It's a Fitting Grand Finale to Its Creator Adrian

MV AGUSTA SUPERVELOGE BOO

V Agusta's resurgence under Russian on'nership has been punctuated br- the arrival of a couple of exciting new models conceived under the company's previous orvner Giovanni Castiglioni. No question that It the same dry i weight as the with a 52148 the one most eagerly admired F3 a composite percent bias, and the same gorgeous, is the ultra-striking frame, follows MY's 1380mm wheelbase. Superveloce 800, a 1iterally signature format, with a unique blend of old and new, chrome-moly tubular steel retro and avantgarde, classic and modern. upper spaceframe attached It's a fitting grand finale to its creator Adrian to aluminum side plates, Morton's 16-year stint as MVAgusta's Director which wrap around the motor and join up behind it, thus of Design Isee breakout] . During a career delivering added stiff ness spanning three changes of MV ownership, from and strength. the Castiglioni family to Harley-Davidson, back to the Castiglionis and now to the Sardarovs, Morton has consistently kept the company at the forefront of design-led innovation. And the Superveloce is a superlative exit statement that his successors will do well to emulate. Based on the three-cylinder F3 800 Supersport platform, the Superveloce was first exhibited as a concept model at the 2018 EICMA Milan Show, where it was chosen as the Most Beautiful Motorcycle of the Show by over 16,000 voters - against such equally new high-performance desirables as the Ducati Panigale V4 R, the BMW S 1000 RR andAprilia's RSV4 1100 Factory. MVAgusta was then invited to exhibit the bike the following May at the prestigious Vr'IIa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza, where it won first prize in the concept bike category. But that same weekend MV opened its online order book for customers to reserve the 300 examples of the limited edition Serie Oro production run, retailing at27,990 euros ($45,000) in the solitary available livery of metallic scarlet and silver - and according to MV's R&D Director, Brian Gillen, these sold out within six days. Production of these, which are almost indistinguishable from last year's prize-winning concept model, began as promised in February 1} this year - but was slowed down by MV's 10-week pandemic shutdown, and according to Gillen has only just been completed. But at the EICMA Show a year later, alongside this limited-edition model, MVAgusta also unveiled a volume production version of the bike with equally enticing looks, retailing in Italy at 20,300 euros ($32,000) and with a three-year unlimited-kilometre warranty. On a hot 36'C Italian summer's day riding one of the first examples off the production line, I need to find out the answer to the all-important question: is the Superveloce all show and not so much go - or is lt even remotely as much fun to ride as it is to 1. The Superveloce -"""..?lr.r...'.tviNL a look at? mixes modern tech re like the TFT display... Because in slashing the Serie Oro version's steep price by a quarter, MV 2. ... with some retro has some of features, like the sacrificed the more leather strapped obvious bling on the bike, without tank impactingvery much on the model's 3. Chassis is similar, exquisite lines. With its fairing's combining composite slightly convex flanks devoid of engine subrame with any visible screws conveying the trellis top frame impression of the Superveloce being

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o I I I I I II I f,r I I I I l I I I , I t[: lt I I \ TICAt I *; I I I I I I T :i-J I I I Hi lt 1 I I I I I t, I t il[[l I I I lii I I1 \l i I I I I poised to leap forward when viewed or. from side It's a sense accenruated by the b;;, il;;_ shaped nose culminating in rl" ,L-r"na"'';;i;:, ( .llip:.o1au] projector heaarrrnp *r,i.r,liilI'ir-," 4x"\ i1 the slimly tap..ed ij]J]tsnt tuit u"i oitr* u*"-' +.- rncorporating a vestigial passenger ,E sea, pua, i, i\ an L.ED item. The numbei plare t'u, ol.n'rnlu.O further tr. down the wheel to i d"di"ut"J h;ft;;;; ,' as not to disrupt the -al clean appearance at the rear.-'' There's a smali spoiler at tt iop oiit which " Iooks a litile curious at first, Urt";;;; Oo"rri i11lact.your view as you squat down u"rrirJit. r nts bodywork is made in thin plastic sheetins -/ ratherthan rhe Serie oro,s carb#tilr;;i,rr;ir'* Gillen says brings only a I.5kg weight rn qelrveri o.""iir" ng a claimed dry weight for it Uifu tZS.tq, exactly the same as tf,"" pg. ff," " arumtntum9l .uri- single_sided srvingarm is painted

