FOR SALE: Laverda 100 S - Project Bike

Fordychap

Fordychap

New member
Location
Forest of Bowland, NW England
IMG_1671.jpeg
Yesterday the Bonhams Winter Auction closed, and after the dust settled, I became (temporarily ) the owner of this bike.

It seems someone imported it from Italy, since there is a NOVA for it. My guess it is probably a project that someone bought but didn't get around to doing.

I didn't want to see it lost or broken for spares so I put in a bid…

I already have a full workshop of projects awaiting attention, so while I am very happy to park this up for a couple of years until I get to it - it is also potentially for sale to an enthusiast who will restore it or tidy it.
JUST MAKE ME AN OFFER.

These are the details:

1955 Laverda 100 Sport

Unregistered
Frame no. *553033*
Engine no. *553033*S

Founded in 1873, Laverda started out making farm machinery, only turning to motorcycle manufacture in the immediate aftermath of WW2. Its first product, the 75cc four-stroke Motoleggera (lightweight motorcycle) helped meet the unprecedented upsurge in demand for basic motorised transport, and modified versions were soon winning their class in the long-distance road races popular at the time. Foremost of these was the famous Milan-Taranto, which Laverda first entered in 1950. That first venture ended in retirement for the factory's single entry but the following year all four machines entered finished the race. The following year Laverda's new 'MT' (Milan-Taranto) sports model crushed the opposition, filling the top five positions in the 75cc category while in 1953 there were 75cc-class wins in the Giro d'Italia and Milan-Taranto again. In 1954 the new 98cc '100 MT' scored a debut win in the Giro and occupied six out of the first seven places in the Milan-Taranto's 100cc category, victory going to Laverda rider Giovanni Larquier.

This Laverda 100 Sport was purchased by the prior vendor in 2023 and imported into the UK (purchase receipt on file). No previous history is known and the machine is sold strictly as viewed. Accompanying paperwork consists of a NOVA acknowledgment of VAT and duties paid; a photocopy of its original Automobile Club D'ltalia ID document; two copies of Moto Ciclismo magazine; and a photocopy Laverda parts catalogue (in Italian).
 
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I’m scratching my head as to why you thought this bike would be “lost or broken for spares” when there were other active bidders, myself included. All you achieved was to raise the price of the bike from £600 to £750 plus premiums, then you now put it out for offers 🤷🏼

And btw it isn’t sour grapes - I bought the bike I really wanted so I’m very happy. I just feel sorry for any other folk who lost out on the100.
 
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Fordychap said:
View attachment 101236
Yesterday the Bonhams Winter Auction closed, and after the dust settled, I became (temporarily ) the owner of this bike.

It seems someone imported it from Italy, since there is a NOVA for it. My guess it is probably a project that someone bought but didn't get around to doing.

I didn't want to see it lost or broken for spares so I put in a bid…

I already have a full workshop of projects awaiting attention, so while I am very happy to park this up for a couple of years until I get to it - it is also potentially for sale to an enthusiast who will restore it or tidy it.
JUST MAKE ME AN OFFER.

These are the details:

1955 Laverda 100 Sport

Unregistered
Frame no. *553033*
Engine no. *553033*S

Founded in 1873, Laverda started out making farm machinery, only turning to motorcycle manufacture in the immediate aftermath of WW2. Its first product, the 75cc four-stroke Motoleggera (lightweight motorcycle) helped meet the unprecedented upsurge in demand for basic motorised transport, and modified versions were soon winning their class in the long-distance road races popular at the time. Foremost of these was the famous Milan-Taranto, which Laverda first entered in 1950. That first venture ended in retirement for the factory's single entry but the following year all four machines entered finished the race. The following year Laverda's new 'MT' (Milan-Taranto) sports model crushed the opposition, filling the top five positions in the 75cc category while in 1953 there were 75cc-class wins in the Giro d'Italia and Milan-Taranto again. In 1954 the new 98cc '100 MT' scored a debut win in the Giro and occupied six out of the first seven places in the Milan-Taranto's 100cc category, victory going to Laverda rider Giovanni Larquier.

