
MV Agusta Motorcycles
Count Giovanni Agusta, a young aristocrat with a passion for flying like so many in the era just after the Wright Brothers, founded the Agusta aeronautics company in 1907 in northern Italy, near today’s Malpensa Airport. Business boomed during World War I. By 1927, the Count had died, the airplane biz had grown less profitable, and Count Domenico – son of Giovanni – decided to diversify into motorcycles.
The airplane business took off again during the Second World War, but when the war ended, airplane production was banned in Italy. Motorcycles thus became the primary focus, and Meccanica Verghera was established in 1945, in the village of Verghera. In fact, Count Domenico had seen the writing on the wall as early as 1943, and by that year an engine was already set to power the kind of inexpensive, simple machine an impoverished postwar Italy would need – a 98 cc two-stroke. They wanted to call the new motorcycle that would carry it “Vespa,” but that name was already taken, and so the first bike was simply called MV 98.
In late October, 1945, the press was shown a preproduction model of the 98. It had a steel-tube rigid frame, a girder fork, 19-inch wheels and big letters on the gas tank: MV. The Turismo version – with three-speed gearbox and rear suspension – was so popular the Economica version was shortly dropped.
By 1947, racing was on, and Franco Bertoni won MV Agusta its first race at Carate Brianza, near Milan. In 1952, MV won its first world championship in the 125 cc class, and in September of that year, Leslie Graham won MV its first 500 cc Grand Prix, on the hallowed Monza circuit.
In 1955, the Count acquired the license to begin production of Bell Helicopters, which re-injected the latest technology into the motorcycle department as well; MV’s racers from then on were constructed using the same high-tech casting, forging and machining techniques used in the manufacture of helicopters. MV continued to sell small numbers of exotic road bikes, but it was helicopters that made Count Domenico a wealthy man, and from then on racing became more of a hobby. In 1956, the Count hired the already legendary John Surtees, and was rewarded with MV’s first 500 cc world championship.

Yes MV Agusta made scooters, plenty of them – including the 1960 Chicco, with 155 cc two-stroke power.
Beginning in 1966, the great Giacomo Agostini won seven 500 cc world championships for MV in a row, as well as six consecutive 350 cc titles (the seventh came on a Yamaha, in 1974) – and ten Isle of Man TTs as well.
In 1965, the MV Agusta 600 appeared at the Milan Trade Fair – the world’s first production motorcycle with a transverse inline four-cylinder engine, beating the CB750 to the punch by four years.
By 1970, the four-cylinder had expanded to 743 cc, and was powering some of the most beautiful and exclusive motorcycles in the world.

Wiki says 583 750 S models were produced from 1970 to `75, and that, “When one of these rarities reaches the used vehicle market, very high prices are achieved.” (John Burns photo)
During its heyday, MV Agusta recorded 75 World Championships and 270 GP wins, under most of the era’s greatest riders also including Hocking, Hailwood, Read, Ubbiali and Provini. In 1971, though, with the death of Count Domenico, the factory lost its way, and sold its last motorcycle in 1980.
In 1991, the MV Agusta name was acquired by Claudio Castigliano and his Cagiva Group. The F4 750 Serie Oro was first revealed at the 1997 EICMA Show in Milan, and the first production models released to the public in May 1999.
Designed by Massimo Tamburini at CRC (Cagiva Research Center), as the follow-up to his other masterwork, the Ducati 916, the F4 was also hailed as the most beautiful motorcycle the world had seen, in its distinctive red and silver livery with gold wheels. The F4 engine featured hemispherical cylinder heads with a radial four-valve layout, as well as a level of sophisticated put-togetherness the world had not previously seen from Italian motorcycles.
The F4 later grew to become a series of F4 1000 models, and in 2013 MV began producing a range of F3 three-cylinder sport and naked models in 675 and 800 cc displacements.
In the last 20 years, MV Agusta has gone through a series of owners, including Harley-Davidson and Proton, and has been rescued from several near-death experiences by strategic partnerships with the likes of Mercedes-Benz AMG. Most recently, says Wiki, MV Agusta Motor CEO Timur Sardarov has entered into an agreement with the Chinese Loncin Motor Company in 2019, to jointly produce 350 and 500 cc motorcycles. Development work and production will be carried out by MV, using the existing 675/800 cc triple as a base for the engine. Sardarov was founder of Russian investment company, Black Ocean Group, and the son of oil tycoon Rashid Sardarov.
A couple of our favorite MV Agustas include:
New for 2016, this heavily revised naked benefitted greatly from an all-new chassis with increased stability and better suspension. A backward-rotating crankshaft in the 798 cc, 116-horsepower triple helps keep it quick-steering and precise. In the ensuing years, this great engine has found its way into a whole family of diverse 800s.
MV’s first attempt at sport-touring entered the picture in 2016, and one of its latest iterations is this SCS, featuring a hands-free American-manufactured Rekluse Smart Clutch System (SCS) in the 798 triple, along with the typical sexy Italian styling that includes lockable/removable hard saddlebags. That’s Lusso for luxury, which there’s plenty of in addition to MV’s storied performance.