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bronze on the Oro, black on the standard bike I e - and the Oro's retro-style but radical-looking tlr rll E-motion wheels, each with 24 thick spokes I I individuallybolted to an alloyrim, are replaced I I $ |. \ by the F3's more conventional cast aluminium six-spoke affairs. The top-shelf model also comes The Supervelocewas with a neo-Agostini triple-pipe racing exhaust MV's first application system by SC Project, with two pipes on one side of virtualdesignmodel and a single on the other, whereas the standard technology bike uses the same stacked 3-1-3 'Morton organ' ,,MV COMPLETELY exhaust system as the F3 800. modelled the bike from a Even with the changes in air intake design, 3D perspective inside the the Superveloce boasts identical outright computer, With a virtual performance to the F3 800, with l0BkW (148hp) prototype, you put on virtual available at 13,000rpm, and peak torque of BBNm goggles and you reality at 10,600rpm. Engine internals are unchanged can walk around the bike, except for altered valve timing, but the Eldor ECU vou can see how the light reflects off it, you can see its has been remapped to deliver a fatter midrange, shape and form and almost :.1 in keeping with which the final-drive ratio has touch the bike, and you feel almost like you can hop aboard itl "Using virtual design ,\ technology means that in addition to cuttrng down I on the significant cost of making a clay model, it's n; like hitting the gas pedal on the design process, so you can jump through iterations and go down a bunch of rabbit holes very quickly, and then tal(e one step back and say, 'ol(ay, this is the direction we want to go"'. :'': ;'-: i;:',1:r:r.:::a''

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MV AGUSTA's COMPACT, potent DOHC 12-valve three-cylinder engine powering the Superveloce 800 weighs just 54k9, with its slant-blocl( closed decl( cylinders inclinecl forward at 35". Its 120" plain-bearing crankshaft runs backwards - an unusual feature shared with most MotocP bil(es. This is made possible on the MV by the use of a counterbalancer shaft weighing 1.88k9 driven directly off the crank, which also saves space and weight by performing several other tasks, The forged steel conrods carry ultra- slipper Iightweight forged pistons with very short I sl(irts, delivering a 13.3:1 compression. These run in the Nikasil-lined bores of the cylinders cast integrally into the upper crankcase half, with just4mmwall thicl(ness between them, to minimise the width of the engine. The wide diameter bore means there's plenty been lowered by 4T on the rear sprocket, thus really well, and isn't as sensitive as some are that of space for Iarge titanium enhancing low-down acceleration. change gear practically as soon as you wave your valves in the compact Climbing aboard the Superveloce immediately toe at the lever. cylinder head, with the reveals a subtly more welcoming, even You don't need to use the gearbox as pailed 31.8mm inlets and comfortable ridlng position than the much as on the F3, because there's good 27.7mm exhausts set at 23" F3's more track-focused stance. The The view top gear roll-on from as low as 5000rpm, total included angle. l. from the handlebars have been raised lBmm rear is a mix of 'racing' making the Superveloce a really easy The trademark stacked triple exit pipe exhaust and are 6mm further back, and the seat and'wow' bike to ride in everyday conditions. system features an exhaust is actually lower. 2. Trademark MV triple At low speeds though, you do notice valve located between the "Weloweredthetailsectionbyl5mm pipesmatchwithartistic someheatfromtheleftsideofthe catalytic converter and the to get the rider sitting more into the cast wheels motorcycle - though given the ambient silencer, that's controlled bike," Gillen says. 3. Braking is similar to temperature I was riding in, that's not a by the Eldor ECU. Little things mean a lot, because this that on the F3 complaint I'll attribute to the bike. Dual injectors on each means there isn't as much weight on Does look like But get the engine revving to the of the three SOmm Mikuni 4. this a your wrists as on the F3, making the great place glorious sound ofthat iconic exhaust, throttle bodies are operated to be for a genuine in an overlapping sequential Superveloce a real-world ride - fewhours?Yep andtheSupervelocepullsreallystrongly mode via a Mikuni ride by it doesn't feel as track focused as from 7000rpm, where there's already wire digital throttle offering the F3 to sit on. That's carried 72Nm of torque available, four maps - Race, Sport, through to the way in so at just halfway to redline Rain and Custom. There's which Gillen's gang have you're already coming an eight-level traction remapped the ECU to right up onto the fat control system and Bosch make the Superveloce part of the curve. It's 9-Plus ABS with RLM,/Rear tV' more accessible, a really delightful, Lift Mitigation, mellow even, in the forgiving engine rvay it delivers its lr that'll readily lift the performance. Though front wheel under the standard two-way power, especially if porvershifter works you short-shift around

