Sportbikes

1997Laverda 668

22 fields on record

The 1997 Laverda 668 is a lightweight sport twin best suited for riders seeking nimble handling and approachable performance. Its air-cooled 668cc engine delivers 70 horsepower with a power-to-weight ratio favoring agility over raw speed, making it ideal for technical roads and everyday riding. Known for its mechanical simplicity and Italian character, the 668 represents an accessible entry point to the sport category.

Capacity: 668.0 ccm
Engine: Parallel Twin, four-stroke
Gearbox: 6-speed
Dry weight: 185.0 kg
Seat height: 760 mm
Power: 70.0 HP (51.5 kW) @ 8000 RPM

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How it rides

Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested

Off-road & trail15%

Cornering75%

City riding55%

Daily riding50%

Touring40%

Two-up30%

Track60%

Best for: A classic Italian sport twin built for spirited backroad riding and weekend cornering fun rather than outright top-speed bragging rights.
Built for: Has the raw, mechanical charm typical of a Laverda air-cooled twin, with a torquey character and a distinctive exhaust note that rewards engaging riding.
Not ideal for: Not ideal for riders seeking plush long-distance comfort, off-road capability, or modern electronic rider aids.

Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.

Will it fit you?

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Your height

Inseam (optional)

Units

At 760mm, a rider of 68.9" with a 31" (estimated) inseam will reach the ground with both feet flat on the 1997 Laverda 668, with a cramped knee angle of around 65 degrees and a forward-leaning riding position.

Assumes about 30mm of suspension sag once seated. This is an approximation from category-typical geometry, not a measurement of this bike or of you - sit on one before you buy.

More bikes at 751-820 mm — Middle Ground →

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Reliability & safety

Bike Reliability score, safety recalls and owner complaints

Bike Reliability

How the score works →

out of 100Good

The Laverda 668 passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 86.4% of the time, 3.6 points above expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 64% of models.

Bikes first registered in 1997 have 87 tests, too few for their own score, so this covers every year.

86.4%Passed first time

9.7%Failed outright

4.0%Fixed during test

10,000Typical miles

176Tests

Pass rate by miles ridden

0-10k

89.4%

10-20k

84.7%

All years of this model.

Against its rivals · ranks 2 of 6

#	Model (all years)	Score	Tests
1	Ducati 750 SS	70 Good	1,134
2	Laverda 668	64 Good	176
3	Honda CBR600F	52 Average	255,924
4	Suzuki GSX-R750	47 Average	145,807
5	Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja	37 Below average	175,171
6	Yamaha FZR 600	21 Below average	12,894

Rivals are the most-viewed bikes on MotorcycleDB in the same category and engine size, from within three years of this model.

From British annual roadworthiness tests, 2005-2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA MOT test data, Great Britain). How Bike Reliability works.