Die Laverda-BMW GS

[Levrier Noir]

This frame was the one in the background of the display in Staffordshire Classic Bike and Mechanic?

Even if 'BMW had no expertice to build the requestet Enduro' is a little cheeky - further informations on their page: Laverda BMW GS Prototype | malarkey-engineering; and: the original had a 17" rear wheel.

Lovely stuff

Ernie

 

[John Tracey]

This frame was the one in the background of the display in Staffordshire Classic Bike and Mechanic?

Even if 'BMW had no expertice to build the requestet Enduro' is a little cheeky - further informations on their page: Laverda BMW GS Prototype | malarkey-engineering; and: the original had a 17" rear wheel.

Lovely stuff

Ernie

Hi Ernie, not sure if I quite understand but I think Metal Malarkey's point is that while BMW had people like Schek building there own bikes from scavenged BMW parts, the company at the time was a bureaucratic mess, on the verge of bankruptcy and without the expertise to prototype framesets, let alone quickly build a prototype off-roader to show to their American importer. Laverda on the other hand had Verlicchi who could build a frameset in a day as well as a proven record in off road models, ie Chott, 2TR7, LH models, Husqvarna collaboration etc etc.

 

[John Tracey]

Hi Ernie, not sure if I quite understand but I think Metal Malarkey's point is that while BMW had people like Schek building there own bikes from scavenged BMW parts the company at the time was a bureaucratic mess, on the verge of bankruptcy and without the expertise to prototype framesets, let alone quickly build a prototype off-roader to show to their American importer. Laverda on the other hand had Verlicchi who could build a frameset in a day as well as a proven record in off road models, ie Chott, 2TR7, LH models, Husqvarna collaboration etc etc.

Sorry I forgot to mention the Laverda prototype was sent to BMW with an 18'' rear wheel. BMW tried it with a 17'' which probably wasn't a great idea given the geometry but it was always designed around an 18''.

 

[dreiradbertl]

No need to Argument - like said before, its gorgeous. Do you have access to the book 'Boxer - BMW Geländesport von 1926 bis 2006'? Maybe the first publication to set some things right in that case. It seemed to bee a parallel Evolution... and my heart admires Breganze machinery at least as much as Bimm's.

It is too sad they wrecked the originals, so your project alongside the series based conversions and the Evum replicas has at least the same right to exist, and is more than welcome. And - I always asked myself how a frame with those wide loops will 'do' compared to that very tight bundled BM package - you might be able to tell us

 Bertl

 

[John Tracey]

No need to Argument - like said before, its gorgeous. Do you have access to the book 'Boxer - BMW Geländesport von 1926 bis 2006'? Maybe the first publication to set some things right in that case. It seemed to bee a parallel Evolution... and my heart admires Breganze machinery at least as much as Bimm's.

It is too sad they wrecked the originals, so your project alongside the series based conversions and the Evum replicas has at least the same right to exist, and is more than welcome. And - I always asked myself how a frame with those wide loops will 'do' compared to that very tight bundled BM package - you might be able to tell us

 Bertl

I'm very sorry if it came across as an argument, I was just trying to explain the process which led to my creation.
It is indeed a shame the originals were destroyed but I understand why and appreciate the logic of why BMW went with an in-house design and G/S rather than enduro/ISDT approach Laverda promoted. In the end it was a great decision by BMW, G/S becoming a best seller and saving the motorcycle division.

 

[ISDT79]

Ich habe noch ein Detail von der oberen Federbeinaufnahme gefunden. Sie ist leicht aus der Mitte versetzt, um Platz für den Auspuff zu machen:

Gruß

Werner

 

[John Tracey]

Ich habe noch ein Detail von der oberen Federbeinaufnahme gefunden. Sie ist leicht aus der Mitte versetzt, um Platz für den Auspuff zu machen:

Gruß

Werner

That's a very interesting picture thanks for posting and if you have any more I'd love to see them. If anyone is interested, last year Sandro Todeschini kindly sketched out the rear spring arrangement to help us with this project and I'm sure he would not mind me sharing it here