MV Agusta 750 S ‘Sport’

With Phil Aynsley

The unprepossessing MV Agusta 600 Four soon faded from the catalogue to be replaced by the 750 S which was produced from 1970 until 1975 – although only 583 were built in that time.

The S (also known as the Sport) was a marked contrast in appearance to its predecessor – an out and out sports machine (although the shaft final drive was retained). A new tank and seat were the most obvious changes from the 600.

Additionally a double sided twin leading shoe drum front brake replaced the twin discs of the earlier bike.

The motor used an increased bore to achieve the 743 cc capacity and four 24 mm Dell’Orto carburettors were fitted as standard. Otherwise the engine was not much changed. Power was up to 72 hp at 9,200 rpm, while wet weight was 245 kg.

A much rarer SS version was also produced that had the output increased to 76 hp at 9,900 rpm and a full fairing. An even rarer (33 made) GT model was also offered for a couple of years (See – MV Agusta 750 GT).

The bike seen here is an S fitted with the optional full fairing.

Source: MCNews.com.au

MV Agusta 600 Four

With Phil Aynsley

Ugly is the word usually used to describe MV Agusta’s 600 Four! However from such undesirable seeds something universally acclaimed as beautiful grew (and is the subject of the next column).

MV finally produced a road going four cylinder motorcycle in 1967 (after the prototype was displayed at the Milan Show in 1965) after racing them since 1950. They had even shown the road going 500 cc four-cylinder R 19 prototype back in 1950!

 However the 600 Four was not some racy sports model but a sedate tourer. This was a deliberate move on Count Agusta’s part to make it as hard as possible for privateer racers to convert the road bike into a race machine. Not many of the 127 produced have survived as they were fairly easily converted into the much more desirable 750 Sport.

While originally fitted with a pair of 24 mm Dell’Orto carburettors, four were an option on later production bikes. The disc brakes were mechanically operated. Power was 50 hp at 8,200 rpm, with a wet weight of 221kg. A top speed of 175 km/h was possible.

This machine was the original US press bike and was bought by a doctor in California who kept it for 40 years without riding it – before being obtained by the current owner and moved to New Zealand, where it is ridden regularly. It is in original condition.

Source: MCNews.com.au