Essentially perfect. Occasionally ridden on fine days or parades. Laverda was bought out by Aprilia in 2000 and only prototypes have been made under that name since, so this is one of the last.

My wife bought it because it looked beautiful, and indeed it is a rather pretty machine, tricked out by the factory with a silver paint job (even, for heaven's sake, anodized pink trim).

It is, so far as we can tell, all original and in exceptional condition. This rare semi-race machine is water-cooled and in racing tune. Design includes Termignoni pipes, Brembo brakes, and an alloy box frame by a famous Dutch works (a very high-tech aluminium thing, made by Bakker FrameBouw).

All this contributes to its wonderful handling (It's remarkably light, and handles better than any other machine I can recall including my Ducati).

As to power, this 750S generates far more oomph than I thought a slant 750 twin could. Not even my 900SS would beat it off the mark.