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1l,000rpm, which will put you right back in the fat I-ffiIltffi{Tmi part ofthe torque curve as you gas itwide open in the next gear higher. ! It's downright meaty for a middleweight triple, IilI fl[IIH delivering notably enhanced performance, and enjoyment, over the already impressive F3 - HTHTIII and to the sound of that melodic background soundtrack, with a deep, gruff exhaust note EHAI{IIIG TET that's enhanced by the intake noise when you're Q) on board. It delivers genuinely impressive l]lli GO TI'ITII THT acceleration, but also improved rideability on with reduced engine braking let me go with the part throttle - which helps make it so enjoyable flow in faster turns, where the bike really lived up TA$TER to ride. to its name, while holding rock solid to the line I'd MV had prepared a track-focused Custom chosen for it. It's a very confidence inspiring ride. riding mode which I didn't love, as it was abrupt "I'm glad you discovered that," said Gillen, as on the throttle pickup and had extra engine I tanked up on water back at the factory after my braking which I didn't care for. The separate Race dehydrating day. mode was what it said on the label, and wasn't so "The way that we have the Sport map set up, you different from the Custom mode, whereas Sport have less engine braking, so when you trail the mode (there's a fourth Rain option, too) was ideal, throttle into the corner, you don't automatically allowing me to take advantage of the F3-derived have the acceleration of the crankshaft trying to frame's appetite for fast, sweeping turns, where pull the bike into the turn, as you're tipping it in. 1. Handling is firm, planted with excellent grip and it remained totally with the Marzocchi When you're tipping the bike in with a lot of engine fork eating up road rashwith aplomb. With its braking, because the contact patch is moving sta bi I ity in sticky but skinny-ish 180-section rear Pirelli relation to the centre of gravity, it starts to pull the 2. Carbon f ibre on prototype gives way and relatively nimble steering geometry, the bike into the corner even more. to cheaper, and more Superveloce was eager to flick from side to side "So what you noticed is that having less engine practical, plastic on the through a series of third-gear bends - it's a very braking as you traii the throttle and you tip it production bike agile-handling package. But using Sport mode into the corner, means it's not pulling the bike

as a one-off concept model based model, However, it's not a on the F3, which we were going completely neo-classic bil(e, to build for a Japanese customer, because there s a Iot of retro in who wanted something really it. We've been going through a unique. We were lool(ing at doing phase where everv manufactuler a neo-retro bike, a mix between is coming out with a retro bike, classic and modern. But the more but for us to do one - and Adrian Adrian developed the sl

