Does my Zard have the DB killer installed?

I just got this Zard delivered to me today. Took it out of the box to look at it- I think it looks great! I know most prefer the black ceramic finish, but I elected to go with the satin stainless and I think it will be a nice look on the GRiSO- don't see hardly any GRiSO's with the satin finished Zard...

Anyway, my question is this- those of you who are familiar with or have the Zard, does mine already have the DB killer installed?

Zard from the back side (1)

Zard from the back side (2)

The reason I ask is, as you can see in the first photo, the pipe is of a straight-through design. But it does have the big circlip and the tri-ovalish shaped exhaust exit that I think is the dbk. I guess I always figured that exhausts with db killers weren't typically straight through. Also, there is a video or two out there of the Zard without the db killer installed, and it looks to be a much bigger and rounder exit than what you see when the db killer is installed.

Thanks for whatever light you can shed on this for me.

Cheers,

Ron

Yup, it has. If you wish to remove it take out the circlip and tug it out.

Pete

Pete Roper wrote:

Yup, it has. If you wish to remove it take out the circlip and tug it out.

Pete

+1

After you put it on and enjoy the sound, have a friend ride it past you. Sounds really great

Loud Italian goodness but not overly so.

Yes, that's the dB killer.

Mine is secured by a large circlip. I have tried to remove it to hear what it sounds like without the killer but it was a tight fitted circlip and I didn't pursue further. I am happy with the sound with dB killer on, so I left it as it is.

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Pete Roper wrote:

Yup, it has. If you wish to remove it take out the circlip and tug it out.

Pete

Thanks, Pete. I pretty much plan to leave it in, but maybe I'll give it a try just to satisfy my curiosity. I'll have to get the proper pliers first- that's a big'un.

Phang wrote:

Yes, that's the dB killer.

Mine is secured by a large circlip. I have tried to remove it to hear what it sounds like without the killer but it was a tight fitted circlip and I didn't pursue further. I am happy with the sound with dB killer on, so I left it as it is.

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Thanks, Phang. I gather the circlip is a bit tough to extract, even with the proper tool.

Love your Tenni, by the way.

I see you've figured out how to post a photo outright rather than link to photo. I think I came across somewhere how you managed it, but can't find anything on it...complicated?

The easiest way to post a photo here is by clicking the "Host an image" icon as shown.

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- Then, click "Choose File"

- Choose an image file from your computer

- click "Host it"

You will get an "Image url", copy it.

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Then click "Insert an image" icon

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Paste the image url you've copied earlier into the "URL" box and click "Insert"

Phang wrote:

The easiest way to post a photo here is by clicking the "Host an image" icon as shown.

- Then, click "Choose File"

- Choose an image file from your computer

- click "Host it"

You will get an "Image url", copy it.

Then click "Insert an image" icon

Paste the image url you've copied earlier into the "URL" box and click "Insert"

Thanks Phang! The FAQ's suggest that a public accessible web host would be the only way to post a photo, but this works great! Tried it out with this, which is a file photo of a bike I once had. My Laverda 750S was just like this one, bought in 1999. It was another bike that was wonderful in some aspects, but still needed development before it was going to be competitive for the price Laverda were asking. Unfortunately, before that could ever happen, Laverda were taken over by Aprilia (with good intentions, I believe) who themselves then had financial difficulties with the subsequent takeover by Piaggio, who elected to idle the marque. I believe Dungeonmaster had (or has) one- I'd be keen to hear his experiences with it. I traded mine for the V11 Sport, and didn't look back.



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Yes.
Silver/Orange half fairing. With a Termi pipe before that became a regular option. My Termi was a hi pipe and LOUD as Hell. I Loved it.
Very fun bike But I never got my front end dialed in right (should have lowered it another notch or two?)

But after coming off an SF2 the 1999 was Sooooo Smooth and refined I was confused by it. Of course the SF2 had a 360 crank and the Zane had a 180.
Then my crankshaft failed. I did get 18,000 miles out of it so I considered myself to have had a long life.
I would get another but only if I had the main bearings replaced with good ones.
I like to wonder if one can hang the SF2 motor in the Zane frame but looking at the picture above I'm pretty sure that won't work.
So in retrospect it was a bittersweet relationship born out of my fanatical devotion to the SF2. As soon as the delay settling home affairs is done I will get another SF2. Zane? maybe. SF2? ALWAYS.

DM

DungeonMaster wrote:

Yes.
Silver/Orange half fairing. With a Termi pipe before that became a regular option. My Termi was a hi pipe and LOUD as Hell. I Loved it.
Very fun bike But I never got my front end dialed in right (should have lowered it another notch or two?)

But after coming off an SF2 the 1999 was Sooooo Smooth and refined I was confused by it. Of course the SF2 had a 360 crank and the Zane had a 180.
Then my crankshaft failed. I did get 18,000 miles out of it so I considered myself to have had a long life.
I would get another but only if I had the main bearings replaced with good ones.
I like to wonder if one can hang the SF2 motor in the Zane frame but looking at the picture above I'm pretty sure that won't work.
So in retrospect it was a bittersweet relationship born out of my fanatical devotion to the SF2. As soon as the delay settling home affairs is done I will get another SF2. Zane? maybe. SF2? ALWAYS.

DM

Howdy DungeonMaster- I too had a half Laverda half fairing that I went back and forth to. I thought they each looked cool in their own way (half and full).
I believe the standard S' suspension was inferior to the Ohlins of the 750 Formula. Couldn't ever get the Paiolis dialed in, but if the road was smooth, I remember it handling wonderfully- the Niko Baker frame was well regarded, and I can attest to it giving a front end feel par excellence. The GRiSO is said to give good front end feel as well, but what with the little time I've had on mine I can't say it's even close to what I experienced with the Laverda. To be sure I'll have to fiddle with it, maybe go the Matris route at some point too if I can't get a reasonable result.
I also had the Termi high pipes- it barked all right. The bike was very short coupled, and in first gear the front end would come up on the throttle. Still, a 180 crank doesn't sound anything like a 360. Funny though- I assumed the SF series 750's were 180 cranks too. The modern Laverda 750's were very smooth, almost devoid of vibration, so I can imagine it being a completely different experience from the SF series 750's. The modern ones look nice enough, but no comparison to the SF series- those bikes just looked right. The castings were gorgeous imo. I agree, the SF engine would probably be a poor fit in the Zane Laverda's; it's a much larger unit by the looks of it.

Here's an interesting bit of trivia. Not all of Evel Knievel's jumps were done on Triumph and Harley 750's. Here's a photo of him jumping an "American Eagle" 750,- a Laverda, essentially. He used it from December 1969 to April of 1970.

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Oh, and in case you were wondering, this particular jump didn't end well. Cracked vertebrata, broken shoulder, broken hand.

Here's another photo of his Laverda.

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Here he is testing rear-wheel traction! (Image blatantly stolen from the Internet (http://projektorange.blogspot.com/2012/10/evel-knievelund-laverda-750.html))

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Doing stunts on a bike that heavy?!