Fastest Confirmed Speed on a Laverda

In about a week, we will be crossing the Hay Plain, about as flat and straight a road as you get east Of The Nulabore. The last time I did it was more than 30 years ago, and I vowed never to do it again. Hopefully, some music this time will help. Last time I averaged 90mph, not so much this time, as I expect there will be Cops about.

Crossing the Hay Plain involves driving through a vast, flat area of western New South Wales, with the Sturt Highway running through the middle. It's known for being one of the flattest places on Earth and is located between Balranald and Hay, and then onwards to places like Narrandera. To prepare for the drive, it's essential to have a full tank of fuel, as there are long stretches with no services, and the area can be extremely hot. Be sure to allow time to visit the town of Hay, which offers historical sites and is a good stop for supplie
 
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1200ts said:
California desert, road is straight and no traffic for many miles. And more importantly no police as there is nowhere for them to hide. My SFC has show 143 MPH on the speedo going down this road. How accurate is the speedo, who knows? My fastest on this road is 158 on a BMW K1200RS. I knew a guy on a modified BMW S1000RR who did 202 on this road.

A picture of the road below:

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This reminds me of the Jurby Road in the IOM. It doesn’t get much traffic and has no posted speed limit, so no cops to worry about. It’s then down to how brave you feel!
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Your kangaroo comment sparked a memory, Rob.
Back on the Isle of Bute, where I lived when I bought my Triple back in '76. This was the road, while not entirely straight, to try for Vmax.

Rhubodach Road.jpg

On one occasion, after a long frustrating day, I decided late in the evening that I needed to blow the cobwebs away.
Fortunately, for me, the joy of whistling through the bends on the way had done the job, so I eased off the throttle.
Rhubodach Road 2.jpg

As a consequence, I was doing a mere 120 mph as I approached the area where the forest extends to both sides of the road, at the vanishing point in picture 1.
Suddenly, a 16 point stag leapt from the left, stood in the road and turned to look toward me, his eyes reflecting the headlamp's beam.
It's wonderful how time slows down in these moments. I could see my fingers reaching for the brake lever.
As I did, he gracefully leapt into the wood on the shore side and disappeared.
I can still, as I type this, taste that metallic tang which accompanies the shock realisation of what very nearly occurred.
 
1200ts said:
California desert, road is straight and no traffic for many miles. And more importantly no police as there is nowhere for them to hide. My SFC has show 143 MPH on the speedo going down this road. How accurate is the speedo, who knows? My fastest on this road is 158 on a BMW K1200RS. I knew a guy on a modified BMW S1000RR who did 202 on this road.

A picture of the road below:

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My SFC speedo also has shown 260 Kmh, but it is always 25 to 30 Kmh faster then the bike, i. e. 170 k at 5000 rmp.
1000 SFC is a fast bike 😂
 
It's wildlife that that stops me going flat out on long straight roads or even bendy ones for that matter. Had so many near misses with kangaroos, even hit one once that left fur on my foot pegs, SF2. Also had one run into me on a 50km/h corner on a gravel road that pushed me into the gutter.
Thinking I'll just ride into the gutter and then ride out again, GS1000BM, as soon as the front wheel went into the gutter it folded and over the handle bars I went. The bike ended up with the wheels on the other side of the gutter and the bars on the road with the barrels in the gutter, probably 300mm deep. So picking the bike up was dead weight, with full tank minus 60km and bike loaded as I was on my way to Perth and on a back road that would maybe see a couple of cars a day if that. Saddle bags, tank bag off and I really struggled to pick the bike up.
Tweaked my back getting that fucker up. Really should have taken the tank off as well. As for the roo, it bounced off my crash bar, skidded and tumbled, got up and fucked off.
Several years later my old mate Kenny left here early one morning heading home to Perth on that same track, GS1000PD, he also hit a roo not far from my encounter, the bike endoed and over the bars he went but unfortunately he broke his collar bone. No phone coverage but luckily a car came by soon after. They picked him up and drove to a rise to get phone coverage and called me. So ute, traiiler and 60 kays up that road there he was in quite a daze. Brought him back home then drove him the 420kays to Perth. He was so lucky those 2 guys cam along not long after. Could have been hours. Another mate many years before also hit a wild brumby on that road in that same area. GS80PD totaled and he not in a good way. Luckily my old mate Kenny was following. Another piece of good luck was a landcruiser ute came by so they put him in the tray and took him the 60 kays down the potholed and corrugated road to Walpole where he was then taken 120kays to Albany hospital by Ambo. Bit of history that road. So yeah it's the unknown that causes me to roll off the throttle. Closes I've came to death was 2 cows barreling out of a side road while doing 120 kays on the BM. I touch the brake then let it off and road between the 2 cows. My old mate Kenny was riding behind me and he couldn't
believe that I missed them. We now have pigs, deer, far too many roos and cattle to watch out for. I now get my thrills on a race track.
 
