What did you do to or for or with your Laverda today?

general_piffle said:
A cautionary tale...

Having changed the clutch cable on the GT I went for a ride, and stopped at a popular biker's cafe near West Meon called Loomies for a beveridge.

Travelling home towards Alton on the A32 coming up to the staggered crossroads, where left is the Petersfield Road and right would take you up the hill and along to The Pub With No Name. A silver Volvo estate is sitting at the junction to my right, and another car to the left. I’m doing about 55 to 60. I just get a feeling that the Volvo is going to pull out, so I cover the brakes.

Sure enough it pulls out in front of me. I’m braking hard, while trying not to lock up a wheel, and just manage to guide the bike between the car and the verge. I’m halfway along it before I scrub off enough speed to drop behind. I don’t know how I managed not to hit it.

Then I’m on my horn. I end up following them and pulling them over when I get an opportunity. The lady driving is incredibly apologetic. She admits she didn’t see me. Even though I’m wearing a bright yellow crash helmet and had my light on.

I’m not aggressive or accusatory with her, but very calm. I told her I wasn’t angry, but had to show her something. I show her a picture of my 9 month old little boy on my phone, and ask her to please be more careful. To check, and look, and check again. From her reaction I think the point was hammered home.

We parted ways, hopefully both having learned something. For me, it was ‘trust your instinct’ listen to that voice.
Click to expand...
That was a lucky escape. At least the driver was brave enough to stop and didn't try and deflect her poor observation on you.
Notwithstanding your frightening experience, the road through the Meon valley down to Fareham is one that I used to enjoy riding when I lived in West London and used to ride to Reading/Basingstoke/Alton/ Meon valley then back up to the Meon hut and then head across to Box Hill and back to West London.
 
Glad you managed to save it, GP. And thankful the recalcitrant driver was remorseful, and not aggressively defensive the way many can be in the same situation. I've had it happen on bicycles in the city and when I pull up at their window at the next set of lights they try and pretend I'm being a histrionico - or say 'Go fuck yourself' ... that really get my gander up.
 
Today made a ride of 100 km, clutch was fine and could manage the enormous power of my bike:ROFLMAO: and the handle bar position was much better for a man in best age.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jo
Finally got hold of a spoked set of wheels, with disc rear, for my 3CL.
Rear hub from Laverda Paradises, original front hub & spokes, replica BORRANI rims, build by Norbert Moser & floating discs through Gert 😁.
Now to put it all the bits together
 

Attachments

  • 20250518_161521.jpg
    20250518_161521.jpg
    248 KB · Views: 42
  • 20250518_162052.jpg
    20250518_162052.jpg
    113.9 KB · Views: 42
  • 20250518_162031.jpg
    20250518_162031.jpg
    116.4 KB · Views: 42
general_piffle said:
We parted ways, hopefully both having learned something. For me, it was ‘trust your instinct’ listen to that voice.
Click to expand...
Glad you came out OK -I've learned to trust that feeling as well. Somehow you just "know" a car will cross or overtake, or that truck behind the other decides to overtake right in front of you. Can't explain it but I've learned to trust it over the years!
 
Nice wheels Russ😊👍. Are you going to be in Breganze showing them off at the rally this year? Be good to catch up up for a beer if you are going to attend.
Tom
 
general_piffle said:
A cautionary tale...

Having changed the clutch cable on the GT I went for a ride, and stopped at a popular biker's cafe near West Meon called Loomies for a beveridge.

Travelling home towards Alton on the A32 coming up to the staggered crossroads, where left is the Petersfield Road and right would take you up the hill and along to The Pub With No Name. A silver Volvo estate is sitting at the junction to my right, and another car to the left. I’m doing about 55 to 60. I just get a feeling that the Volvo is going to pull out, so I cover the brakes.

Sure enough it pulls out in front of me. I’m braking hard, while trying not to lock up a wheel, and just manage to guide the bike between the car and the verge. I’m halfway along it before I scrub off enough speed to drop behind. I don’t know how I managed not to hit it.

Then I’m on my horn. I end up following them and pulling them over when I get an opportunity. The lady driving is incredibly apologetic. She admits she didn’t see me. Even though I’m wearing a bright yellow crash helmet and had my light on.

I’m not aggressive or accusatory with her, but very calm. I told her I wasn’t angry, but had to show her something. I show her a picture of my 9 month old little boy on my phone, and ask her to please be more careful. To check, and look, and check again. From her reaction I think the point was hammered home.

We parted ways, hopefully both having learned something. For me, it was ‘trust your instinct’ listen to that voice.
Click to expand...

I T-boned a car that turned in front of me, there was no time to trust instinct.

Hit the front corner of the car, over the bars and did a huge somersault, landing on my feet and slid face first to a stop.

Managed to run back to the bike, which was upside down, to turn the ignition off….. and back to car to drag the driver out, to give him a flogging.

Which is when the adrenaline stopped pumping…. collapsing to the ground, all I could visualise was the face of the uncle of the girl I was f…, bonk… err, seeing at the time. Oddly, he sat in the drivers seat like a sack of potatoes….. clearly, it ran in the family, his neice was hot, but sadly, like a sack of potatoes in bed.

