750 Drummer on eBay

beauchemin said:
Why on earth would someone put a steering damper on a Laverda twin?

I'm assuming they never came from the factory with a steering damper.
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Back in the days when a sidecar was fitted to all manner of bikes, an effective steering damper was considered essential. The damper was stock fitment on all GT and S models.

I've retro-fitted one to my GTL, just for fun actually. I like the look of that big, shiny knob! ;)

piet
 
And a leftover from another epoch. My first "old" bike, back in the 80s, was a Ducati single. Does a Ducati single need a steering damper?
When I learnt to ride a motorcycle in view of passing my test, my instructor was an ex motorcycle policeman who recommended avoiding the use of the front brake. Leftovers from the past.

Paul
 
I did a Motorbike Cop defensive riding coarse. We had to lift the front wheel over a round pine log and stop, with the log between the wheels.

I watched these dicks, trying to ride over the log, and fail. So when it was my turn, I got more speed, popped a little wheelie over the log, put the front down aka Stoppie, swung the bike to the side and popped the back wheel firmly down on the other side of the log too.

I got the ‘come here’ wave from the instructor. I seem to remember he asked ‘What are you, a fucken smart arse’
 
PS. Just to clear something up: I was never a motorbike cop :rolleyes: I shared a house with a cop and ambulance advanced driving instructor.

They had an opening in the motorbike coarse, I took the vacant spot.
 
I'e still got the steering damper from the Duke 750GT Lee and I owned (bought as a wreck in Darwin and foolishly sold in Perth in about 1977). Only part left over.

If ever there was a bike that didn't need a steering damper I reckon the GT was it!!
 
beauchemin said:
Why on earth would someone put a steering damper on a Laverda twin?
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180 km/h was very fast back then and the roads were in a much worse condition back then. Likewise the quality of the tires.
If everything negative comes together and the steering head bearing is not optimally adjusted, a GT chassis can very well start to wobble at high speed (tested :-I).
Here the steering damper definitely helps to reduce the problem. Laverda certainly did not design AND install the damper without reason.

Thomas aus LAU
 
Can't imagine the frame and geometry would have been any diff from my SF1 and the front end on it was super stable at any speed (and especially in WA i rode it FAST) even on Australia's bumpy as buggery roads, sealed and unsealed. Factory never fitted a steering damper and it never needed one. If your bike is set up badly and not well maintained of course you'll have problems. No point disguising a prob with a bandaid. I reckon it was just tradition to fit steering dampers.
 
Normski said:
it’s not badly priced at the current bid so if it breaks reserve soon why is mankind sick oh negative one?
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One of the reasons I've sold maybe 3 or 4 nice Laverda over the years, and never once felt like posting them up on this forum. You could try and sell a 100% perfect, period correct bike, accurately described, reasonably priced (or just let the market decide value as per any auction) and someone will have a negative/ridiculous comment. I've heard the bevel Ducati forums are worse, go figure.
 
Don't assume we all think like the inimicable Mr Marx!! I think he'd like the Laverda world to still mirror the golden era when - for example - I bought a brand new primary chaincase for my SF1 from the Australoan importer for about AUD$17. I think I still even have the receipt. Well, we'd all love that - but most of us realise the world doesn't move that way any more!
 
piranha-bro2 said:
Don't assume we all think like the inimicable Mr Marx!! I think he'd like the Laverda world to still mirror the golden era when - for example - I bought a brand new primary chaincase for my SF1 from the Australoan importer for about AUD$17. I think I still even have the receipt. Well, we'd all love that - but most of us realise the world doesn't move that way any more!
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What more than often doesn't move, is Laverda motorcycles. And price is part of that package.

Paul
 
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