Laverda 500 Alpino
The HE NAME Laverda has always stood for quality— quality engineering, quality finish, and that Italian flag emblazoned through the L means that Laverda is one of the finest Italian motor cycles. The big news from Laverda is that three new superblkes have been added to their range this year—Increasing their 1,000cc offering to five bikes. But taking a backseat position behind the Jotas and Corsas is a machine some call the half Jota, the Alpino. Compared to some others in that class the Alpino Is rather basic, being only a parallel twin. But it's nice to see the sport version is the same price. This is because both have twin cylinder, eight valve engines with lots of torque at low revs, and both are mechanically noisy—the Laverda not quite so noisy as the Triumph. I didnt have the chance to speed test the Alplno myself, and had to leave It in the capable hands of Road Test Editor Mat Oxley. Speed, though, wont be the main consideration of the Alplno owner. It managed a quite respectable mean top speed of 103.44mph. This was 1mph less than when we last tested the Alplno In 1977. It's interesting to compare the top speed with the Alplno S, tested in 1978, even though the 'S' has a performance camshaft and a higher compression ratio the top speed was only 105.15mph. The quarter mile times are again in keeping with the other speeds. At 14.17sec/90.47mph, the 500T is slower than the last Alpino test, slightly quicker than the Alpino S, but this time quicker than the Honda CX500. The gearbox was very precise and slick. Up or down changes were good, and it was very easy to slip it into neutral from first gear at a standstill. Much better than the other Laverda on test at the same time, the RGA. The engine is fed by a couple of Dell'Orto 32mm carbs with the choke fitted on to the left hand one. It was tricky to flick the lever on and off due to it being right behind one of the two fuel taps. The choke worked well, bringing the engine on to a fast idle speed of 3,500rpm, useful In winter but not needed during high summer. You'd think that with a pair of 32mm DeH'Ortos that the Alpino would be thirsty—but happily the opposite happened in practice. All the mpg figures were between 51 and 49, which would give a good average of around 50mpg if it were not for a low 35.8mpg at MIRA. This brought the overall mpg down to a lowish 44.6, the lowest of our comparisons except for the Alpino S. Most riders will not get such a low figure as 35.8mpg, even with fast motorway riding, and so should expect a higher average. Motorway riding is comfortable at anything up to the legal limit, above this vibration took its toll—mostly through the bars. Sustained riding speeds of above 90mph were impossible, but at 70-75mph you could last all day. The riding position again reminded me of the Triumph TSS—upright with straight bars, and sitting quite high up. The seat height at 32 inches is higher than normal. My first impression of the seat was that It was rock hard. But during the test I concluded that it was merely firm. It did support very well on long rides, unlike a super soft seat that will feel OK To aid the riding position the footrests (which were polished alloy) were adjustable forward or backWard. The rear units, if anything, are a little on the hard side—the norm with standard Marzocchis. They were not so hard that they made riding uncomfortable, but just the right balance so that it handled fine. To quote from a past Laverda road test, written by our fearless editor Graham Sanderson: "The Italians' realising that they are to electrics what Charlie Chaplin is to the Royal Ballet, have changed over to Japanese electrics". This sums up what the Italians electrics were like. Now a few years later the combination of Japanese and German wizards Bosch makes the electrics almost perfect. About the only thing Laverda have skimped on throughout the bike is the lack of any wing mirrors fitted as standard. This I find unacceptable, and totally out of character with the standard Laverda approach on their other machines. Listen Laverda, if you do start to fit wing mirrors on the Alpino please do not make them like the ones fitted on to the new RGA—they fell off at 125mph! Source Motorcycle Weakly |