The things that pop up in your Utube Feed.

Re: 'The Too Many Gadgets In Modern Cars' Thread.
"when the 750SF's famous "Super Freni" front drum brake grabbed hard mid-corner."
So, nothing to do with the rider, then?
 
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No idea, but you mostly hear about brake fade and making allowances for drums. I hated the conical hub on the last Bonnie I owned before converting to a Maz double disc off a Parallel Twin Ducati. Is there any servo effect with the Laverda drum? My one and only 4-leader TZ front brake experience was eye-opening. It was like hitting a wall once it started working; the owner said nothing before the ride.
 
You thought about abandoning your little bastard to the Society for the Protection of Abandoned Motorcycles, even though she loved you.
Next time, think twice before you speak, so you don't harbor bad thoughts or say anything offensive.
You can thank her for being magnanimous.
 
I’m not familiar with this kind of influencers who ask their followers whether a particular motorcycle is right for them. In particular not after the thing failed to start once over some minor issue and than they were involved in an accident that might well have been their own fault. But well, to each their own ...
 
Old bikes can be a challenge, especially an old bike that was put away. Why was it put away? The answer is usually that it had a fault that at the time couldn't be fixed. That happened to my poor-arsed hands more often than not; I hardly ever bought new bikes. I acquired cheap abandoned bikes that nobody wanted, and then I banged my head against them till they were fixed. That's me; plenty want turnkey operation. What interested me was 90% of the comments under the video, well worth reading, as he really did activate all the local Laverda people in Australia to fix that bike, but I knew nothing as usual; others were saying sell the bike and buy a modern bike with all the safety features. That idea would never enter my head. I remember a mate who once told me how excited he was about his new car. He was absolutely thrilled it had 17 AIRBAGS. I just shook my head. One of the comments made was that the bike is now repaired and rewired, and he is considering his options. His bike, his choice. BTW, not your average home made vidio, its preety high quality.
 
I have to say that I've enjoyed some of the Biker Torque videos on Youtube where they meet up with old riders and hear their lifetime bike experiences. The bike obviously had issues when he purchased it and then put time and effort in to getting it fettled. The engine is now sorted, an electrical gremlin showed up on the run. These things happen and can easily be fixed. If the front brake is a bit grabby then ride accordingly. In those road conditions I'd have been riding a little slower when the road surface changes from dry to wet patches, tree covered bends etc. He also test rides modern bikes with ABS and traction control fitted and maybe these altered his perception of safety.
I hope he keeps the bike and enjoys the experience.
 
Geez, what a great vid! Whether I concur with his sentiments or not aside, I was impressed watching just how compliant those beautiful 35mm Cerianis can be. Definitely a big cut above alternative options in 1972 and I always remember mine being really supple but still giving great front end feedback. Also very impressed with how clear his mirrrors are at those revs. As for ‘just under 100kph at around 4,800rpm’ I can’t imagine what gearing he’s running! The SFQ is running a very tall 19-36 gearing and that gives me just over 100kph at 3,500. Not trying to compare but from memory 100kph on a stock SF would be close to 4,000.
As for the brakes??? Everyone knows I’m not a fan of drums up front, but I can say with some certainty that his brake was not well set up. As Piet often points out, in terms of maintenance, most drum Laverda have been totally abandoned. Once there’s a certain amount of wear, internal cam angles become more acute and they develop a tendency to servo. My TZ 4LS conversion was absolutely fantastic in terms of power and modulation but as soon as it reached a certain point of wear the on-off switch came to the fore. Chuck in cold weather, a cold drum and shoes and I can very easily see why he came to grief.
The urge for originality usually dominates thinking but for me, conversion to discs is a no-brainer. I’m as guilty as anyone of neglecting my original front SF brake but happily admit I’m simply not interested in putting that amount of time and effort into them. AFAIC if you’re not interested in putting in the hard yards or paying a pro - and you really want to do some serious riding - then putting good brakes on the thing is a must.
I might go into the YouTube post and leave a comment if I can.
I so fookin love my big 320 rotors and the R1 calipers and m/cyl. I can only contemplate with horror what would have happened up near Falls Creek if I’d had that guy’s front brake on my bike!
 
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