The heart of the bike is, of course, the engine. I believe the Laverda triple motor is a work of art. I would really like to have one on a stand in my living room, just to admire. Those of us in the know (and that isn't only me) believe that, despite the legendary status of the Jota, this original Mirage (not the later soft ones) was Laverda's best bike. The engine is fantastic - it has torque right through the range, pulling comfortably from 1,500rpm. But if you want to fly, try keeping it spinning over 5,000. Fun.

I knew one owner who said "it's a great wheely bike... 70 in 3rd, snap it open, up it comes...". I've always accepted his word for it !

So here's a closer look at that piece of aluminium art (click picture for larger version). I should have got the Solvol out before I took this shot !
Close up of Laverda Mirage engine

Silencers are Kiehan stainless, bought at the BMF show in 1983. Downpipes & collector box are Armour stainless, bought a few years later (Kiehan didn't do them at the time, but I've no complaints about the Armour's).

Laverda Mirage speedo & rev counter
The clocks, classic Nippon Denso. Shown mileage 48,800 is slightly under because of a couple of broken speedo cables in years gone by - actually it's probably just around 50,000.
One thing that puzzles me is why every on Honda clock of this age the red line faded to orange years ago, but here it remains resolutely red ! Just a shame they couldn't get it at the right revs !!		 Laverda chaincase on the Mirage
This is a shot of the chaincase - a Laverda factory accessory, not the more well known Peter Furlong version. Fitted by the original owner, it is wonderful for chain life & cleanliness. Although, this was not helped by the loss of the rear cover many years ago. it's somewhere by the track at Cadwell. A price for a great day !
Laverda & 2 rally commemorative bottles
Click the picture for a larger version		 I've been to quite a few rallies on the Mirage over the years, mostly Laverda club & many BMFs in the old days It was a regular on the ILOC stand in the 80s.
These bottles commemorate a couple of great ones - the Dutch Laverda owners 10th and suitably norther Newcastle Brown from the Carts Bog Inn ILOC Intenational in '91.
2 stickers on Laverda
I've never been a great fan of stickers on my bikes, but occasionally feel something justifies recording. So here are the two. The Forza Italia is the great rally the French club organised at the factory in 1983, a truly amazing event. The little red creature in a Arkansas Razorback - the sole visible memento of the US trip on the bike.


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