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MV AGUSTA MONZA





MV AGUSTA MONZA








MV AGUSTA MONZA



In 1977 the MV Agusta marque was nearing the end of its era of greatness on road and racetrack. Phil Read had won the factory's 17th consecutive 500cc world championship three years earlier, before the thundering Italian four-stroke had finally been outpaced by Japanese two-strokes. The Agusta firm's financial problems were not helped by sales of its unprofitable roadgoing fours.

But MV had one final throw of the dice in the Monza, the fastest and most exotic superbike that the original Agusta firm would ever build. Essentially a hotted-up version of the 750S America, which had been introduced to the US market two years earlier, the Monza combined breathtaking, racetrack-inspired styling with stunning performance from a biggest yet 837cc four-cylinder engine.

In both style and spirit the Monza was very close to the America, itself a direct descendent of the 750 Sport with which MV had belatedly arrived on the superbike scene at the start of the decade.





Like the Sport, the America was powered by a bellowing four-cylinder engine whose dohc layout, but not its shaft final drive, was inspired by MV's grand prix machines. The America was so named because it had been developed at the request of the firm's US agent, and had been intended for sale exclusively in the States.





As well as more angular styling plus a red and silver paint scheme inspired by the all-conquering racers, the America had a larger 790cc engine. smaller 26mm carbuettors (they were easier to keep balanced), left-foot gearchange, improved output of 75bhp, and top speed of over 130mph (210km/h). The America was heavy, its high-speed handling was not perfect and it was expensive. (Its $6000 price explained why far fewer were sold than the US importer had predicted.) But it was a hugely desirable motorbike.







The Monza was even better. Its engine was enlarged by a 2mm increase in bore, giving dimensions of 69 x 56mm and capacity of 837cc. Compression ratio was increased, a new Marelli distributor was fitted, and the camshafts were new. Reverting to the Sport's larger 27mm Dell'Orto carburettors also helped increase claimed output to no less than 85bhp at 8750rpm







MV AGUSTA MONZA

Meticulous preparation





Monza performance was further boosted because the bikes were prepared by MV's former race team mechanics led by chief engineer Arturo Magni (who by this time, realizing that MV was nearing the end, had also set up his own firm nearby, selling cast wheels and tuning parts). This meticulous preparation meant that a new Monza roared to over 140mph (225km/h), especially when fitted with a Magni exhaust with its four elegantly curved black silencers.

MV AGUSTA MONZA


Chassis changes were minimal, as the Monza combined MV's familiar frame with the cast wheels and triple-disc Brembo brake system that had been an option on later Americas. One thing that had changed was the bike's name, at least in Britain, where it had been called the Boxer until Ferrari (who had a car of that name) had objected. Whatever the name, few were built before MV ceased production in 1978. The Monza was a suitably glorious way to end the line.





MV AGUSTA  MONZA   prices 2014



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