Woke up in hospital, ready for the operation to put my legs back together, with a seedy memory of an ambulance guy wanting to cut my leather boots and pants off.

No instinct, not even a fuck or shit could be vocalised, or go through my mind before impact.
 
russo011 said:
Finally got hold of a spoked set of wheels, with disc rear, for my 3CL.
Rear hub from Laverda Paradises, original front hub & spokes, replica BORRANI rims, build by Norbert Moser & floating discs through Gert 😁.
Now to put it all the bits together
Click to expand...

Rightio Russ, why’s the Yamaha 1300 got black and white cable ties around the swingarm?
 
chrisk said:
Rightio Russ, why’s the Yamaha 1300 got black and white cable ties around the swingarm?
Click to expand...
For the SCOTT OILER piping to the rear sprocket, unit itself is mounted up by the clocks and outlet line routes it way down the frame and along the swingarm.
 

Attachments

  • FB_IMG_1747735960857.jpg
    FB_IMG_1747735960857.jpg
    203.5 KB · Views: 28
May 16th to 18 was the 46th Balade des Vieux Clous (Old nails). 550 km through the Nord, Pas-de-Calais and the Baie de Somme. 2 nights in Berck on the coast.
https://confrerie-vieux-clous.fr/
Around 120 vintage and classic bikes with riders from France, The Netherlands, Belgium and the UK. The oldest rider, aged 92 came from the UK on a 1934 Velocette MOV.
I got the clutch of the S more or less sorted, it would slip a bit when cold, not enough play in the cable no doubt and then drag when hot. I shall be putting a new set of plates in there very soon. Gear selection, apart from the hindrance of the dragging clutch was perfect. My son Matthieu was taking the SF2 and Corinne her 500 which is running beautifully. We met up with the others around 9am just North of Lille from where we set off. Navigation is by roadbook so you ride with who you want and according to the performance of the machines. All on smaller roads. Lunch stop was in Guines, in the hinterland behind Calais and Boulogne.
1747770514825.jpeg1747770538023.jpeg1747770564318.jpeg
After lunch, Matthieu having informed us about the war cemetery in Etaples, we neglected the road book to go and visit. It's the largest Commonwelth War Graves commission cemetery in France with over 11 000 graves. Mostly WW1 but a few from WW2. Mostly Commonwealth, about 100 German, a few French and 1 Chinese labourer.
1747770607215.jpeg


https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimetière_militaire_d'Étaples

1747770655503.jpeg
1747770684538.jpeg
Just after lunch, Corinne's 500 decided to cut out. No trace of electricity. We found a burnt fuse, changed it, of course, only for it to blow again. So the 500 finished the run in the break down van and Corinne rode behind me on the SF2 whilst Matthieu took the S.


Just as we were arriving in Berck, 50 metres from our accommodation, the SF2 cut out. I had been very pleased to show the plebs what a real motorcycle was, with 3 Laverda, but two were out after the first day.


Luckily, both bikes were sorted in half an hour. On the 500, the feed to one of the indicators was shorting in the headlight. My fault, lack of insulation on the connection I'd installed. The SF2 problem was quickly traced to a loose earth on the battery. The bikes behaved perfectly over the rest of the weekend.


We set off after breakfast, following the valleys of some of the small rivers on the Pas-de-Calais coast. We were surprised to find what is an authentic Bugatti T35 next to the bikes before setting off. The driver followed us for a while on the small roads and as soon as a straight section turned up, he gave that 6 inline engine a little stick. Being overtaken by a T35 on full song is not something I'm about to forget or experience again I imagine.


Lunch in a nice restaurant in the small town of Roussent. Plenty of time to admire the bikes, and the car.

1747770743752.jpeg
1747770776253.jpeg1747770796310.jpeg
1747770819772.jpeg
 
1747770891650.jpeg
1747770915920.jpeg

After lunch, a nice ride down to Montreuil sur Mer, which Clem knows well, for a drinks pause, accompanied by near neighbour Gilles on his 750 Ducati. We were to ride the 4 of us for the rest of the weekend.

1747770994664.jpeg

1747771014775.jpeg
Then back to base for a prolonged apéritif and a nice meal. A very good night followed.
1747771054473.jpeg
1747771075276.jpeg
1747771105360.jpeg
1747771124122.jpeg
 
The next morning, 110 km back to just next to Armentières for lunch. Another great moment was to be had. On a small road, we came upon a group of 7 friends who had left before us, all on BMWs. As soon as there was a straight bit, they were passed in a flash by 3 Laverda and a Ducati on full chat.
1747771206316.jpeg
1747771225008.jpeg
1747771247190.jpeg
1747771268167.jpeg
After lunch, at around 3pm, Corinne, Matthieu and I jumped onto the nearby motorway for the 35 km home.


Another excellent weekend.


Now to give the SF2 the once over for the ride down to the Southern Alps and the Amicale 750 Laverda meeting.


Paul
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top