The best of VMD: When one Laverda's not enough

A lot of motorcyclists can relate to Cor Dees (right), owner of the Laverda Museum in Lisse, Holland. In 1988, Dees bought his first Laverda. It was the first of many.

"I've had a lot of motorcycles -- Japanase, BSA, Royal Enfield – but I always wanted to have my own Laverda," Dees says. "I told myself that once my company got settled, the first thing would be to buy a Laverda. I did, and it was love at first sight."

Then Dees bought another, and another. In the early 1990s, he started attending swap meets in Italy, where he says Laverdas could be had for a quarter of the price back in Holland.

"I'd buy five, sell two and have three for free," he says.

That went on for several years. Then, before Dees knew it, he had one of the world's most impressive Laverda collections.

"I own 75 production bikes, all types of everything. Then there are seven prototypes and eight factory original racers," Dees says.

One of Dees most impressive machines is a Laverda V6. Only two were made. The original debuted at the Milan show in 1977 and was subsequently raced at the 24-hour Bol D’or race in 1978 on the Le Castellet circuit in France. That bike is still owned by the Laverda family. The second V6 was assembled in 1991 from spare parts. Dees purchased it from Italian collectors in 2007.

With Laverda the Classic Club for this year's AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, it gave Dees the perfect opportunity to show off some of his machines.

The Laverda family also took part in the celebration of their family's heritage. Giovanni and Piero Laverda, who also gave a presentation on the history of the marque, rode their V6 and a Spondon 1200cc in part of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association program on the Mid-Ohio road race course.

Giovanni, grandson of company founder, says the V6 is quite unique to ride.

"It's fantastic, a bit heavy for this type of track, but it is very smooth running," he says. "It's a V6 set parallel to the frame, so there's no gyroscopic effect from the crankshaft."

In terms of power, he says the V6 is impressive, even by today's standards.

"It revs to 11,000 rpm and has a breaking horsepower of 145. This is a bike designed 30 years ago, so very good for it's time," he says. "They were thinking about production then, and it was so powerful, that the chain stretched too much for a production bike. So they tested shaft drive, even though it's a racing bike."

The Laverda V6 is 996cc, with a bore and stroke of 65mm x 50mm. It's also one of the earlier examples of a racebike that used the engine as a stressed member of the frame, Giovanni says.

You can find more information about the Laverda Museum, and the Laverda V6, at www.laverdamuseum.nl.