HISTORY

Throughout its history, Moto Laverda has stood out as an eclectic, innovative and daring company, closely following the passion of two-wheeled vehicle enthusiasts, quick to put itself up for debate and develop the most diverse of products - from the fast but reliable utility bikes of the 1950s to the powerful maxis which stirred up endurance racing in the 1960s and 1970s, to end with the powerful and innovative 125 of the 1980s.

Founded in 1947 by Francesco Laverda, Moto Laverda started out life at Breganze in the province of Vicenza producing motorcycles.

The first model, the Laverda 75, was officially presented in 1950.

The commitment to racing and the successes in various editions of the Giro d'Italia, Motogiro and Italian enduro championships, together with a long series of wins in national and international races with the Laverda 75 and, from 1955, the Laverda 100 enabled the small company to grow.

Until the mid-1960s, production consisted largely of small capacity motorcycles, mopeds and scooters. Then, in July 1958, the Laverdino 48, a 4-stroke moped, was presented; a year later, the 49 cc scooter was launched and in 1961 came the 200 cc Twin.

The turning point arrived at the end of the 1960s when Massimo Laverda, son of the founder, Francesco, decided to orient production towards high capacity bikes.

As early as 1968, introduction of the Laverda 650 cc was greeted enthusiastically by the public, but the greatest success came in the 1970s with the Laverda 750, exported throughout the world and paving the way for a highly successful series of sports bikes which turned the Breganze make into a legend.

In 1970, the Laverda 750 SF series was introduced and continued until 1976 when market demand swung even more decisively in the direction of high capacities.

With its orange colour giving it high style impact, between 1968 and 1976, the Laverda SFC racing version clocked up a packed series of wins in races reserved for standard bikes from the Motogiro d'Italia in 1968 to enduro and speed races throughout Europe.

From the mid-1970s, production of the 1000 and 1200 maxi bikes stepped up, although the design idea for a 1000 dates back to the end of the 1960s, along with the SF 750.

Production of the Laverda 1000 in the various versions from the 3 CL to the Jota continued until the end of the 1980s. The Laverda 1000 RGS (Real Gran Sport) introduced at the 1981 Milan Motor Show was particularly well appreciated.

From the 750 SF in all its various versions to the RGS, the distinctive Laverda orange found a place in the heart of enthusiasts who appreciated the character and performance typical of Italian supersports bikes.

Laverda products also included a range of smaller capacity 350 and 500 bikes and, following the dramatic development of the "young" market, 125 cc and motocross bikes.

Particular mention must be made of the high technical level achieved in the Breganze production units, merit of the courageous experiment of the Laverda 1000 6-cylinder 90° V twin which, however, proved extremely complex to develop.

In the 1990s, the company went through a major financial and market crisis caused by a policy of product diversification which did not obtain the expected results.

With its entry into the Aprilia - Moto Guzzi - Laverda group, the make aims to get back in step with the times, with a widespread presence on the markets and a range of products divided into a number of sectors.

MOTO LAVERDA TODAY

Despite a long period of difficulty and an absence of new proposals, the Laverda name lives on in the hearts of numerous motorcycle enthusiasts.

Future plans are largely aimed at producing medium and high capacity bikes able to bring a great tradition back to life, with the addition of the most advanced technology developed by the motorcycle industry in recent years.

Within the group, Laverda bikes stand out for their eclectic nature and the possibility of experimenting new technology and style solutions.

In the short term, Laverda has meanwhile returned to the market with an over-50 cc scooter, the Phoenix 150, aimed at a very large public.

Reconstruction of an extensive and efficient after-sales service has thus begun.

At the same time, as part of the programme to relaunch the make, the "Laverda Club Italia" has been founded, with the aim of becoming a reference point for the thousands of enthusiasts, collectors and operators who nurse great hopes for the Laverda bikes of tomorrow.