ClassicMC.no

Hand-built in 33 copies

The old Italian crossed himself after counting the cooling fins on the orange Laverda. He realized that it was a real SFC 750. Perhaps it was no wonder that he crossed himself. Laverda SFC 750 is a legendary endurance racer that made it big in the first half of the 70s. It was developed from the twin SF 750, with increased power, lower weight and better handling.

Text and photo: Borgvald Moen

  • Brembo; only the best is good enough

Hand-built

The SFC 750 was hand-built in a total of 549 copies, in the years from 1970 to 1976. In the last year, in April 1976, 33 copies were produced, and one of these is owned by Håkon Thorstensen (64) from Nærbø on Jæren. He says that 26 of the 33 still exist, but his own is said to be the only one in Scandinavia. It was bought new at Lelles MC in Stockholm in 1976, and sold to Tønsberg in 1996, before Håkon was able to buy it three years ago.

  • Incredibly beautiful racing coat

72,000 euros

- I knew the guy who owned it in Tønsberg. He contacted me one day and said that he was starting to get old, so he wondered if I would take over the SFC, says Håkon. He already has a nice collection of Italian motorcycles, and sold two of them to finance the SFC. He does not want to say how much he paid for it, but says that a similar machine was sold for 72,000 euros. - I think that is a record.

  • The SFC has a few more cooling fins than the more common SF. True Laverda enthusiasts know this...

Must use the engine

When Håkon took over the bike, it was in need of renovation, but nothing major really. There was a full round of painting, and service on the engine. - It was only running on one cylinder, but it was actually just a faulty plug. Now it runs fine, but you have to have an active riding style for it to work well. - You have to use the engine, and then there should preferably be no speed limits, chuckles Håkon.

  • The entire bike is characterized by simple and beautiful details.

23 Italian and 1 British

In total, he currently has 24 motorcycles, of which 23 are Italian, and the last one is a Norton Commando . - It was the first heavy motorcycle I owned. I bought it when I was 16-17 years old. I haven't had it all the time, but I was lucky and was able to buy it back a few years ago, says Håkon. Apart from the Commando, there are only Italian motorcycles in Håkon's "stable".

  • The 25-liter fuel tank is attached with quick-release couplings, and was quickly replaced with a full tank during the race. It was faster than filling a full tank, according to Håkon Thorstensen.

Notice the Laverdas

Why? - I actually have a pretty broad interest in motorcycles, but noticed the Laverdas when I saw some World Championship rounds in Sweden. Then there was a guy in Arendal who sold SFs for a few years, I think he sold ten or eleven of them, says Håkon.

  • Spartan instrumentation

Very early out

- The Italians are unique in terms of what they put into the development of motorcycles. They were very early with advanced engines, and even before the war Gilera was racing with supercharged, transverse inline-fours with double overhead cams. And Moto Guzzi had a V8 racer, emphasizes Håkon. He also points to skilled and visionary individuals as crucial to Italian motorcycle development.

  • The short 2-1 system emphasizes the racing style

Counted the heat sinks

Every summer he and his wife push a few Italian classics into a van, then head to the Alps with friends for day trips on perfect winding roads. It was during a break on one such trip that an elderly Italian squatted down and counted the cooling fins on the SFC. The racing bike has a few more cooling fins than the more common SF.

  • There was a full round of painting when Håkon Thorstensen took over Laverdaen three years ago.

Crossed himself

-After counting them, he went back to his friends, and they had an enthusiastic discussion about the matter. Then he went back and counted again. Then he stood up and crossed himself. I thought that was a bit funny, chuckles the witty Håkon Thorstensen.

  • Håkon Thorstensen exhibited his Laverda racer at the Oslo Motor Show last weekend

Technical data Laverda SFC 750, 1976 model: 

  • Transverse parallel twin, SOHC
  • Displacement: 744 cc
  • Bore/stroke: 80 mm x 74 mm
  • Power: 75 hp at 7500 rpm
  • Tank: 25 liters
  • Wheelbase: 1480 mm
  • Weight: 206 kg
  • Top speed: Approximately 220 km/h