Photo and model information compliments
The World of Motorcycles
The Laverda motorcycle (Moto Laverda) subsidiary was an
offshoot of Laverda Macchine Agricole (Laverda S.p.A.),
an Italian manufacturer of agricultural equipment, farming
implements, and wine-making machinery in Breganze, Northern
Italy (Veneto) that dates back to 1873. The Laverda Motorcycle
company, known as Moto Laverda S.A.S, was started in 1949 by
Francesco Laverda (1910—1976), grandson of Laverda S.p.A.
founder Pietro Laverda (1845—1930).
The Laverda Macchine Agricole factory survived Allied bombing
during the 2nd World War, and the company was reinvented as Moto
Laverda (aka Dottore Francesco Laverda e fratelli, or
"Dr. Francesco Laverda & siblings"), capitalizing on the
motorcycle craze that swept across northern Italy just after
WWII. Moto Laverda's early motorbikes were conceived and
designed by Laverda brothers Pietro junior, Francesco, Giovanni
and Giorgio Laverda, along with Laverda's head of engineering,
Luciano Zen.
As was the case for most all of the Italian
motorcycle manufacturers during the late 1940, to early 1950s,
Moto Laverda focused on small-displacement bikes, built in the
Italian tradition of craftsmanship, and attention to detail,
combined with a durable 'tractor-like' build quality.