to all those SFC1000 owners (this includes manx mogs 150MPH TT bike) please remember that your bike may well have been built with (at the time) with 30 year old Smiths clocks, which failed rapidly, due to dried out lubrication within0 there was a re-call and bikes were retrofitted with the Veglia white faced instruments and alloy panel, this was part of a kit provided to selling dealers for the upgrade, included in that kit was a worm gear and drive shaft to alter the ratios in the front wheel speedo gearbox, in may cases (but not all) the lazy (probably not getting paid) dealers did not change those items, resulting in a speedo that makes you think your doing 150MPH when its barely 115MPH !
CLEM
 
For the brave, a phone mounted on the bars is used as a GPS, and that has pretty accurate speed measuring. Look at it while doing 150mph is where the brave bit happens. At those speeds, you're out of your lane in no time.
 
1200ts said:
California desert, road is straight and no traffic for many miles. And more importantly no police as there is nowhere for them to hide. My SFC has shown 143 MPH on the speedo going down this road. How accurate is the speedo, who knows? My fastest on this road is 158 on a BMW K1200RS. I knew a guy on a modified BMW S1000RR who did 202 on this road.

A picture of the road below:

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Click to expand...

At those speeds the roadside trees must be a blur as you pass them …. Oh, that’s right
 
1200ts said:
California desert, road is straight and no traffic for many miles. And more importantly no police as there is nowhere for them to hide. My SFC has shown 143 MPH on the speedo going down this road. How accurate is the speedo, who knows? My fastest on this road is 158 on a BMW K1200RS. I knew a guy on a modified BMW S1000RR who did 202 on this road.

A picture of the road below:

maps.app.goo.gl

Street View · Google Maps

Explore a place in a more immersive way in Google Maps.
maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl
Click to expand...
Kelbaker Rd, I know it well. I was there in September.
 
I reckon my Jota would easily beat the top speed of the Laverda V6 under the right conditions. I imagine those conditions would be in a vertical descent after being dropped from a great height from an aircraft. I'm not sure I'd want to be on the bike at the time though.
 
Dellortoman said:
I reckon my Jota would easily beat the top speed of the Laverda V6 under the right conditions. I imagine those conditions would be in a vertical descent after being dropped from a great height from an aircraft. I'm not sure I'd want to be on the bike at the time though.
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Chute, Shute…… Shiiiiit!
 
chrisk said:
At those speeds the roadside trees must be a blur as you pass them …. Oh, that’s right
Click to expand...
Remember being told a story about a judge in Dublin describing how the telegraph poles along the road must have looked like the teeth on a comb at that speed. The defendant had been caught on his R90s at the time when they were the next big thing back in the day.
 
“Telephone poles looked like a picket fence…….

Ma Pappy said: Son you gonna drive me to drinkin’
if you don’t stop driving’ that hot rod Lincoln”

Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
 
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