MV AGUSTA
750
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| MV AGUSTA 750 classic colors |
The
750 Sport with which MV Agusta announced its arrival as a
manufacturer of roadgoing superbikes was a long time coming, but it
proved well worth the wait. The Sport, with its handsome lines,
potent 743cc, dohc engine and impressive chassis specification, was
stunning: a high performance roadster that was based on the Italian
marque's all-conquering 500cc factory racebikes.
When
the Sport reached production in the early 1970s, the small firm from
Gallarate, near Milan, was nearing the end of a remarkable era of
racetrack domination. MV's unbroken string of 500cc world titles
stretched back to 1958.
with
riders including John Surtees, Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini.
For all this time the firm's autocratic boss, Count Domenico Agusta,
had refused to produce a roadgoing version of the four- cylinder
'Gallarate fire engines'.
Instead,
MV production had concentrated on the small-capacity singles with
which Domenico had entered the motorcycle business in 1945, when the
Agusta aircraft company was looking for a new direction at the end of
the Second World War.
Although
a stylish 500cc four called the R19 Turismo had generated plenty of
interest when displayed at the Milan Show as early as 1950, it had
not been produced. When MV did build a roadgoing four, it was an ugly
600cc, shaft-drive tourer that barely managed 1OOmph (161km/h) and
sold in tiny numbers.
MV AGUSTA
750
Designed
for speed
The
750 Sport was dramatically different. This was an uncompromising
sports machine. It had low handlebars, rearset footrests, bold red,
white and blue paintwork, a humped race-style seat, a quartet of
unfiltered Dell'Orto carburettors, and four shiny megaphone pipes.
Its engine was based on that of the tourer, but bored out to 743cc,
and tuned with higher compression plus larger exhaust valves.
It
also produced considerably more power, its peak of 65bhp at 7900rpm
being 13bhp up on that of the 600. Like that bike and MV's racers,
the Sport used gear drive to its twin overhead cams. Its crankcases
were sandcast, in aluminium rather than the racers' magnesium. The
competition motor had no generator, so a combined starter/dynamo was
added beneath the engine and connected by two belts.
Frame
design owed more to the 600 than to the racebikes, as the Sport had
one instead of two top tubes. The Sport also surprised many people by
retaining the 600's shaft final drive system, reportedly because
Count Domenico did not want the bike to be raced for fear that
privateers would damage his factory team's reputation.
But
the Sport was equipped with top-quality cycle parts, including
Ceriani forks and twin shocks, and Borrani alloy wheel rims. Early
models had a big four-leading-shoe Grimeca front drum brake; later
versions had twin discs.
For
the few riders who could afford one, the Sport was a magnificent
bike. Top speed was about 115mph (185km/h). rather than the factory's
optimistic claim of 140mph (225km/h), but that was fast enough. And
the MV's smooth acceleration, plus especially the aural treat of
rustling motor and howling exhaust note, made every trip an event.
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| MV AGUSTA 750 clssic |
MV's
dominance of the grand prix circuits was eventually halted by the
Japanese two-strokes in 1975. The firm quit racing, and its roadsters
did not last much longer. Despite their high prices, neither the
Sport nor the later America and Monza fours were financially viable.
Their intricate, hand-built engines were very costly to assemble, and
production numbers were very low. By the end of the 1970s, MV had
abandoned motorcycles to concentrate on helicopter production.
MV AGUSTA
750 prices 2014
MINT $10,000 $50,000 £10,000 £50,000
GOOD ? ?
FAIR ? ?
PROJECT ? ?
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