Better than you imagine, lad, the gals love the upright double bass, even more so, the Saxophone, have no clue as to why, they just do. Look is a good start, tryout is better, just like the first ride on a Laverda, words do not always reflect the moment in time... tah for the post..j
Are you a collector and if so what type? If not, what are you?
- Thread starter Paul LeClair
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rocketonarail
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- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
" Why do you have your Laverda ? "........the phrase " If I had to explain you wouldn`t understand " springs to mind....
Actually the answer is fairly straightforward....I bought a Laverda so I could frighten Yamaha RD350LC owners , and liked riding it so much I kept it for a long time .
And not a collector....only of points on the licence ...and too many of those.....( down to six at the moment ) .....as the saying goes..." Less is more "...
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Actually a number of Laverda folk that have notable profiles, in the public arena. Trust it is not being indiscreet in indicating a few of the owners that i have dealt with direct, iis user in the day... lovely bloke and so good for Laverda strange factor. Point being, a Laverda bike collects owners one or many in its life....
www.lensculture.com
Kozo Ono | LensCulture
Kozo Ono Born in 1965 Studio 21 joined in 1991 Ono Kozo photo office establishment in 1996 And based in London in 2003 And based in Osaka 2004 2006 [ Motor Life ] solo show (chef d'oeuvre) 2007 [ New York Festivals Awards ] Finalist Winner 2008 [ Not going well ] solo show (millibar)...
www.lensculture.com
Collect bikes that always interested me. I like the different motor configurations.
74 Laverda 3c
73 Ducati 750 GT
84 Yamaha RZ350
74 Kawasaki 500 Mach lll
81 Roach SS
62 Tote Goat
74 Laverda 3c
73 Ducati 750 GT
84 Yamaha RZ350
74 Kawasaki 500 Mach lll
81 Roach SS
62 Tote Goat
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rocketonarail
Hero member
- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
I read somewhere ( so it must be true ) that the Audi MD was a Laverda enthusiast ...whether he actually rides it or if it`s just part of his collection I wouldn`t know...
I was watching Itchy Boots getting fitted for riding gear by her sponsors Rev It for her big South and Norther America ride and what do I see in the Managing Directors' office facility but an SFC twin Endurance Race winning bike on display. I bought my 3c because I couldn't find anything else even remotely as interesting.
On a tangent, amongst other things that make me stay with my Laverda, is that I know them inside out.
That means that I can mostly tinker with them with my eyes closed and more importantly, when I'm on the road, if something goes wrong, I'm pretty certain of what it is.
Paul
That means that I can mostly tinker with them with my eyes closed and more importantly, when I'm on the road, if something goes wrong, I'm pretty certain of what it is.
Paul
Tree Hugger
Full member
- Location
- Scotland
Think that was me you frightened...... 1980 on the A1 in Northumberland?
mauricejota7604
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- Location
- Victoria Australia
Hi John my son plays Tenor Sax and it is also good on the ear and eye!!!!!!!!!
Eurocycleguy
Hero member
- Location
- Chicagoland-USA
Decades ago, (about 1981), I bought 2 American Eagles in corrugated cardboard containers. I got one bike assembled and rode it up and down the street. The thrill I got was tremendous. Shortly thereafter, I lost my workspace and sold the AmEagles. Time past (1987 now) and I met a guy that said he owned a Laverda and it was for sale. I went to see it: 7K miles, dusty and with the original FIAMM battery still in place. No Dinero baby. More time past. (2000) I had some money and I found the guy, yes he still had the bike, yes it was still for sale; BUT it was a victim of arson. Bought it, cleaned it, repaired it, polished it, etc. I just wanted to finish what I had started with the AmEagle. I love riding this bike! Corny I know but when people ask what riding it is like I say I feel like Steve McQueen in The Great Escape! 
Since then I have acquired another Lav a 1969 S Bitsa.
I consider myself the current caretaker of each of these wonderful machines. (they really own me)
For both bikes I have documented the Provenance of each along with what repair or maintenance has been done to each bike. These two documents will be past on to the future caretaker(s).
The other bikes in my garage:
2016 BMW K1300S Motosport package because this model bike is in my list of top the ten most beautiful bikes, and it goes like snot!!!!