54 [S amcn.com.au ..: # rei:l-' SP1Tr;S ENANE =l f^r Onla IUI ZUZ' AtpaciryTgScc =? Type Inline triple, DOHC, ,,IT'S NO SECRET thAt four valves per cylinder =' we're doing a completely , Bore & strokeT9 x54.3mm :: new clean-sheet-of-paper 1'-" Compre ssion ratio 13.3:l = 950cc engine which CoolingLiqluid. = you'll see on a bunch of Fueling EFI, 3 x 50mm Mikuni different models across ,' throttle bodies the lloard from the end T r an s mi s s ion Six- sp e e d, of2O22 onwards,l 1 Crurclr Wet, multi-plate, slipper says- "wel1 FinaldriueChain PEBFONMANCE Pouer 108kW @ l3,000rpm (claimed) a turismo\iEloae. Tor4ueBSNm @ 9750rpm versioni and another (claimed) Top speed 240km/h (claimed) version [hut] ICan't , Fuel consumption 6.4Ll10Okm Iclaimed) there'11 ELECINOMCS Type Eldor ECU Rider aids Tr action control, Bosch 9 ABS with Race mode and backwards on the side of the tyre, and not trying RWL, quickshifter to hook the bike into the corner. So that's what II'S VERY UNLIIGIY TIIAT Ridcr modcs Race, Sport, Rain will help you go with the flow, and keep the and Custom momentum up in turns with the bike." AIIYI|}IE WIIll BUYS tl}IE crfissrs Its 16.5-litre fuel load lies partly beneath F rarne rn&ter lal Ttubu lar- ste el Frame typeTrellis the seat, thanks to a hidden extension to the u,lLL BE lllsAPP0lllTEll. Rake24.5o beautifully shaped tank. The subtly revised Trail99mm rear suspension link, delivering a softer initial TUGIfl BUGGERS Wheelbasel3\jmm response in the first part of the stroke, felt nicely SUSPE'US'OT compliant when I got back on the throttle again ?ype Marzocchi/Sachs cranked over while running over ripples in the Front:43mm USD fork, fully- adjustable, 125mm travel road surface. Comfort is a relative term, though Rear: Monoshock, fully- - this is a pretty focused sportsbike, as its name adjustable, 123mm travel infers. But quality was excellent ride by any WHEELS&BBANES standards, not just in making allowances for the I,l{lieels Cast aluminium nature of the beast. Front: 17 x 3.5 Rear: 17 x 5.5 Despite the excellent Brembo brake package - Tyres Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II Frcnt:L20l70ZRl7 which saved me a couple of times from getting too Rear:l80l55ZRl7 carried awaywith goingwith that flow, without Bral.es Brembo, ABS the ABS making its presence felt- the Superveloce Front: Twin 320mm disc, is a motorcycle that rewards a very clean, precise four-piston Monobloc caliper style of riding. It doesn't ask you to hang off it and Rear: Single 22Omm disc, twi-piston caliper drag your knee on the ground, or to use those brakes and the torquey motor to point and squirt DIfrIENS'ONS Weight 17 3kg (dty, clai med) it between bends. It likes you to mould yourself bike, the more you can get the bike to flow for SeatheightS30mm to it, and use your bodyweight more subtly to you. You can just stay centred on it, get into the WidthT30mm change direction, aided by the composite frame's corner, and get back to the gas. It likes that kind HeighrNot given pinpoint steering. of riding." Lmgth2030mm Ground, clearance 120mm I hate to say it, but while it's not exactly a Manx So did I. MVAgusta's slogan trade is'Motorcycle Fuel capacity 16.5L Norton, the Superveloce is a bike which rewards Art'. The Superveloce 800 epitomises that motto: SEBY'C'NG &WANBANIY a more traditional, conservative style of riding - while entirely living up to its looks, and name, it's SerricrrxgFirst: 1000km and it's all the more relaxing and rewarding a ride also fun to ride and rewarding to do so, too. It's Minor: I5,000km as a result. very unlikely that anyone who buys one will be Major:30,00Okm "That's completely right," said Gillen. "We've disappointed by the experience of owning, and WarrantyThreeyears, unlimited years noticed the same. The more you stay inside this riding, it. Luckybuggers... km, with two I roadside assist BUS'TESSEIUD MV AGUSTA SUPERVELOCE Price $32,990 (ride away) Exclusive, artistic styling, ! /e11-sorted Some electronic settings feel abrupt, Colour optionsRed and silver, red and charcoal, white and charcoal engine and suspension. A rewarding Expensive for an SOOcc blke. Owners Contact experience to ride will have to get used to Pfrns&anus stares mvagusta.com.au 7

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