tom3c75
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- Location
- Cape Town South Africa
For those who may not have read it, I thought I?d share what is perhaps the first English road test of a Laverda triple.
Taken from the August 1972 edition of the UK magazine, Motorcyclist Illustrated, the test hints at the qualities that make the Laverda marque so special: the passion of the people at Moto Laverda, the enduring quality of the products, and the emotion and brand loyalty that the bikes inspire in their owners. This article started my obsession with Laverda and led, eventually, to my ownership of a 3C.
In South Africa, in 1972, the bike market was dominated by British, German and Japanese marques. Laverdas were rare and strange beasts, marketed on a limited scale by a small dealership in Johannesburg. I recall looking at one through the dealership window, I think it was a 750S, and not really knowing what to make of it. It was so totally different from the Triumphs, BSA?s, Norton?s, BMWs, and the recently introduced Honda CB750?s of the day.
I?d cut my biking teeth on Triumphs, first a couple of T120?s, and then a T150 Trident. I loved the power characteristics of the three cylinder engine, as well as the bike?s superb handling. I didn?t even mind having to kick it to get it going, and liked the styling and those ray gun silencers.
However, the early Tridents had their limitations: the four speed gearbox, front brakes that were purely cosmetic, oil leaks, the bits and pieces design approach, which compromised reliability, and so on.
Inevitably, I was seduced into owning a CB750 Honda. Yes, it was reliable, oil tight and had good braking. But for all its virtues, I found the CB750 to be a soulless thing, and never really connected with it. I missed the sound, the power delivery and the confidence inspiring handling of the Trident.
So, when I read Dave Minton?s test of the Laverda, it struck a chord in me. That triple seemed to be what the Trident could have been. Dave?s article also evoked in me a new found respect and sense of appreciation of Laverdas, even though I did not own one. In fact, I developed a Laverda fixation, specifically for the triple, and yearned to own one. I was well and truly hooked.
Then, one Sunday afternoon early in 1976, on an impulsive pilgrimage to the dealer?s showroom, I saw a green 3C in the window. And, even though recently married, with all sorts of new responsibilities, and barely able to afford it, I knew that Laverda had my name on it.
Taken from the August 1972 edition of the UK magazine, Motorcyclist Illustrated, the test hints at the qualities that make the Laverda marque so special: the passion of the people at Moto Laverda, the enduring quality of the products, and the emotion and brand loyalty that the bikes inspire in their owners. This article started my obsession with Laverda and led, eventually, to my ownership of a 3C.
In South Africa, in 1972, the bike market was dominated by British, German and Japanese marques. Laverdas were rare and strange beasts, marketed on a limited scale by a small dealership in Johannesburg. I recall looking at one through the dealership window, I think it was a 750S, and not really knowing what to make of it. It was so totally different from the Triumphs, BSA?s, Norton?s, BMWs, and the recently introduced Honda CB750?s of the day.
I?d cut my biking teeth on Triumphs, first a couple of T120?s, and then a T150 Trident. I loved the power characteristics of the three cylinder engine, as well as the bike?s superb handling. I didn?t even mind having to kick it to get it going, and liked the styling and those ray gun silencers.
However, the early Tridents had their limitations: the four speed gearbox, front brakes that were purely cosmetic, oil leaks, the bits and pieces design approach, which compromised reliability, and so on.
Inevitably, I was seduced into owning a CB750 Honda. Yes, it was reliable, oil tight and had good braking. But for all its virtues, I found the CB750 to be a soulless thing, and never really connected with it. I missed the sound, the power delivery and the confidence inspiring handling of the Trident.
So, when I read Dave Minton?s test of the Laverda, it struck a chord in me. That triple seemed to be what the Trident could have been. Dave?s article also evoked in me a new found respect and sense of appreciation of Laverdas, even though I did not own one. In fact, I developed a Laverda fixation, specifically for the triple, and yearned to own one. I was well and truly hooked.
Then, one Sunday afternoon early in 1976, on an impulsive pilgrimage to the dealer?s showroom, I saw a green 3C in the window. And, even though recently married, with all sorts of new responsibilities, and barely able to afford it, I knew that Laverda had my name on it.
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