Laverda LB UNO Lesmo

I have never worked with the six speed engines, but if I recall correct, they are also short stroke, possibly many other changes too. These older LB125 engines are square 54x54mm bore x stroke.

-Jouni
 
If you mean the exhaust system it is the Jollymoto exhaust I described earlier on this thread. Very nice work but it has too high tune for the gearing of the gearbox. They don't manufacture them anymore. The current plan is to repair the standard exhaust and install it back. It had excellent behaviour.
 
chrisk said:
I’m not wanting to sound rude, but I think the rider has the best viewing vantage point of those bikes.
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Agree. The bike has had originally a custom style handlebar, but now it has almost straight handlebar. It feels a sports bike, just the dropled shaped fuel tank is visible from driver's position. The previous LB125 series had these round tube frames with two rear shocks. The so called upgraded "UNO" series had square tube frames and monoshock at rear, except that the custom models remained the round tube frames and two rear shocks. Somewhat strange that the custom model still has the UNO name, meaning the monoshock what it doesn't have. :D
 
Despite the very fragile engines I think the LB125 series bikes show an alternative what Laverda could have become instead of those Zane bikes.
These bikes remain very big sized ergonomics like the older Massimo era bikes, while having incredible accurate Laverda style steering and handling, and everything else in the bike maintaining almost bullet proof reliability, and much much more comfort than earlier Laverda models.
If 500cc Laverdas are crazy how fast they can be on the corners, this even more crazy. The brakes are excellent if everything works as should, excellent feedback on them, and even more powerful what they look at, and there is an option for a second disc at front.
Some 600cc Japanese bikes have parked next to me, and then people come to look at what "moped" parked next to it.
I think that Laverda should have kept off from Custom model business and let Moto Guzzi to manufacture Italian customs, and focus on manufacturing bigger four stroke sports bikes with similar chassis design than the LB125 series.
I honestly think that the LB125 series, despite being just 125cc and very fragile engines, are one of most impressing bikes I have ever ridden.

I think building these bikes back to life is really worth it. I suggest two ways:
1. Modifying the engines for better reliability with a very strick documented method.
2. Installing some other engine and using the original engines as spares for bikes using the original engines. I don't know what engine model or models would be suitable to meet the specs and mechanical dimensions. I guess some Husqvarna or possibly Minarelli built Yamaha engines may be suitable, but I haven't searched this option any further.
3. I think the bike is capable to accept an engine with bigger capacity, if you can get it registered locally. Possibly even a 250cc or 350cc.
Anyway, there is a lot of these bikes available with blown engines standing in garages, while the other parts are often still in very good shape.

-Jouni
 
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Massimo Laverda once confided to me that the LB125 Custom turned out to be Laverdas best-seller and saviour at the time. Apparently they had read the market accurately and were the first to offer a "Custom" bike to the fashion crazy italian kids. Nothing wrong with that...

Looking forward to getting my LB Sabbia on the road. ;)

piet
 
sfcpiet said:
Massimo Laverda once confided to me that the LB125 Custom turned out to be Laverdas best-seller and saviour at the time. Apparently they had read the market accurately and were the first to offer a "Custom" bike to the fashion crazy italian kids. Nothing wrong with that...

Looking forward to getting my LB Sabbia on the road. ;)

piet
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Fair point, and not something I considered.

I can almost see skinny Giuseppe (Joe) Cool Italian kids of the 80’s zipping around on them with a smoke hanging out their mouths checking out the la femmina on the footpath.
 
chrisk said:
Fair point, and not something I considered.
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You're not alone Chris! Not many consider how a low-volume manufacturer can survive on measly sales (compared to the big players of the time) of specialist machines, there must be a money-maker in there somewhere to keep the banks satisfied. Seems Moto Laverda was riding a razor blade most of the time since the mid-70s.

At least up to a point, their agricultural division kept them well afloat, but the gambles with caravans and 4x4 military vehicles quickly used up any spare cash. The V6 was also quite costly, but this at least could be considered an experimental test bed from which a lot could have been (and probably was) learnt and put to good use in production.

Laverda managed to bring an array of astounding machines to the market. There were a lot of "Ooohs" and "Aaahs", lots of records and trophies, but when it came to the nitty-gritty of slapping his hard-earned cash onto the dealers' counter, Joe Blow went for a Z1, Bol d'Or or FJ... the connoisseur on the other hand recognised the true qualities of the Laverda products but was reluctant to swap their pride and joy every couple of years, something that might have kept the lights burning in Breganze a little longer.

piet
 
"the connoisseur on the other hand recognised the true qualities of the Laverda products but was reluctant to swap their pride and joy every couple of years"
That would be a lot of us on the forum. How many of us still have our first Laverda after how many years?
I have bought several other bikes since but still have the original.
It is definitely in the vain of sustainability to not keep consuming new products but it is said that unless the economy keeps growing the world will end. Off topic, sorry. It is a pity that the little two strokes seem to have had such basic flaws, as quite a few other manufacturers made small two strokes extremely reliable and easily repairable.
 
Tippie said:
"the connoisseur on the other hand recognised the true qualities of the Laverda products but was reluctant to swap their pride and joy every couple of years"
That would be a lot of us on the forum. How many of us still have our first Laverda after how many years?
I have bought several other bikes since but still have the original.
It is definitely in the vain of sustainability to not keep consuming new products but it is said that unless the economy keeps growing the world will end. Off topic, sorry. It is a pity that the little two strokes seem to have had such basic flaws, as quite a few other manufacturers made small two strokes extremely reliable and easily repairable.
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My first Laverda was a French market "Jota".
I used it daily for 10 years and them put it aside because I wanted a lighter machine to ride to work on winter roads, including snow and ice.
I never used it again in the end and sold it for next to nothing in the UK where it was Jotarised.
In the meantime, I picked up a couple of 750s and never looked back.
It's like marriage, first time isn't always right. (is it ever?)
Paul
 
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