In 2020, MV Agusta—the Italian maker of some of the most beautiful motorcycles in the world—turned an impressive 75 years of age. That’s definitely not nothing, considering how many other motorcycle manufacturers have come and gone in that time. 

The Agusta family had previously been all-in on aviation. However, those plans, like so many others, were scuppered by WWII, the bigger, badder sequel. Meccanica Verghera’s solution? The same solution in which we find solace some 75 years later: motorcycles. Only, MV decided to make them instead of just ride them, like most of us would. This led to the 98cc bike known simply as the MV98. 

Even from the beginning, the company brought a super-extra-fancy version of the MV98 to the 1947 Milan Trade Fair, where it wowed audiences and made them want one. Know how it’s hilarious to look back at what your classmates have done, several years after you’ve never seen each other since graduation? This is kind of like that, and seeing that MV was doing what MV still does all the way since the beginning. 

The company wasn’t merely satisfied with building the most beautiful bikes. It had to win races, too. Giacomo Agostini is clearly the most readily associated name with MV in this manner, having won 13 world championships, 18 Italian titles, and 10 IOMTTs. From John Surtees to Mike Hailwood, anyone familiar with classic motorcycle racing can just jump eagerly down the list of MV racers and see greatness on every line. 

While some companies might have faded away after their founder’s death, MV Agusta did no such thing. Instead, following Count Domenico Agusta’s passing in 1971, the company entered a period of hibernation before exiting its cocoon, into the waiting arms of Claudio Castiglioni and Cagiva in 1992. Under Claudio and son Giovanni, MV brought the world the F3s, F4s, Brutales, Dragsters, and Turismo Veloces that it didn’t even know it wanted, but totally craved once it saw them. 

Now, under Timur Sardarov’s leadership, MV has shown the world the Serie Oro limited Superveloce 800 and Brutale 1000 RR, and is forging new paths to the future to make some MVs more accessible to a wider range of customers around the globe. 

It’s been a long, wild ride—but we’re glad that MV has stood the test of time and is still making motorcycles for us all to enjoy in 2020. 

Source: MV Agusta 

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