Laverda in the latest fashion UK

Sir Sidney Ruffdiamond

Sir Sidney Ruffdiamond

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Reading the latest bike mag it seems smaller lighter , lower cc sports bikes are back in fashion - so its interesting to look at the Formula compared to these - some basic figures below with the latest and some of the oldies - Not bad for a 24 year old bike and of course something reasonable to buy 😃
92HP at 9200 rpm
55 lb ft at 7750 RPM
Wet weight 195 kg
Fuel capacity - 18 litresIMG_0410.jpegIMG_9743.jpeg
 
What's the service interval on those modern bikes compared to the Zane products which are just old engines and mechanical principles benefiting from dubious design and factory quality control?
Paul
 
Paul Marx said:
What's the service interval on those modern bikes compared to the Zane products which are just old engines and mechanical principles benefiting from dubious design and factory quality control?
Paul
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Probably 6-8 k miles so 10 k km. Paul you have to put aside the dubious design and factory quality and show some love ❤️ for a challenged machine
 
Google says 10,000 miles service interval, so 16,000 kms. This is for the new Triumph 400. The Aprilia 660, which is a twin like a Zane 750 has a 6200 mi or 10,000 kms interval.
 
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Have always take service intervals for engines with a pinch of salt. All down to type use and environment. As has been said before, oils alot cheaper than rebuilds.
 
Alan said:
Have always take service intervals for engines with a pinch of salt. All down to type use and environment. As has been said before, oils alot cheaper than rebuilds.
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This is not a matter of a pinch of salt but a built up crank with roller big ends and no oil filtration. Add twin cams and four valves per cylinder.Pre war design which works fine in our old clunkers with a bit of tlc, but irrelevant in a 21st century sports bike.
Much better off with a Ducati single without the complexity.
Paul
 
With intervals that long oil changes become an annual event for nearly everyone. But the interval also includes valve checks and other wear items.
 
Paul Marx said:
This is not a matter of a pinch of salt but a built up crank with roller big ends and no oil filtration. Add twin cams and four valves per cylinder.Pre war design which works fine in our old clunkers with a bit of tlc, but irrelevant in a 21st century sports bike.
Much better off with a Ducati single without the complexity.
Paul
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Correct, but as i said oil is cheaper. Not one of any of the engines i service (Including family vehicles here ) would go beyond 5000 miles max.
 
After the engine failed on my neighbour’s Audi, I went through the service records and was appalled to discover that their Official Audi Service Centre had never, in 86,000 miles, recorded an oil change.
When I enquired, I was told “We don’t change the oil. It’s synthetic and stays in for life.”
A relatively short life, it would appear.
 
The horsepower figure that you quote Adam, for the 750 formula could be way off, real dyno figures??? I doubt it, sales brochure more like! but the fact of the matter is what is the horsepower at 7200?
CLEM
 
CLEMTOG said:
The horsepower figure that you quote Adam, for the 750 formula could be way off, real dyno figures??? I doubt it, sales brochure more like! but the fact of the matter is what is the horsepower at 7200?
CLEM
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It’s off the brochure , rear wheel hp probably 80 - Pete Whitelegg who raced the Zanes for Alto made the comment below -

“We ran Formula engines with forced induction, Kent high lift cams, custom inlets with 916 throttle bodies with a programmable ECU achieving 96 bhp at the rear wheel and even the ex Baines factory racer only managed 92 I seem to remember. That is a respectable number for a 750 twin with a tractor engine crank! Peak power isn't everything and we beat many 1000 V twins in our time between myself & Phil Read Jnr as riders for Laverda Racing UK / Alto Performance 👌”
 
Vince said:
Ram Air?
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Good question ! Ben S told me about a system he came up with his Alto Rage bike which used air that hit the belly pan to force more air into the air intake not sure how - it was beyond me but he got much more power out of that bike - maybe did something with the shape of the Zane one - will ask Pete
 
Kawasaki added inlets in their fairing nose with hoses connected to their airbox. It apparently worked but only over 160kph. Now the funny bit, one model had access to holes for these 50mm dia holes through its beam frame from the factory, saw a story where some genius decided if one hole on either side was good more must be better so he had at it with a hole saw. I like to experiment, but that was certifiably insane. He posted the pictures.
 
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