Lllilul[Lllilil[|L[[Ll Lllllr Rt!I0
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
. AE0'5 AU55!E ilU AEUSII F0UR o ERlt BAI|A IESIS EX0Tlt APRILIA wfni! lllilUl[Lllilil[|l[[ll lllllr rt!I0 )WORDS & PHOTOS: IAN FALLOON M IHEBI|LIAilITHE Lbert Bold is representative the historic 1799 house and was S in the Gerrnan magazine, Das of a dying breed. Not merely responsible for every detail from Motonad. "Looking at the motor," he a mechanic, Bold is a pJ.umbing to wiring. But Bold's real says, "it was the most beautlful thing I craftsman and perfectionist, passion is for classic MV Agusta had ever seen." not happy with anlthing unless he motorcycles. Although his German By the time he was 19, Bold had does it himself. Take his home in father was the US importer of BMW acquired his first MV four, "a blown rual Pennsylvania on the outskirts of motorcycles during the 1930s, when up 600", and over the past 40 years Philadelphia, USA. Singlehandedly, he was 14 years old the young Albert has earned a reputation as one Bold spent 10 years restoring saw a picture of an MV Agusta 750 of the few that really understand 9O mctrader.com.au , 3: lll * t,ri these complex bikes. Despite the an ex-Bold 750 seriousiy The problem with building MV distractions ofbuilding his house and frightened him on a Iap at the specials is finding a suitable donor working on specialised projects, Bold Phillip Island Classic. engine. Julian had earlier approached is also always on the lookout for MV "Powering through the Hayshed at Giovanni Magni in Samarate, Italy, fours in any condition. In early 2011, around 140km/h or so, the bike simply to build a Magni special but as only he stumbled on a 600 "in very ratty went out of control," ]ulian says. "The around 1300 engines were built (over condition". marshals watching thought my day a 10-year period) they couldn't find an Coincidentally, on the other side had come. The America is a great bike engine. A chance phone call to Albert of the world, ]ulian Mclean, general but very hear,y and it just doesn't like Bold put the two together and saw marlager of Tahbilk Winery in abrupt changes in direction," he adds. Albert embarking on building arguably Nagambie, Victoria, was looking to "It was time to retire the old girl and the ultimate MV four. "I gave Albert build a better-handling MV four out of possibly use the engine as a donor for the go-ahead with the instruction to his existing America. Mclean olrryrs a better-handling bike." leave no stone unturned," says ]ulian. mctrader.com.au 91 NUTS AND BOLTS conversion, Albert fitted a Magni dry adapters. The ignition timing has a For the 600cc engine Albert retained clutch. "The primary reason for the fixed advance, the timing determined the stock crankshaft with a 56mm dry clutch is to reduce weight, but it by riding. "We'll start at 30 degrees stroke, but with Carrillo one-piece con- turned out to be extremely difficult to and go from there," says Albert. rods. The standard MV crankshafts fit. Fiiting the chain drive conversion The exhaust system is also hand are incredibly strong, pressed together is also not a straightforward operation crafted from steel, with 32mm header with split internal bearings and and requires special skills." pipes. Albert made two t1pes, a generously supported by a bolted- When it came to carburettors Albert 4-into-1 and one with four individual together, alloy cralk rack. The forged, megaphones as pictured here. "I 71mm Arias pistons are machined started with some swimming pool from blanks, the displacement BB7cc. ladders and they make a great pipe. Dave Kay, another MV four expert, They also polish up like they are supplied the high performance intake chromed." HEtffiT also makes camshaft with a standard intake The 4-into-1 exhaust camshaft on the exhaust. This is usual resisted the temptation to fit a bark 11kW (15hp) more power than the MV four hot-rod practice. Albert made of larger Dell'Ortos as is often done megaphones while weighing less. the titanium intake and stainless steel with MV four-cylinder specials. Fortunately, Albert had many of the exhaust valves with the largest intake "Four PHBH 28mm carbs are fine for chassis components on hand for this possible, re-contouring the head to this engine," says Albert, "but they project. About four years earlier he had accommodate the larger pistons. required specially machined titanium acquired a Magni ftame, alloy tank, One of the few things Albert doesn't linkages and bell mouths." and EPM wheels from Giovanni. The do himself is cylinder head porting. The attention to detail