2012 BMW K1600GTL so my wife can ride with me comfortably
1967 SEARS (Gilera) 106SS the bike my Grandfather bought on clearance from SEARS, Roebuck and Company for $200; the Bike I learned to ride on.
Oh I have a banjo and there is probably a harmonica around here somewhere.
Since then I have acquired another Lav a 1969 S Bitsa.
I consider myself the current caretaker of each of these wonderful machines. (they really own me)
For both bikes I have documented the Provenance of each along with what repair or maintenance has been done to each bike. These two documents will be past on to the future caretaker(s).
The other bikes in my garage:
2016 BMW K1300S Motosport package because this model bike is in my list of top the ten most beautiful bikes, and it goes like snot!!!!
2012 BMW K1600GTL so my wife can ride with me comfortably
1967 SEARS (Gilera) 106SS the bike my Grandfather bought on clearance from SEARS, Roebuck and Company for $200; the Bike I learned to ride on.
Oh I have a banjo and there is probably a harmonica around here somewhere.
MarnixSFC
Hero member
Andy J
Hero member
- Location
- Isle of Man
I tried out a tenor sax for a few months about 40 years ago. You definitely wouldn’t have saId that about my playing. I bought the Alto as I was told it was easier to play but I haven’t quite got around to trying yet. In any case I can’t read music for toffee and rely almost totally on playing by ear, which isn’t a good technique for a wind instrument. Boom, Boom! (as Basil Brush would say).
Andy, fine collection on hand there, from cupboard to chair adjacent, to mouth piece loaded, your first sound awaits, actually exciting to hold any sax first time ( link to topic Laverda emotion ), the mechanical's are over the top. My Laverda workshop days assisted no end in sorting out woodwind repairs ( made a few bob out of repairs ).Impressive list of instrument, I currently only have a trumpet, bugle, hunting horn and an alto sax (that’s still in its box waiting for me to try it out after several years in a cupboard. At least it’s now in my study, next to my chair…) I must admit I do fancy buying a bass guitar - I couldn’t make any noise worse than my missus and her cello
Cello are fabulous, no doubt the Mrs fabulous Cello will come, perhaps a nice Oboe for you, the chance to win her heart all over again, matching earplugs for the early days.... the Alto Sax could well be too much too soon, like all young men do first blush...give it a go, lots of tuts on yt, though mouth technique would strongly suggest a reputable teacher unless you like the look of Dizzy Gillespie and bull frog cheeks...serious damage to mouth... j
Gifted in the family are you lot?.... a smile here. Yes i was cornered into an Alto as first stab at Sax, had two towering pro woodwind players hovering over me, blocking out the sun if not what kind of music i played. Alto in my perspective, for Jazz and lead work, Rock and Roll is Tenor land. Very quickly it was Tenor sax, to this day.
Having C flute come fairly easy to hand and mind, picked up the sax, played along to my first song, what a cacophony, what i did not know ( obvious to the pros ) sax/clarinet/Oboe et al are transposing instruments. If you play a C you get a Bb ( B flat ) on Tenor, C on an Alto you get an Eb....nightmare... the only way i could transpose while playing live was to imagine in my minds eye the lower 3 strings of my 6 string basses, do the transposition then play the note on the woodwind... still learning. Alto flute is transposing G, love the Alto, many is the movie theme done on Alto flute.. rather than C flute. Broad sense, like the Laverda analogy, special emotion for a special device or skill or better a triple on a 4c cam curve, sound that is only of the few that can make it...Massimo the Maestro, Luciano Zen the arranger....j
chrisk
Hero member
- Location
- Brisbane, Australia
True, but wrapping one hand around it’s neck, and fiddling with its nether region at the same time could see you in jail.
tyelav13
Hero member
- Location
- Wales (gods own country)
I consider myself a motorcyclist. I currently have 8 bikes and I think 6 are running. I have got to 8 for a few reasons, firstly they are bikes I have always wanted and am slowly getting them (not very good at selling 
). Secondly with older bikes they occasionally need work so as I have stopped enjoying working on bikes and loving riding them then I hope to always have a few ready to go at any one time. Eventually I get around to working on them to get them roadworthy again (or someone else sorts something I cannot). I just love bikes and mine are all different enough for me to enjoy them for what they are and what other bikes are not. Hope that makes sense?
