MV Agusta
From Free net encyclopedia
MV Agusta is a motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1945 by Count Domenico Agusta near Milan in Cascina Costa, Italy.
MV Agusta began as an aircraft manufacturer. They produced their first prototype, ironically called "Vespa," in 1945. After learning of Piaggio's scooter of the same name, it was changed to MV 98.
The company successfully manufactured small-displacement, quintessential Café racer style motorcycles (mostly 125-150cc) through the 1950s and 60s. In the 60s small motorcycle sales declined, and MV started producing larger displacement cycles in more limited quantities. A 250cc, and later a smart 350cc twin were produced, A 600cc four-cylinder evolved into a 750cc which is still extremely valuable today. The company stopped producing motorcycles in 1980, but the Agusta company continued on with its successful helicopter business.
Count Agusta was a fanatic for motorcycle racing, and was determined to have the best Grand Prix motorcycle racing team in the world. He achieved this goal by hiring some of the best riders of the time, namely Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, John Surtees, Carlo Ubbiali, Mike Hailwood, and others, and having the best engineers, most notably Arturo Magni. MV won more world titles in the 50s-70s than any other motorcycle manufacturer in history.
The MV Agusta name was resurrected in 1997. It was purchased by Cagiva, who manufactured the new MV motorcycles. The new range were four-cylinder 750cc sports machines (the F4 range), which include a series of limited production run models, such as the all black paint work SPR model ("Special Production Racing")which was featured in the movie "I Robot"and in 2004, they introduced their first 1000cc bike. 2004 marked the end of production for the 750 sports machines, with a limited production of 300 SR ("Special Racing") model in the traditional red and silver livery. They also produce a range of 750 and 910 "naked" bikes called the Brutale. Production is somewhat limited, as it is the policy of the company to produce an elite machine similar to Ferrari in motor cars. They do not compete directly with Japanese manufacturers, whose motorcycles typically sell for considerably less than the cost of an MV. Rather they compete with other Italian models such as Ducati sports bikes the 996, 998, 999, and the naked Monster. In recent publications, the MV has been highly praised as one of the best handling motorcycles ever created. Claimed horsepower of the new 1000F4 is 166, although dyno tests suggest it is more in the range of 151-158, in stock performance mode, a condition generally resolved by simple after market adjustments. For 2005, MV introduced the Tamburini 1000, which is named after its creator, Massimo Tamburini, who previously worked for Moto Guzzi, and most recently Ducati. Cycle World magazine named it the best sportbike in the world. Tamburini designed the Ducati 916 sports bike (predecessor of the 748 and 996 series) which marked the return of Ducati as a successful motorcycle manufacturer over the last decade. The MV August F4 refined the innovative design of the 916.
Heavily indebted, the manufacturer was bought by Malaysian carmaker Proton in December 2004 for 70 million euros. In December 2005 however, Proton decided to cut its ties with Augusta and sold it to a Genoa-based financing company related to Carige for a token euro.
See also
External links
- MV Agusta Motorcycles SpA
- MV Agustas and other Italian Motorcycles(Wheels Of Italy)
- Classic MV Agusta page with registry, literature, and sale/wantedde:MV Agusta
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