oldtimers" over here (2030 => 30 years)
Mastroianni
Junior member
- Location
- TOULOUSE FRANCE
Even if its mechanics aren't state-of-the-art, its styling has really stood the test of time—as has the 750's.
I’m reposting the link to that Laverda I spotted in Toulouse: it has real presence, and as the Terminator would say: "Old, but not obsolete."
And nobody wants to cross the Terminator.
https://laverdaforum-com.translate....age-262?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=fr&_x_tr_hl=fr
Advertising
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353419907983?_skw=laverda+650+book&itmmeta=01KYZEPPB7CAHB9ZC5C55YEQ14&hash=item524977d38f:g:XzEAAOSw~kRgTlXW&itmprp=enc:AQALAAAA8GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xBQIGsAdcSDQO6/E8xCLXCMACtUsf78pVcr5QJTA3fd97YRzB2C4AhN+2ZwErjmq5s66h6td0MnU7GCWjwNFrxMztdpr+VS09Cfa3thMBFZcJXNrFwlxgYc3d9WjPM7z0mo0uDN3lTwBQS6Y5aHXIedhpMG+SDk+6rpYFEC7/o3500fEyu8Vcr8ywDLJ39P760kHCltzfPB7Ulfvv8TmPBs/wsC+d0K0JQAvSvEe5qmO6WXS1jIft64vJts9kmw3+oShim6Q/PgVCXXucxLmgYmZ+ePrF2VuLs9kxqscqwfAQ==|tkp:Bk9SR-rl2u73Zw
I’m reposting the link to that Laverda I spotted in Toulouse: it has real presence, and as the Terminator would say: "Old, but not obsolete."
And nobody wants to cross the Terminator.
https://laverdaforum-com.translate....age-262?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=fr&_x_tr_hl=fr
Advertising
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353419907983?_skw=laverda+650+book&itmmeta=01KYZEPPB7CAHB9ZC5C55YEQ14&hash=item524977d38f:g:XzEAAOSw~kRgTlXW&itmprp=enc:AQALAAAA8GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xBQIGsAdcSDQO6/E8xCLXCMACtUsf78pVcr5QJTA3fd97YRzB2C4AhN+2ZwErjmq5s66h6td0MnU7GCWjwNFrxMztdpr+VS09Cfa3thMBFZcJXNrFwlxgYc3d9WjPM7z0mo0uDN3lTwBQS6Y5aHXIedhpMG+SDk+6rpYFEC7/o3500fEyu8Vcr8ywDLJ39P760kHCltzfPB7Ulfvv8TmPBs/wsC+d0K0JQAvSvEe5qmO6WXS1jIft64vJts9kmw3+oShim6Q/PgVCXXucxLmgYmZ+ePrF2VuLs9kxqscqwfAQ==|tkp:Bk9SR-rl2u73Zw
Last edited:
MarnixSFC
Hero member
Slight correction, the Kevlar ones were the production 650 I.E. of 1994-1995, up to an uncertain point. The last one we received (would have to lookup when) was non kevlar.
The black Formulas had some rather crude carbon fibre bits.
Marnix
MarnixSFC
Hero member
When they didn’t show up at the IFMA, the whole stand was there ready for the show but no bikes and no people to be seen.
Marnix
Converted into a makeshift "rest area"... boundless disappointment.
Especially so as the year before I had an extensive informal chat with the then CEO (whos' name eludes me, pre-Tognon. He had recognised me as being on the Moto Witt staff and asked a lot of questions!) with the future looking very promising.I remember the Kevlar version carrying numbered plaques, suggesting a "limited edition", marketed by Roland März. He struggled to set up a dealer network in Germany until Stein-Dinse took over for a while. They too failed.
piet
Laverdalothar
Hero member
- Location
- Germany
were there just pics of the bikes? Think to remember to be standing in front of the booth, no-one there though... Need to dig out old brouchers... Maybe I mix it up with another show where they actually were presenting bikes... `??? Not sure, old memories do let me down some time...
Laverda was listed in the exhibition catalogue along with a designated booth.
But the booth was completey devoid of any bikes, not a hint of Laverda, just a couple of benches.
piet
Andy J
Hero member
- Location
- Isle of Man
As I thought...