BMW GS Enduro history & 1978 Laverda GS 800 prototype

I know this is no breaking news Gert.
But did you know about that footage ? (six episodes)

Full video footage
[youtube]https://youtu.be/3f_8iRtS1RQ[/youtube]
 
I had a chat with the head of development of BMW (Sigi Beulich) that followed the one that Massimo was well linked with. He knows Mr. Lopez and the GS time was "his" time, but he did not know about the Laverda-involvement... So - no, it is NOT well known information, if the top management of BMW responsible for Motorcycles does not know it...  :D

On the other hand - I made sure he does now know about it... ;-)
 
ah - yes, thanks Steph, that's the one. I think Sigi was his head of development end of the 70's. Not sure why he did not know about the Laverda involvement. What ever, long time ago, there are much more important developments to talk about than the BMW GS I feel... ;-)
 
Hello everybody.

The "BMW-Laverda" bikes were equipped with smaller 600cc engine.
Were 3 proto-bikes, made by Laverda as "outsourcing" R&D projects for BMW (just the frame and cyclistics, because engines were standard production).
BWM knew very well that Laverda had a good experienced and fast departement in creating prototypes (see the Zundapp and V6 projects), so commissioned this work to them. True is also that Massimo had a good friendly and professional relationship with V.d. Marwitz.

The 3 bikes were built in few weeks and were later tested in Bavaria by BWM riders.

The "real" GS 800 protos were built later in Munich.

There is a nice article about this model published by Motociclismo few years ago (only in Italian.... sorry), but with nice pictures:
https://shop.edisport.it/prodotto/54-le-moto-bmw-dell-era-moderna/145-le-moto-bmw-dell-era-moderna-19692015-raccontate-dalle-pagine-di-motociclismo-volume-3


Some history is also here: (you can use Google translate)
https://giofort.blogspot.com/2016/12/laverda-prototipi-bmw.html

Ciao!
 

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I found a picture of Hans Werner von der Marwitz, with Helmut Dahne (the BWM works and test rider).
 

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I was allways wondering, why Laverda did not work closer with BMW using they knowledge of electrics and maybe even in coporating selling structures, if they had this good contacts?
 
hochkoenig said:
I was allways wondering, why Laverda did not work closer with BMW using they knowledge of electrics and maybe even in coporating selling structures, if they had this good contacts?
Click to expand...
Why didn?t Laverda stick their own 750 engine in the chassis and build their own dersert bike?
I imagine that there may have been some at BMW who weren?t interested in such a project ( who wants a giant Trail bike??) and it was outsourced as a means to give the project a head start without interference.
BMW then we?re very much a car company that built bikes and the bike side was not as profitable which was always a bone of contention. Anyway, would you like a Laverda with those awful indicator switches and square grips?
 
I think by 1978 sales of the twins were about done.
When was the last one produced (as opposed to registered)?
 
Think shaft drive is the thing, having owned bmws since the seventies it's there biggest plus point. Took my R100 pd overland to the Greek Island of Rhodes and only put one winker bulb in her, that was the all the maintenance i did. No worries about chain tension or oil it's got me thinking that's where I should be be right now.
Dream on 😎
 
Haven't touched my SF2 since setting off to Breganze in 2019 apart from 2 oil changes. That's 8000 km.
A 530 O ring chain needs tensioning maybe twice in it's life of about 25 000 km.
I took the blinkers off, so don't have to worry about that.

I did break a throttle cable during a recent holiday to Normandy.

What would I do with a BMW?

Paul
 
BMW engine is a ridiculous shape for an off road bike on paper but in practice it has been hugely successful
Cagiva thought outside the box and stuck an ?unreliable ?Ducati  Vee twin in a big enduro bike and won the Dakar twice( I?ve got one and it is one of the best bikes ever built) so sticking a 750 Laverda motor in should have been a good idea -after all it?s the perfect shape, Yamaha did ok with their parallel twin.
 
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