The difference between a Laverda

That's not like the silly riddle: "What's the difference between a crocodile?" The answer to that is by the way: the greener, the more swimming. Good. There are two Laverda 750s at a befriended dealer. One costs € 13.950. The other € 6.950. And that's a significant difference for two giants from Breganza, who are sometimes disrespectfully called 'XXL CB72 Clones'. Incidentally, that is right.

Who pays determines

Francesco Laverda was in the States with the Berliner Brothers, the company that dictated European motorcycle manufacturers wanted the USA to have a clientele. Laverda was taken to a Honda CB72. “We want that. But then in a big way ”was the requirement. And so began the success of the large (at first 650) 750 cc Laverda twins, engines that many people think are beautiful. They only find a few lost ghosts rude.

Laverda twins are 'hot'

But meanwhile the Laverda twins are extremely sought after classics. And their prophet is Van Dijk in Driebergen. That is undeniably Europe's best Laverda man. When you come there for an overhaul, you usually end up on the waiting list. But then you have something. A perfect block and an empty cut. And that making a twin like this with its single overhead camshaft completely in the meantime costs a serious bunch of money? People are no longer put off by that. All the more so because such a heavily over-dimensioned block must have roughly eternal life in 'classic' use.

Because the Laverda engines were almost indestructible in their days. And they were tough. A friend came back after a holiday in the Alps with a miserable SFC. Whether it was because of his driving style or something else: De Laverda had come home on foot with two split pistons.

Time wears out

But even without things really breaking down, a block wears out. Then you can go for the top and have it revised perfectly. Or you may think: “It still runs well, it still sounds good and how fast do I actually drive it nowadays? "

And in that difference of approach lies the crux. After all, the wisest minds don't say "Good is good enough?"

A difficult choice

The expensive Laverda is in absolute new condition. Optical and technical. He comes from a collector who wants to streamline his collection. The gold colored with its time original top half with authentic stickers is a barn find. The machine has been dormant and dreaming for thirty years. It has been made running again. And runs well. And yes: the thing still deserves some attention. But then you can use your own time machine, which you can enjoy for years to come. And that a few horses may have disappeared from the original stable? Nice and important. After all, we can only drive 100 here? We think the golden warrior is unsurpassed.

The ZGAN Laverda is a winner

He is more than worth his money. But for that faceless crowd, the buyer public, it's "too expensive." Because they compare it with the average range of good / neat Laverdas. They don't see the investment. Do not see that the restoration should have cost more. The golden Laverda is priced more socially acceptable. After all, it costs about half of what the red costs. But - now important in Laverdaland - the colors are not original. And that while somebody must have had sleepless nights how to choose the perfect color for his pride.

You must cherish dreams

According to the faceless market, the ideal Laverda Twin is technically 100% in order, has the correct colors and may cost almost seven million… well… We have our dreams.

Also interesting to read:
- Laverda 1000 3C. The Laverda three-cylinder
- Laverda 750 SFC. The fake press are fun too
- Laverda 500. That was not a success
- So Laverda three-cylinder ... The executioners of Breganze (1973-1989)
- 26 + horsepower capital gains for a few hundred euros: the dynamometer