Riding a bike no one has ever heard of, Laverda

iis_iis said:
At a fuel service station, attendant turned off the pump as we went to fill the two RGS's with leaded fuel, out he comes onto the driveway, those are modern bikes and need unleaded he informs us with conviction...bless his formative years cotton undies.... made my mates day that did...


j.
Click to expand...
While you had the diesel pump in your hand by mistake :ROFLMAO:?
 
Roughly 30 years ago when I had my Cico equiped 3CL/Jota brand new, it had the Cico full fairing in blue with a white stripe and a 3-1 megaphone exhaust on it. I was re-fueling the bike, whent to the cashier to pay and returned to my bike, when 2 Harleys with moderately loud exhausts came to the gas station. They jumped off the bike, looking around like they were the king of the roads, obviously very proud of their bikes. I said "hello" to them from a distance, which gave me just a slight noding of their heads as a return.

Put my helmet and gloves on, turned the key and pressed the starter button. Bike barked into live and the whole ground was shaking. Was fun to watch their jaws droping almost to the ground, eyes wide open, looking quite shoked to the bones. Everyone having ridden a bike with a 3-1 Megaphone exhaust knows that feeling... Big fun...

2 days later, I wanted to buy some stuff at the Cologne branch of "Louis", the bike parts shop. I had to take the bike with me as I needed to check if things fit (not sure anymore what it was actually I was looking for). I used the highway to the south of Cologne and rode up the "Bonner Strasse" from the highway exit to the Louis shop, when I actually noticed a group of cops checking out bikes. There were a bunch of Harleys already parked on the side and examined by the cops. One cop with a lolypop (you know this sticks with the "Stop" sign on it) looked my way, steped onto the road but was obviously unsure what this really is that was thundering up the street towards him. He looked to his colleagues, exchanged some words and while I had shifted up to the 4th gear to just role along in idle, he looked at me again, lifted his shoulders as to "I don't really know what to do" when I passed him. I saluted him and his comrades with my left hand. He actually was so confused, he saluted back and let me pass without examination of my bike 😂

Roughly 90 minutes later when I came back the same way after successfully spending money at the Louis store, they were already gone. Not sure I would have gotten away with the fact that the exhaust actually was in the papers of the bike. Today, they would defenitely stop me, take the exhaust off the bike for analysing and with that, leave me with a bike without exhaust, which I can not ride, so I'd have to get me a transportation back home for me and my ride...

Just to be clear: sound is good, but these 3-1 megaphone exhausts are an assault to the ears and body of everyone passing or beeing passed! Would never ever mount one again on one of my bikes. The "Jota" cans are already to loud I feel for every day usage.
 
Yesterday I was out for a ride up in the local mountains. I stopped in Idylwild for a coffee and a guy pulled in on a new Honda retro CB1100. The guy eyes the Laverda looks it up and down and comments, "I've been riding bikes for nearly 50 years and I've never seen a Laverda in the flesh". He was quite excited about finally seeing a Laverda in person, he said it made his day.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_E2719.JPG
    IMG_E2719.JPG
    136.8 KB · Views: 52
I personally enjoy the exclusivity of riding a motorcycle few people appear to have heard of.

The young lad at the ferry terminal was intrigued by my 3CL and voiced a desire to get into motorcycles but was unsure how to.
Having looked over the Laverda he said he would renew his efforts. (win)

Met up with a work colleague last night and he asked me how I was getting on with my recently acquired bike, I've only had it a little over a year.
Having spoken to him previously about it, not knowing anything about it he went off and did some research.
Now he's interested. (win)

I've yet to suffer the "I had one when I was a lad," speeches, as I have with my British bikes so either I've had a lucky escape or boring old dreamers don't recognise the Laverda. (win)

Seems like I'm winning all round. :)
 
Charley said:
I've yet to suffer the "I had one when I was a lad," speeches, as I have with my British bikes so either I've had a lucky escape or boring old dreamers don't recognise the Laverda. (win)

Seems like I'm winning all round. :)
Click to expand...
I, too, have yet to hear the "I had one when I was a lad."
But, if I had a penny for every time I've heard the "I really wanted one, but couldn't afford it.:cry:" lame excuse, I could buy an SFC750 Electronica!
 
The Sock said:
I, too, have yet to hear the "I had one when I was a lad."
But, if I had a penny for every time I've heard the "I really wanted one, but couldn't afford it.:cry:" lame excuse, I could buy an SFC750 Electronica!
Click to expand...
”I had a Vincent and sold it for a fiver!” Used to do the rounds in the bike trade - no one ever bought one for a fiver🤔
I had a customer that still owned a Vincent but nearly did A straight swap for a brand new Mini in 1962, baring in mind the Vinnie was already eight years old, it was worth a lot more than a fiver.
 
I'll stick with what I've got, Andy.
Back in the '70s, an Irish lad with an Electronica wanted to swap his for mine, even offered me cash on top.
I don't regret not taking him up on it.
 
The Sock said:
I'll stick with what I've got, Andy.
Back in the '70s, an Irish lad with an Electronica wanted to swap his for mine, even offered me cash on top.
I don't regret not taking him up on it.
Click to expand...
And if I had a pound for every time I’ve heard that story I could buy one too. Oh wait a minute, I don’t need to, Clem’s going to give me one for free. 🤣
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top