This Laverda 100 Sport was purchased by the prior vendor in 2023 and imported into the UK (purchase receipt on file). No previous history is known and the machine is sold strictly as viewed. Accompanying paperwork consists of a NOVA acknowledgment of VAT and duties paid; a photocopy of its original Automobile Club D'ltalia ID document; two copies of Moto Ciclismo magazine; and a photocopy Laverda parts catalogue (in Italian).
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Where is it located?
 
Thanks David,
You clearly aren’t a dick or you wouldn’t have responded.
I appreciate your reply and I understand your motivation now.
Sorry for going off on one - I formed a false impression.

We are clearly closer together in attitude and geographically than we could have imagined.

If you say you’re a lifelong North End supporter then it’s settled 😉.

Chris R.
 
chris78jota said:
Thanks David,
You clearly aren’t a dick or you wouldn’t have responded.
I appreciate your reply and I understand your motivation now.
Sorry for going off on one - I formed a false impression.

We are clearly closer together in attitude and geographically than we could have imagined.

If you say you’re a lifelong North End supporter then it’s settled 😉.

Chris R.
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Spoken like a true gent. Fair play sir. 🫡
Apology accepted - and I only ever try and rescue these bikes - there are sadly all to many that get broken up or thrown away after they have their registration marks transferred.
Offer stands if you really want the bike - but do have firm interest elsewhere.
Sadly - being Rugby type I don't follow “kick and rush” but if I did PNE wouldn’t be a bad side to choose.
Deepdale is local.
 
I doubt that anybody in the UK would have bought that for parts, there isn't a market there. I imagine that Chris would agree. There's plenty of wrecks to be had in Italy for parts.
It looks to be a machine just needing to be made roadworthy. Italian dust in the engine is described in the users manual and is quite indispensable to reliable running. No dust indicates that it isn't in a running condition.
I part exchanged one with Keith Nairn as part payment on his engine work on my 3C. First time around.
Paul
 
Thank you David.
Grasshoppers then ;)

Whoever gets the bike will get a gem.
It would be a travesty to restore it and whoever did so would have St Massimo, the Great Architect Luciano Zen and all the little angels pursuing them throughout eternity. And quite rightly so.

I currently have four small Laverdas (that's the story to my wife) and no room for another, sadly. It sounds like you will ensure it will go to a good home.

Paul's ex-100 is rusty and grubby, but I lifted the head on it recently as an exploratory exam and it's a true survivor (y) It seems that oil and Italian dust works better than waxoyl, as Paul infers.

Chris R
 
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chris78jota said:
Thank you David.
Grasshoppers then ;)

Whoever gets the bike will get a gem.
It would be a travesty to restore it and whoever did so would have St Massimo, the Great Architect Luciano Zen and all the little angels pursuing them throughout eternity. And quite rightly so.

I currently have four small Laverdas (that's the story to my wife) and no room for another, sadly. It sounds like you will ensure it will go to a good home.

Paul's ex-100 is rusty and grubby, but I lifted the head on it recently as an exploratory exam and it's a true survivor (y) It seems that oil and Italian dust works better than waxoyl, as Paul infers.

Chris R
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I was fortunate to know Massimo reasonably well and he was a lovely man. Here is a picture of him on his new BMW K100 - taken outside the factory - probably about 1985.
Massimo_Original.jpeg
 
Problem is with our bikes and parts is availability, which encourages the breaking for spares to obtain them. Unfortunately, few of the parts are in demand by the many, but many of the parts are wanted by the few or nobody, and so they end up in the scrap. Here endeth the lesson.
 
Andy J said:
Problem is with our bikes and parts is availability, which encourages the breaking for spares to obtain them. Unfortunately, few of the parts are in demand by the many, but many of the parts are wanted by the few or nobody, and so they end up in the scrap. Here endeth the lesson.
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An old story.
In the past, quite a few bikes were broken for parts and that was widely discussed here.
Today, the parts ain't worth it and people aren't riding anymore, so the market for parts is very restricted.
Paul
 
Paul Marx said:
An old story.
In the past, quite a few bikes were broken for parts and that was widely discussed here.
Today, the parts ain't worth it and people aren't riding anymore, so the market for parts is very restricted.
Paul
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Saw it recently for a nice BSA that went cheaply at auction in June. Went hunting for it (since a client wanted one) a search for the registration found it on a Range Rover. 🥲
 
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