500

1979 Laverda 500 Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Engineered by Laverda for the sport motorcycle segment, the 1979 Laverda 500 pairs a 496 cc (30.3 cu in) air-cooled twin, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 45 HP (32.8 kW) at 8,200 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 6-speed gearbox and chain final drive. With a specific output of 90.7 HP per liter, the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the 500 measures 189 kg (417 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.24 HP/kg (4.2 kg per horsepower). The 13.5-liter (3.6 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 167 km/h (104 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Laverda archive, this model family spans 5 indexed model years from 1977 to 1981, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.