Beginning and nowadays of MV Agusta motorcycle

Beginning and nowadays of MV Agusta motorcycle

Started in the Village of Verghera by Count Domenico Austa at the end of the Second World War. The Italian Meccanica Verghera (MV) firm released their first model (98cc) in 1945. It did well in sales and on the race track. MV developed roadsters and racers for the following years.

MV Agusta became a world wide known name due to its racing successes. Between 1958 and 1974 MV Agusta had 17 straight world championship wins in the 500cc class. In the smaller 125cc class MV Agusta earned 5 championships and 2 in the 250cc series. No superior racing name was around in the 1970s.

During the 1950s and 1960s Agusta had been producing small capacity roadsters like the Pullman, Turismo Rapido and the Raid. These models were all moderately successful.

Despite the racing success Count Augusta insisted that the super successful four cylinder engine wasn't developed in the same way for the production series. The mistakes turned out costly for fans who were expecting a quality race bike. Instead they got the detuned 600 four which never became a huge success.

Agusta learned from the flop and in 1970 introduced the 750 Sport which was strongly orientated on the race models. This was what was expected from MV Agusta bikes and the 750 Sport was an instant success. Although it was expensive, it sold well. In following years the 750 sport was updated and in 1975 a 750S America was introduced for the US market.

The big four engines were mainly being built by hand and even though they were expensive - the firm started to have financial problems. Even the success of the big fours started to be a problem for MV Agusta. Count Agusta had passed away in 1971 due to a heart attack and, under guidance of brother Corradino, the company couldn't break out of the financial problems.

The MV Agusta motorcycle division was part of the larger MV helicopter company and by 1977 the Agusta family had lost power of the business. The last bikes were sold and in 1980 MV Agusta closed its doors.

In the mid 1990s MV Agusta re-entered the motorcycle market under guidance of Cagiva. Designer for Cagiva Tamburini (once part owner of Bimota) designed a beautiful new MV Agusta on a 749cc engine (which had been designed with the help of Ferrari). The new F4 750 was a stunner and handling, styling and great speed made it very desirable.

Unfortunately Cagiva ran into their own financial problems and despite great plans for the new F4 series and new models (like the Brutale, a nice styled street bike) they could not continue. But after fresh investment came to the aid of MV Agusta new products have returned.