). Secondly with older bikes they occasionally need work so as I have stopped enjoying working on bikes and loving riding them then I hope to always have a few ready to go at any one time. Eventually I get around to working on them to get them roadworthy again (or someone else sorts something I cannot). I just love bikes and mine are all different enough for me to enjoy them for what they are and what other bikes are not. Hope that makes sense?
rocketonarail
Hero member
- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
Back in 2005 a friend of mine decided he needed a Laverda Jota.......He already owned a Dominator 600 and a Darmah SD ( a Darmah that thinks it`s a 900SS ) .
As I already owned one I tagged along to provide "expert opinion" ( ha ha )....
We looked at a " Jota " which was actually a half tidy 3C , except under the seat was a rats nest of wiring passing for an ignition system...It started and ran ok but you would be on your own if it suddenly stopped , and of course it wasn`t a Jota , so that was that .
We then looked at a `78 Jota with gold paintwork and black frame which seemed nice so he bought that for £3 grand .
( This seller also had a nice ex Jim Alves works Triumph A squared P squared Trophy , but he wasn`t selling that ) .....
Sadly this friend then became ill with two brain tumours plus one in his neck , so he offered the Jota to me , but I decided it was enough hard work keeping one Laverda taxed and running and on the road , never mind two , so I said no .
I advertised it for sale on his behalf and it sold to a guy down in Plymouth for £3800 - 800 quid profit which we both thought was rather good........of course you could stick another £10 grand on top of that now .
So should I have snapped up that Jota when I had the chance ? ....
Maybe I should have , but I already had a Laverda didn`t I ?......
This is purely a personal thing , and many would dismiss this as rubbish , but I believe that if you own just the one motorcycle for a particular purpose , then you start to build a relationship with that bike .....you ride it in all weathers , use it day in and day out , perform your own maintenance , get to know it inside out , accept it`s good points and put up with the bad......all this on a Laverda , not several Laverdas , just the one Laverda .
How could you build up that sort of relationship with several Laverdas , how could you build up that sort of relationship by constantly moving from one machine to the other ?
As I said , purely a personal thing , but probably the real reason I turned the offer of that Jota down.....
As I already owned one I tagged along to provide "expert opinion" ( ha ha )....
We looked at a " Jota " which was actually a half tidy 3C , except under the seat was a rats nest of wiring passing for an ignition system...It started and ran ok but you would be on your own if it suddenly stopped , and of course it wasn`t a Jota , so that was that .
We then looked at a `78 Jota with gold paintwork and black frame which seemed nice so he bought that for £3 grand .
( This seller also had a nice ex Jim Alves works Triumph A squared P squared Trophy , but he wasn`t selling that ) .....
Sadly this friend then became ill with two brain tumours plus one in his neck , so he offered the Jota to me , but I decided it was enough hard work keeping one Laverda taxed and running and on the road , never mind two , so I said no .
I advertised it for sale on his behalf and it sold to a guy down in Plymouth for £3800 - 800 quid profit which we both thought was rather good........of course you could stick another £10 grand on top of that now .
So should I have snapped up that Jota when I had the chance ? ....
Maybe I should have , but I already had a Laverda didn`t I ?......
This is purely a personal thing , and many would dismiss this as rubbish , but I believe that if you own just the one motorcycle for a particular purpose , then you start to build a relationship with that bike .....you ride it in all weathers , use it day in and day out , perform your own maintenance , get to know it inside out , accept it`s good points and put up with the bad......all this on a Laverda , not several Laverdas , just the one Laverda .
How could you build up that sort of relationship with several Laverdas , how could you build up that sort of relationship by constantly moving from one machine to the other ?
As I said , purely a personal thing , but probably the real reason I turned the offer of that Jota down.....
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Dellortoman
Hero member
- Location
- Tasmania, Australia
Every day is a school day. I had to delve into Google to figure out what an "A squared P squared" Triumph was.
For the other uneducated plebs like me:
During WW2, Triumph was building auxiliary generator motors for the army and the Royal Air Force (RAF), the airborne auxiliary power plant or AAPP (“A squared, P squared”).
Addiction?
Sounds a bit like the Pixxx, I forget the name but they were Vincent built with a Vincent engine flying machines they used for Aerial Target Practice. I get the one bike thing, it's like those people who ride up and down the same bit of road all day, I just cannot do that. To me, it's one pass only, one pass on a road, one bike at a time.