Laverda - Odds and sods from the WWW

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Not a name I am familiar with, I have to admit. Does anyone know the detail of what Sig. Fioravanzo did with Laverda?

Mariano Fioravanzo, historic Italian designer, has passed away

Mariano Fioravanzo passed away yesterday, historic motorcycle designer and huge fan of the sector. His professional career began at Laverda, where the experience acquired took him years later to Aprilia, where he was put in charge of the F650 project. It was a motorcycle produced by the Noale...
www.ruetir.com www.ruetir.com
 
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To put things into perspective;

The iron-engined XLR/XR750 were very much more than a stripped Sportster and were putting out around 70hp in the late '60s and close to 80hp by the time they were replaced by the alloy motor XR750 in '72. Unfortunately I cannot find any definitive weight figures due to constantly changing chassis, but are quoted as approx. 320lbs.(Mert Lawills' very special 1968 XLR is quoted to have weighed 309 lbs with 75-80hp!) Compared to a Laverda American Eagle with 200+kg and 50hp (on a good day), it's a no-brainer. Reckon MacCormick couldn't throw enough dollars his way for EK to continue with them.

Even the Triumphs were far lighter than the Lav and therefore better suited to Knievels' crazy antics!

piet
 
sfcpiet said:
To put things into perspective;

The iron-engined XLR/XR750 were very much more than a stripped Sportster and were putting out around 70hp in the late '60s and close to 80hp by the time they were replaced by the alloy motor XR750 in '72. Unfortunately I cannot find any definitive weight figures due to constantly changing chassis, but are quoted as approx. 320lbs.(Mert Lawills' very special 1968 XLR is quoted to have weighed 309 lbs with 75-80hp!) Compared to a Laverda American Eagle with 200+kg and 50hp (on a good day), it's a no-brainer. Reckon MacCormick couldn't throw enough dollars his way for EK to continue with them.

Even the Triumphs were far lighter than the Lav and therefore better suited to Knievels' crazy antics!

piet
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You're right, Piet! The Laverda AE was certainly not particularly suitable, or better. I didn't want to express that either. Just the fact that the article left her completely unmentioned.

As you know, I'm not an HD fan (although I think the XR750 is horny), but I'm not a Laverda fan boy either...
😬
 
Yeah, it's a shame Motorrad Classic didn't mention the Eagle. But that concurs with many of their articles, incorrectly or not thoroughly researched, especially regarding the more obscure marques. There's been more than one "letter to the editor" from me, but only one was ever published, and that in very edited and twisted form.

They should better stick to their Beemers and rename the mag... :rolleyes: Usually nice pics, though.

piet
 
Haggis said:
Not a name I am familiar with, I have to admit. Does anyone know the detail of what Sig. Fioravanzo did with Laverda?

Mariano Fioravanzo, historic Italian designer, has passed away

Mariano Fioravanzo passed away yesterday, historic motorcycle designer and huge fan of the sector. His professional career began at Laverda, where the experience acquired took him years later to Aprilia, where he was put in charge of the F650 project. It was a motorcycle produced by the Noale...
www.ruetir.com www.ruetir.com
Click to expand...
Not a name I’m familiar with either. Will be interesting to know what bikes he worked on for Laverda.
 
This looks like brilliant fun, except for the 2-up bit. Chris Burch tells his Mrs not to worry, he is pretty good at this. That gravely beach reminds me of Battos gravel driveway.
 
There
sfcpiet said:
What happened to Moto Revue? I seem to remember a spin-off catering for classics.

piet
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There's Moto Revue Classic. Not much to be learnt in there.
Moto Revue Classic and Moto Légende both belong to groups with financial weight who pushed a couple of small more specialised magazines off the market.
Paul
 
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