Laverda

A history spanning 77 years

The story of Laverda begins in Breganze, in the province of Vicenza, inside an industrial business that had nothing to do with two wheels: Piero Laverda, the long-established family firm specialising in agricultural machinery. It was Francesco Laverda, a physics graduate, who first saw the potential of a light, affordable means of transport suited to the mobility needs of post-war Italy. Between 1947 and 1948, together with the technician Luciano Zen, he developed a four-stroke motorcycle prototype, from which the company destined for motorcycle production was officially born on 13 October 1949. The first production model, the Laverda 75, reached the market in 1950 and marked the start of an industrial adventure that would take the name of Breganze around the world.

From the Early Days to Big Capacities

Throughout the 1950s and the first half of the 1960s, the Veneto manufacturer's output stayed focused on small-capacity motorcycles, lightweights and scooters, valued for the mechanical reliability inherited from the industrial culture of agricultural machinery. The turning point came towards the end of the 1960s, when Massimo Laverda, who had taken over the running of his father's company, decided to focus on larger-capacity models. The Laverda 650 debuted in 1966, soon evolving into the 750, the bike that laid the foundations for the marque's future success in international markets, especially the United States.

The Golden Decade and the Triples

The 1970s were the most intense period in Laverda's history. The 750 SF, the letters standing for Super Freni (super brakes), became a benchmark for strength and performance, while the SFC racing version, recognisable by its orange livery, collected a long series of successes in endurance and regularity races between 1968 and 1976. It was in these years that Laverda also introduced its three-cylinder engines, able to deliver high power for the time: models with a bold character that entered enthusiasts' imagination as some of the most muscular and appealing motorcycles built in Italy, competing in the market against the Japanese and British rivals of the day.

The Difficult Years and the Closure

Changing public tastes, increasingly drawn to even larger capacities, and the difficulties of the 1980s motorcycle market put the Breganze company under severe strain, and it went through a long period of economic instability despite attempts at relaunching and diversifying the range. In 2000 the marque became part of the Aprilia group, then in 2004 passed under the control of Piaggio. In 2006 Laverda-branded motorcycle production ceased for good, closing an industrial chapter that had lasted more than half a century.

A Legend Still Alive Among Collectors

Despite the closure of the factory, the Laverda name remains one of the most sought-after among vintage motorcycle enthusiasts today, for the build quality and distinctive character of its twins and triples. Models from the Breganze factory, especially those of the 1970s, have become true collector's items, able to tell of an era when Italian motorcycle engineering could compete on equal terms with the most renowned foreign manufacturers.