The Bikes - 500 24 hour Barcelona 79
The 1979 500cc endurance was mechanically very similar to its 1978 predecessor, there were one or two mechanical changes and the factory experimented with a new cam shaft profile. The main difference was the fairing which had been reduced in size to a small bikini type arrangement which was mounted to a bracket on the headstock. This fairing gave improved access and was augmented by a new seat with a more aerodynamic profile . Magnesium sliders were fitted to the forks.
Returning to Barcelona for the 1979 24 hour race at Montjuic Park the team were once again rewarded with a first place in the 500cc class although this time the overall classification had dropped one place to 9th. It was the last significant outing for the works endurance 500s . After its Barcelona victory PK Davies’ bike was sent as a gift to UK importer Roger Slater who then took the bike to the USA when he emigrated there. Some years later he re-commissioned the bike and entered it in the notorious Carrera Panamerica road with its old pilot PK Davies who rode the bike to a 1st place in the 500 class and 2nd overall. Davies’ average speed for the 120 mile public road course was over 100mph!
That bike now resides in a private collection in the US , the bike in the Laverda collection is the other 1979 machine ridden by Barba and Ricard in the Barcelona 24 hour event.
Technical Specs
Type; 500 endurance ‘Barcelona 24hr
Year; 1979
Displacement ; 497cc
Engine type; DOHC 4 valve twin cylinder
Frame type; steel, double cradle
Transmission; 6 speed
Power output; 60bhp
Maximum speed; 210kph
Number produced; 2
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