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Laverda 1000 3C

Laverda 1000 3C

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Laverda 1000 3CLaverda 1000 3CLaverda 1000 3CLaverda 1000 3CLaverda 1000 3C
Laverda 1000 3CLaverda 1000 3CLaverda 1000 3CLaverda 1000 3CLaverda 1000 3C
Laverda 1000 3CLaverda 1000 3C
Lot number 214
Hammer value N/S (est. £14,000 - £16,000)
Description Laverda 1000 3C
Registration KUK 135N
Year 1975
Colour Orange
Engine size 981 cc
Chassis No. 2612
Engine No. 2612

“This bike has the presence of a Ferrari Daytona. Everywhere you park it there will be a small throng of admirers when you return. Even people who know nothing about motorcycles stop to make some comment on its beauty.”

Launched in 1972, the Laverda 1000 3C made a deep impression on everyone who encountered it, as the above quote from Street Bike reveals. In classic Seventies style the report went on to say: “As motorcycles have become more sophisticated and dependable, they have also lost a lot of that old 'balls to the wall' feeling of pure, unadulterated rowdiness and it's a breath of fresh air to test a bike like the 1000 3C. Whoever designed this bike had speed and sex as his foremost considerations and the end result is completely captivating.”

The fastest production motorcycle in the world, the 3C was twice the price of its nearest Japanese competitor and, like a king among paupers, it dripped with money-no-object design features. Founded by Pietro Laverda in 1873, Laverda SpA had long since secured the family’s fortunes through the manufacture of agricultural machinery and the bike division that Pietro’s grandson started in 1947 was run from the heart, not the head, and probably lost money on virtually every bike it made.

Built in March 1975 and first registered in America one month later, this 3C was bought by the vendor on a trip to Los Angeles in 2010. A professional restorer and race bike builder, he was captivated by the condition and sheer originality of the machine which had been formerly owned by Yoshi Kosaka, the legendary bike builder who owns Garage Company in Inglewood, California, making bikes for customers like Michael Schumacher and David Beckham.

Clearly an ultra-low-mileage machine, it was still fitted with its original Dunlop SS tyres on the original Borrani rims, original Laverda factory exhausts and original switch gear and handgrips, all displaying minimal wear. The speedo was reading 19 miles when acquired but this and the foot rubbers were about the only parts of the bike that had been replaced and the vendor believes that it had probably done around 2,000 – 3,000 miles when he bought it.

Since returning to the UK the bike has clocked up another 1,900 miles and for safety reasons new tyres have been fitted along with new rear shocks although the original Dunlops and Cerianis have been carefully preserved and are included in the sale. The oil has been changed four times and the compressions tested, showing an even 165psi across all three cylinders, the bike still riding ride as well as you would hope from such a low mileage machine and with the added advantage of a left-hand side foot change that is familiar to all modern riders.

One of only 2,300 made, it is described by the vendor as being “the closest thing you will ever get to a new old Laverda”. With that lovely patina that only comes from decades of loving care, this time warp machine is worthy of the closest inspection and is only reluctantly being sold to finance a new business venture.

It comes with its original owner’s handbook, V5C, American Certificate of Title and a November 1975 copy of Street Bike which features this very machine on its cover and in a 6-page road test inside from which the opening quotes of this description are taken.

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