is staggering, Magni frame is considered de rigueur He sent the 600 cylinder head to Mike Albert explaining that the spring rate for modified MV fours, the special Hubsher of Lazer PorLing in nearby in the linkages needed to be changed twin tube frame being similar to that Pottstornryr, Pennsylvania. "Mike has so all the slides acted evenly. He also on the racing 750 Imola 200 racer been doing drag racing porting for went to the trouble of matching the of tgzz. Manufactured by Giovanni 25 years and is one of the best," says carb colours by blasting the bodies. in lightweight chromoly tubing, the Albert. "He moved the intake ports frame includes a removable left-side up and repaired some inherent faults BRIGHT SPARK dortryrtube and lower rail to facilitate peculiar to this head." Albert remains old school when engine removal, and the upper The five-speed transmission in the it comes to ignition systems. "The sections are sleeved for strength. original 6oo is one of the weakest original factory racers had a magneto The swingarm is constructed of box- components in the design so an ignition from a Mercury outboard and section steel, with plain Teflon bushes America gearbox was installed. Along this US-built Keikhaeffer Model eD is and the rear axle is carried in an with the usual Magni chain drive a copy of that magneto. With only five eccentric mount for chain adjustment. wires, it is a lot easier than a battery." With a rake of 27 degrees, 110mm Below:The PHBH 28mm carbs required specially Of course, installation was not of trail and a 1450mm wheelbase, machined titanium linkages and bell mouths. Bold straightforward and required special steering and handling is considerably even changed the springs rates in the linkages for uniform operation. Below right:The surgeon at improved over the stock MV. work... Designed and built by Arturo Magni's l:The bike is pictund here with four megaphone exhausts but Bold's alternate 4-into-I system produces another lIkW (15hp) while weighing far less. 2:Two-valve cylinder heads - a remnant of a differcnt age... 3: Bold went to extreme lengths to set up and fettle the bank of PHBH 28mm carburcttors. 4:The Hunt brake rotors are no longer available - Bold bought these ones years ago, 5: Mike Hubsher handled the cylinderhead pofting; he's been a go-to guy on the US drag- racing circuit for some 25 years now mctrader.com.au 93 elder son Carlo, the l8in aluminium EPM The last time Ago raced one of the older wheels are also regular fare for Magni 500cc fours in earnest was at the final race specials. The Hunt, plasma-coated, 2B0mm of the 1966 season, the Nations Grand aluminium brake discs are exactly the same Prix at Monza on September 11. After as the factory used on the GP bikes back in dominating GP racing during the late the early 1970s. "Fortunately I bought them '50s arrd early'60s, this final version of years ago," says Albert, "as they haven't the 500cc four produced 55.zkW (75hp) been available for quite a while now." Also at 9000rpm and was capable of around quite similar in spec to the earlier factory 265km/h. bikes are the 38mm Marzocchi forks, Strada The 1966 season proved an epic struggle shocks and Brembo twin-piston brake between Ago on the MV Agusta and Mike calipers. No detail has been spared in an Hailwood on a Honda. Hailwood went effort to reduce weight dor,r,,n - the titanium to the final GP at Monza needing to win clip-ons weigh just 1509 each (the stockers to take the championship but the Honda ffi were 43Bg each). RC1B1 broke a valve and Agostini, on the older four, was untroubled, winning at a EEEffi rHE AGo coNNEcroN comfortable 191.46km/h. But even Albert's experience with these After 1966 the four was pensioned off engines didn't prepare him for a few in favour of the more compact triple; the hiccups along the way. On the first dyno racing era for two-valve cylinder heads was run the engine dropped a valve and over. But the older four would have another the magneto failed. But these are minor iife, as a limited-quantity production inconveniences and Albert expects to engine. It is due to the passion of craftsmen see 73.6kW (100hp) on the next running. Iike Albert Bold that examples of the The goal now is to have it running for venerable four can still be seen and heard Bold's passion is seeing the MV four demonstration laps by Giacomo Agostini at on a race track. This is truly a bike that live on, and thrill new generations of motorcycle enthusiasts as it thunders the AMCN International Island Classic at deserves to be ridden by a champion like around a racetrack.