Laverda · 1949–1960
Laverda 75 and 100: history and buying advice
The first Laverda: a frugal 75 cc that dominated the long-distance races.
History
The Laverda family had built agricultural machinery in Breganze, near Vicenza, since 1873. After the war Francesco Laverda, grandson of the founder, designed a small, cheap motorcycle together with Luciano Zen. Moto Laverda was founded in October 1949. The 75 had a four-stroke overhead-valve engine and used very little fuel: about 1 litre per 60 kilometres.
The little engine also proved fast and strong. In the 1952 Milano-Taranto Laverdas took the first five places in their class, in 1953 even the first fourteen. They also won their class in the Motogiro d’Italia. From 1953 there was a tubular frame with rear suspension, and after that also a 100 cc in Sport and Turismo form.
Key data
| Engine | 1 cylinder, four-stroke, overhead valves |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 75: 74 cc (45 × 46 mm) |
| Power | Turismo approx. 3 hp; Sport Giro racer up to 9 hp |
| Top speed | Turismo approx. 70 km/h |
| Weight | c. 70 kg |
| Gearbox | 3 gears, later 4 |
What to check when buying
- Many 75s and 100s were later made sportier. Ask what is original.
- Check the frame: early models have a pressed-steel frame, later ones a tubular frame.
- Look for oil leaks and play in the valves.
- Parts are scarce; a complete bike is worth much more than a project.
- Compare the frame and engine numbers with the papers.
SourcesWikipedia: Laverda (English)Cybermotorcycle: Laverda 75 (English)Wikipedia: list of Laverda models (English)