MV Agusta Superveloce 800 - Presentation (1)

   

   Surfing the internet I came across the new motorcycles for 2019. Among the machines one particular motorcycle from Italia in an astonishing traditional red and silver paint shop immediately caught my eyes – the MV Agusta Superveloce 800.

MV Agusta Superveloce 800 from MV Agusta's Official Homepage

   Nearly every motorcycle manufacturer has a modern ‘retro’ bike in its portfolio, if it is Triumph with their Modern Classics Street Twins (7 different models!), BMW R nine T variations, Kawasaki Z 900 RS and Cafe models; the list seems to be endless.
   Strange, like the 1970s, they heyday of the super-bikes, some characteristics in these classics remain even after all these years: the design philosophy. While one of MV Agusta's obvious competitor, the BMW R nineT Racer, which also has fairing, remains very coarse (rough) compared to the new Superveloce 800. From the design the Agusta seems sleeker and much more refined. 

   A bike like the MV Agusta I would place on a turntable in my living room not only to be shown to my dear friends but also to discuss the design clues found on this bike. Or enjoying a fine glass of wine while admiring the 'art of motorcycle design'.

BMW R nineT Racer from BMW's Official Homepage

   It might be possible that younger readers are not familiar with the Italian brand MV Agusta, therefore I would like to introduce the company.    
   MV Agusta, originally Meccanica (Mechanics), Verghera (a small town, where the first MVs were made, in the municipality of Samarate, in the province of Varese, region Lombardia) Agusta, was formed as an offshoot of the Agusta aviation company formed by Count Giovanni Agusta on February 1923 near Milan in Cascina Costa, Italy. The Count died in 1927 and left the company in the hand of his wife and his sons.

   To save the jobs of the employees and the obvious need for cheap transportation in Italy the Count Vincenzo and his brother Domenico formed MV Agusta after World War II. 

MV 98, MV Agusta's first Motorcycle in 1945 (from MV Agusta's Official Homepage)

   Both of them were passionate about racing and in 1948 entered the Italian Grand Prix on a 125 cc two-stroke engine. Franco Bertoni won in Monza and put the manufacturer on the map. Other races were won and finally in 1952 the Britain Cecil Sandford made the dream of the 1st world championship on a MV Agusta 125 Bialbero come true. The winning streak continued with world championships in all four GP classes: 125 cc, 250 cc, 350 cc and 500 cc. 
   The secret was that Count Domenico Agusta had a sense for hiring the best engineers like Arturo Magni (1925-2015) who was fundamental in developing the brand's 350 and 500 cc three cylinder GP engines and, the pinnacle of MV engineering, the four cylinder engines, which led the marque to 17 (!) consecutive 500 cc world championships (1958-1974). Racers like Phil Read, Giacomo Agostini, Mike Hailwood, John Surtees were world champions on MVs.

Giacomo Agostini (shown in a photo from 1965) won 311 races, incl. 125 World Championship events, 10 Isle of Man's TTs, 13 World Championships and 18 Italian Titles.

(from MV Agusta's Official Homepage)

   Unfortunately, like many other Italian manufacturers, with the death of Count Domenico Agusta (28 Feb. 1907 - 2 Feb 1971) the company lost its heart and soul. At the end of the 1976 season the company unfolded its racing department after 270 Grand Prix Motorcycle races, 38 World Riders' Championships and 37 World Constructors' Championships.

   MV Agusta was forced to look for financial partners; EFIM (Ente Partecipazioni e Finanziamento Industria Manifatturiera) demanded that the company has to sell off the ir motorcycle business to be consolidated.

   What followed could be described as a voyage of the marquee between different owners. In 1991 Cagiva, another Italian motorcycle manufacturer, purchased the MV Agusta name and trademark and introduced the 1st MV Agusta motorcycle in 1997. 1999 the Cagiva group was restructured with MV Agusta as the main division comprising Cagiva and Husqvarna, a Swedish off-road motorcycle manufacturer. Heavily in debt, the company was bought by the Malaysian car maker Proton in 2004 which sold MV Agusta to GEVI spa, a Genoa based financing company in 2005. Husqvarna was sold to BMW. On 08 Aug 2008 Harley Davidson announced 'the completion of the privately-held Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta. The company has acquired 100%..." On 06 Aug 2010 'Harley Davidson, Inc. has concluded the sale of its subsidiary, MV Agusta, to Claudio Castiglioni and his wholly owned holding company, MV Agusta Motor Holding, S.r.l., effective today.'

   The owner Claudio Castiglioni announced a long term partnership with the brand and the acquisition of a 25% stake with Mercedes-AMG on 31 Oct. 2014.

   Hopefully the company will not be sold to investors from the Mainland China who stick Italian brand names (Benelli, Moto Morini) on their bikes. I hope MV Agusta keeps innovating exciting Italian products to consolidate their business. 

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro, voted 'Most Beautiful Motorcycle of EICMA 2018'

(continued @ https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/11/mv-agusta-superveloce-800-presentation-2.html)

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