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MV Agusta Teams Up With e-Novia For A Tech-Driven Riding Experience
MV Agusta and e-Novia are looking for ways to incorporate big data into the riding experience more -
MV Agusta Renovates Styling And Design Center, Hires New Chief Designer
Stephane Zache takes the helm as MV's Chief Designer more -
Limited Edition MV Agusta Superveloce Alpine Sold Out Within Hours
Well, that didn't take long. more -
MV Agusta Teams Up With Motorsport Legend Alpine For Superveloce Limited Edition
Limited Edition? How does only 110 units sound? more -
Limited Edition 75th Anniversary MV Agusta Sold Out In Seconds
All 75 of the Superveloce 75 Anniversario limited edition specials were sold out in seconds. Seconds! more -
2020 MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR Tech Presentation Video
You be the motojournalist more -
MV Agusta Reorganizes Its CRC Design Center
Adrian Morton is out, Giorgio Mazzotti is in, among other personnel changes. more -
MV Agusta Adds Another Year To Its Warranty
The extended warranty applies to MV Agusta motorcycles bought during the month of June more -
MV Agusta Continues Support To Varese Hospital And Laveno Care Home
MV Agusta collaborating with eXor to donate Personal Protective Equipment. more -
By Popular Demand, The MV Agusta Superveloce 800 Will Get Two New Colors
Motorcycle art, indeed... more -
MV Agusta Spring Promotion: Special Parts Kit To First 100 New Models Sold Before May 31
MV's offering some trick bits for free if you snatch up a new model before the end of May. more -
MV Agusta Extends Warranty On All Its Bikes Another 3 Months
MV Agusta is extending its warranty in response to the global Coronavirus pandemic. more -
MV Agusta Secures Funding To Execute Its 5-Year Plan
MV Agusta isn't going anywhere for a while more -
MV Agusta Extends Online Orders For Entirety Of Model Range
Now all MV Agusta models are available for online ordering more -
MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro and Superveloce 800 Serie Oro Sold-Out Only Days After Launch
In total, these 600 motorcycles (300 apiece) sold out in days after a social media pre-order launch. Impressive. more -
2020 MV Agusta Superveloce 800
Droolo bellissima... more -
MV Agusta Announce 2019 Dragster 800 RR America
The red, white, and blue edition of the Dragster 800 RR will be available in just 200 units globally more -
MV Agusta Brutale 800 and F3 675 Available In Reduced Power Models For Tiered Licensing
While this won’t affect our U.S. readers, we thought you might like to see how interested MV Agusta is in capturing the affection of newer riders as they climb their way through the licensing tiers. Begin Press Release: BRUTALE 800 and F3 675 35kW Varese (Italy), 9th January 2019 – All the excitement of riding an […] more -
This Is What Happens When Lewis Hamilton Gets His Hands On A MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR
Lewis Hamilton is no stranger to motorcycles and this MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR LH44 is something he describes as "Naked Perfection." more -
The MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR America is Here
Every red-blooded Amurican needs one more -
2018 MV Agusta Brutale 800RR Pirelli Announced
MV Agusta can’t beat its big competitors in sales numbers, but the bijou Italian company is proving to be the leader in special-edition motorcycles. Joining the several RC (Reparto Corse) special derivatives of assorted models is now a Pirelli edition of the Brutale 800RR to celebrate the Italian tire company’s partnership as MV’s sole tire […] more -
MV Agusta Buys Back Mercedes-AMG shares, Teases New Four-Cylinder Platform for 2018
MV Agusta announced today that it has bought back the 25% share of the company owned by Mercedes-AMG and has “rationalized” its product pipeline to consolidate its positioning in the super-premium sportbike market. Additionally, the first of an all-new four-cylinder platform will be revealed in 2018. 2018 MV Agusta F4 RC Revealed Begin Press Release […] more -
MV Agusta Recall Certain 2017 Brutale 800 Dragster RR Motorcycles
Certain 2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 Dragster RR motorcycles are being recalled due to spokes on the rear wheel coming loose, which could potentially ruin your day. Owners need not to fret though, MV Agusta will handle it for $free.99. Begin Press Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 13, 2017 MV AGUSTA RECALL: Rear Wheel Spokes […] more -
MV Agusta Mentions 2018 Models And Restructuring Plans
With ComSar Invest and MV Agusta said to have completed their restructure of the brand the question remains: Will this new partnership offer the long-needed stability the Italian marque could so desperately use? Only time will tell. more -
MV Agusta and Lewis Hamilton Combine Forces to Create The F4 LH44
Three Time F1 World Champion, Lewis Hamilton, and MV Agusta combine forces to create a super exclusive, fire-breathing superbike – The F4 LH44. Begin Press Release: MV AGUSTA F4 LH44 Varese, 28th September 2017 – Three Time F1 World Champion, Lewis Hamilton, and MV Agusta have collaborated to design a brand new bike, the F4 […] more -
MV Agusta and F1 Champ Lewis Hamilton Sign New Partnership
Three-time Formula 1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton, extends his partnership with MV Agusta after working together on the limited-edition Dragster RR LH. Now, after recently breaking the record for the most pole positions in F1 history, Hamilton will help influence the design of an upcoming MV. Begin Press Release After the great success obtained with […] more -
USA! USA! USA! Special Edition MV Agusta Brutale 800 America Announced
Just in time for the Fourth of July, MV Agusta announced a new special edition Brutale 800 in red, white and blue livery. The 2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 America pays tribute the company’s classic America range from the ’70s such as the similarly liveried 1973 MV Agusta 750S pictured above. MV Agusta will produce […] more -
MV Agusta RVS – Putting The Tease In Teaser Video
This new video teasing the MV Agusta RVS – Reparto Veicoli Speciali (Special Vehicles Operations) – contains almost no actual information. more -
MV Agusta Back In Positive Cash Flow Generation
MV Agusta appears to have the investment it needs to move forward more -
American PJ Jacobsen Fastest At WorldSSP Portimao Test
Jacobsen quickly settled into his MV Agusta F3 and made the fastest lap time recorded on the WorldSSP chart, with a 1’46 “229 lap time more -
PJ Jacobsen Riding MV Agusta F3 675 In 2017 World Supersport
Jacobsen looking to bring home MV Agusta's first World Supersport title more -
New MV Agusta Brutale 800RR
The new Brutale RR 800 takes the model presented at EICMA last year to new extremes more