LAVERDA 500 TURBO OFFICIAL PROTOTYPE

I had a ride on a WW2 WLA Harley once in an empty car park, it was great fun. no chance in traffic without lots of practice. This one had what they call a suicide foot clutch, that's only a spring return. It should have had a hold-down feature that's much safer to use. The bouncy seat is funny as hell.
 
Vince said:
I had a ride on a WW2 WLA Harley once in an empty car park, it was great fun. no chance in traffic without lots of practice. This one had what they call a suicide foot clutch, that's only a spring return. It should have had a hold-down feature that's much safer to use. The bouncy seat is funny as hell.
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Old bikes have an added risk element in modern traffic. Feeble brakes and little acceleration.
Even the then state of the art P08 Brembos are inexistant compared to modern 4 pot calipers on big discs. That's the reason I bought a 750 Aprilia as a ride to work hack 18 months before retiring. I hit a car with my SF2, I would have stopped with the Aprila.
Paul
 
WTF is "balanced cross braking"?:rolleyes:
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sfcdpiet: I empathized NO Twinkle Toes ;o)

Recap your in a situation were you have to brake hard with your ass off the seat, just about throwing you forward off the bike and have choose quickly were your going to go to escape a collision. Say a Car, Horse or a Dog or a Kangaroo (Deer, Moose, Bear and Beavers are are particularly dangerous in Canada) pulls out unexpectedly in front of you and you Instinctively Brake.

With Brake control ALL on your Right Side places your body off center to the right where as the brake lever on your right hand and left foot on the rear brake lever places you body perfectly balanced over the bike where you can quickly maneuver in either direction to miss the collision.

What layout of controls is BEST ?
 
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Hard braking doesn't exist with those crappy laverda front drums!!
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Really; I would sooner have them "crappy laverda front drums" cabled powered in the rain rather then Disc's that do nothing unless you hit them 2 or 3 times before they grab - Them 11" Laverda Super Ferino (SF) Drum brake were Great in my opinion - What made the 750 SFC so Famous - Granted Disc's did brake harder over extended use in dry conditions - Never had to replace the Brake Pads in my 70 750 SF0.

Believe me them 11" SF Cable front Brakes would easily throw me over the bars - But I was only 140 lbs ;o)
 
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Shsjots: 45 years on that ride - Yes you had better clean the brakes at least every 2nd year, pull and grease the swing arm and axles and oil the Cerraini Forks.

Then it boils down to what chain you want to use if your going after contestant 120+mph down any straight.

You can't go nowhere in Northern Ontario Cambrian Shield without encountering a Down Pour, Day or Night.

That 1970 Breganzie 750 SF, when taken care of, beat 90% of all Motorcyclists I encountered in Northern Ontario under all conditions for over 2 decades.

Really SORRY I had to give her up because of my age ;o(

I believe I sold her to a caring new home ;o)

With that money I bought a Jeep and a Canoe.

Don't think a BREV SF 11" Cable front drum brake won't elevate your ass with the rear end up in the air and the only thing you are holding onto is the bars - Rain or Shine.

What Tires are you using ?

By the way: You CAN possibly go under a Moose if one of their legs didn't hit you. I did it with 68 Volvo B123S under a Giant Bull at 60 mph on a logging road in Algonquin Park. Happy to say I wasn't riding a 2 wheeler at the time ;o)
 
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Thats RICKY Racer....I didn't know Lance very well but my gut feeling is that turbo or supercharging
would not be something up his alley. In those days there were numerous hop-up bike shops like
American Turbo Pak and a plethora of Honda and Suzuki "tuners" that might have gone that route.
Even in SoCal a Laverda was a very uncommon sight in those days. Maybe if someone could track
down Byron Hines or Terry Vance or Jay Gleason,they might be able to post a comment. Russ Collins
of course is long dead.
 
Biggest Bull Moose I've ever seen and I went under him with a car did not have to consider I was Cross Braking. His antlers where longer then my Volvo.

I had a Cow Moose step right in front of me (Like 10 Ft) and I'm arm with a ticket to Kill a Moose; as if, She was Beautiful - The thing was she could smell me but could not see me at that range. Of course we bid one another Good Parting - My Hunt Club was NOT Impressed. I did attempt to kill a Wolf but he alluded me for over week on ski's in March then he ended up being my Hunting Partner for Pheasants and Rabbit's - I'm truly a failure of being a Big Game Bawanna but do know what Balanced Cross Braking is on 2 Wheels ;o)

Make up your mind really FAST as it's Matter of Life and Death and if your are NOT Balanced; Split seconds count.
 
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