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MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 Launch - Live!

Published: 16 April 2015 Updated: 16 April 2015
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Another day, another new bike launch!

We’re in France today riding the new MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800

The Turismo Veloce is the latest bike to use the three-cylinder 798cc motor first seen in the screaming F3 supersport bike but in the latest bike it has been retuned for peak power of 110bhp and 61.2 ft lbs of torque.

First ride: MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800

MCN has just finished riding on the world launch of the first bike designed with touring in mind from famous Italian manufacturer MV Agusta on the Turismo Veloce 800.

The Turismo Veloce is the latest bike to use the three-cylinder 798cc motor first seen in the screaming F3 supersport bike but in the latest bike it has been retuned for peak power of 110bhp and 61.2 ft lbs of torque.
The Turismo Veloce 800 is, according to MV, a touring bike that MV has “re-thought to make it fast, lightweight and dynamic” and comes in two versions; the standard Veloce and the Veloce Lusso which gets full LED lighting, a larger full-colour TFT dashboard and electronically controlled suspension.

Our test rider, MCN’s Andy Downes has been riding the bike since 9am this morning in the South of France and has covered almost 200 miles across some of the Europe’s best roads including the famous Col de Vence and Route Napoleon.

The official launch of the bike only covers the standard Turismo Veloce (Italian for Fast Touring), which has many of the electronic system seen on the higher-specification Lusso version but misses on on the full LED front light and the Sachs ‘Skyhook’ semi-active suspension.

Both versions of the Turismo Veloce have a pile of electronics as standard which includes the new Motor and Vehicle Integrated Control System (MVICS 2.0) electronic controls, four riding modes with an  automated gearshift blipper system that works going up and down the gears. The bike has ABS as standard and MV also claim it benefits from a 20% reduction in fuel consumption when compared to the current 800cc triples in the range.

MCN’s Andy Downes said: “The MV is an impressively sporty package that still manages to tick many of the boxes needed to make it a tourer. The reduced size and weight of the bike (191kg dry weight which translates to 212kg fully fuelled and ready to ride) puts it at odds with some of the massive and heavy offering in the touring class.

“MV spent a long time at the previous evening’s technical briefing highlighting the rivals which were all top end machines like the class-leading BMW R1200GS, Ducati Multistrada 1200, Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer and the Triumph Tiger 800 too; almost all of which are much bigger and more powerful than the MV.

“MV said the decision to make a lighter, less powerful, narrower and less bulky bike, yet retaining the good handling and agile feel MV wants in all of it’s bikes, was deliberate. The result is a bike that can be chucked about much harder than you might think possible for an upright ‘sports touring’ bike.

“The bike isn’t without some niggles of course. Between 2000rpm and 3000rpm at light throttle applications there is a slight ‘lag’ in the response from the ride by wire throttle. It almost feels like clutch slip. Above 5000rpm on a closed throttle there were moments when the bike was surging a fraction but this may be linked to the engine braking control.

“But if I was able to change one thing on the bike it would be to ditch the Pirelli Scorpion Trail tyres which give a slightly lumpen and hard-edged feel to the front forks and make the front end skip a fraction over lower speed bumps. At no point does it become alarming in any way but the ‘off road’ styling and light off-road use these tyres are designed for are a needless compromise. An alternative set of sports touring road tyres like the Pirelli Angel GT, Michelin Pilot Road 4 or Metzeler Z8 Interact would give the bike lighter and more composed handling I suspect.

“Overall this is a great all-round bike that had lapped up some hard riding today and never shown a moment of trouble. At around £12,000 including on the road fees this is an MV that represents good value when compared to rivals – just don’t mention the Yamaha MT-09 Tracer which offers roughly 80% of the package for £8100!”

 

 

200km this morning through the French alps on the standard Turismo Veloce 800 proves that we have a fast, comfortable, good-looking and sporty feeling tourer on our hands.

There have been a few brumbles at low-revs (sub 3000rpm) and at low speed, but overall the package is deeply impressive – and great fun!

It’s a super comfortable machine, and over the fairly insane mountain, switchback roads today it’s been an absolute blast.

This afternoon it’s onto route Napolean… And I’m looking forward to it immensely!

 

 

 

 

 

The Turismo Veloce 800 is, according to MV, a touring bike that MV has “re-thought to make it fast, lightweight and dynamic” and comes in two versions; the standard Veloce and the Veloce Lusso which gets full LED lighting, a larger full-colour TFT dashboard and electronically controlled suspension.

Both versions of the Turismo Veloce have a pile of electronics as standard which includes the new Motor and Vehicle Integrated Control System (MVICS 2.0) electronic controls, four riding modes with an  automated gearshift blipper system that works going up and down the gears. The bike has ABS as standard and MV also claim it benefits from a 20% reduction in fuel consumption when compared to the current 800cc triples in the range.

Andy Downes

By Andy Downes

Former MCN Senior Reporter