In the past six months or so, things have been quite exciting at MV Agusta – but not in a good way. The Italian exotic bike maker has been caught up in the aftermath of KTM parent firm Pierer’s financial collapse, after the Austrian outfit took it over early in 2024.
Agusta had gone through a massive amount of work to integrate its logistics, parts supply, and other systems with those for KTM and the other brands. Apparently just switching the MV part number system over to the same setup as KTM was an enormous task, sucking up thousands of person-hours of work alone.
But now the Varese-based firm is back on its own, and is currently being disentangled from the world of Pierer, and returned to its previous owners, the Russian Sardarov family, through its Art of Mobility company.
“The official transfer of full ownership from Pierer Mobility AG to Art of Mobility, is approaching its final stages,” the firm said. “This marks a pivotal step in the company’s strategy to reaffirm its independence and strengthen its position in the global motorcycle market.”
MV Agusta also held a presentation at the start of June, where it outlined its short- and medium-term plans, which involve getting its parts supply, bike logistics, dealer networks and international distribution back on track under independent control. It also spoke about a new engine platform, and extending its range into new sectors, as well as replacing older models in the lineup.
And executive director Luca Martin said that the UK is particularly important: “The UK is one of the markets where we want to enter with our own subsidiary,” he told us. “The UK is one of the markets that we believe has the highest potential, but is one of the markets that has been suffering the most disruption in terms of spare part distribution.
“So, to be extremely sincere that is one of the market that we are really underperforming. But at the same time, we want to go back with our own management, with our own team, on the ground, and really, again, listen and try to improve the delivery.”
Promising words then from the firm – though a cynic might say they’ve heard it all before. What you can’t be cynical about though is the new bike that the firm also revealed this week. It’s an ‘Ago’ edition of the Superveloce 1000 retro superbike, released to celebrate the great Giacomo Agostini’s 83rd birthday and it’s a cracker. Ago was, of course, Agusta’s greatest rider, and has an incredible 15 world 500GP and 350GP titles (13 with MV, two with Yamaha) plus 10 TT wins.
Limited to just 83 bikes, costing €83,000, the Ago bike is based on the top-end Superveloce, which uses the firm’s 999cc inline-four 16v DOHC superbike engine, making 208bhp at 13,000rpm. It has lightened pistons, and heaps of titanium all round – the radial valves and forged con-rods, engine fasteners and full Akrapovic exhaust are all made from the light, strong metal.
Engine management is courtesy of the usual MV Agusta MVICS 2.1 system with 50mm ride-by-wire throttle bodies and eight injectors, and it incorporates the extensive rider aids package: IMU-assisted traction and wheelie control, up/down quickshifter, cruise control and rider power modes.
There’s also wheelie control, which the firm says now doesn’t stop wheelies, but ‘optimises them by maintaining an optimal angle to make the most of the incredible acceleration’, which sounds amazing. The wheelie control also works in conjunction with the Launch Control for mad but safe race-style starts.
Finally, there are four riding modes: three preset (Rain, Sport, Race) and one customizable by the rider (Custom). In that custom mode, you can set parameters such as throttle sensitivity, engine torque, engine braking, engine response, limiter, and electronic suspension settings.
The super trick (though it’s now a little bit elderly, design-wise) motor is bolted into a hybrid frame with steel tube trellis sections and aluminium alloy swingarm pivot plates, with full adjustability, plus the firm’s trademark cast aluminium single-sided swingarm. The Kineo wheels are the same hybrid spoked/cast rim design as on Agusta’s 800 model, but are re-engineered to cope with the extra torque, mass and power of the 1000.
It’s an MV, so of course the Ago SV1000 comes with premium suspension. That means the latest top-end Öhlins EC semi-active kit, with electronic damping control and manual preload settings, integrated with the engine management ECU to give IMU-assisted, performance-related damping control.
There’s also an integrated Öhlins smart steering damper, and the chassis spec is rounded off with Brembo Stylema four-piston radial front brakes, Brembo radial master cylinder and 320mm discs. The Continental MK100 race cornering ABS incorporates two levels of operation, with an ‘S’ sport setting and ‘R’ race mode.
Sport mode includes rear ABS channel operation and stoppie-limiting function, while the Race mode turns off the rear brake ABS and allows more lift at the back under braking. The front ABS is also less invasive, and the cornering function is de-activated.
The result of all this chassis and engine tech is a wet mass (no fuel) of 209kg: not amazing for 2025 at this price point – but not horrendous. It’s probably fair to say that this bike isn’t about pure power-weight statistics anyway.
The Ago SV1000’s gorgeous swooping bodywork is full-carbon, with both forged and laminated parts, and exposed fibres on the aero winglets and the graphics. Paintwork is the classic Agusta red and silver colour scheme, with yellow highlights on the round LED headlight and side panels to echo Agostini’s title-winning race bikes.
His signature adorns the tank, and special Ago graphics are present on the classic leather tank strap, as well as a specially embroidered race seat.
An 18-karat gold plaque on the top yoke shows the limited-edition number of each bike, and there are loads of other special touches too. The key is perhaps the most striking; it’s made with two shells made of aluminium milled from billet and anodized in a striking red colour.
But embedded in one of the shells is a bronze medal, made from an ACTUAL REAL 500GP winning trophy from Agostini’s personal collection. It’s been cut from an Imola 500GP trophy: the year isn’t specified, but he only won there once on an MV Agusta, in 1972, so it’s presumably that one.
Buyers get a load of extras of course: indoor bike cover, certificate of authenticity with matching unit number, pillion seat in leather and Alcantara, pillion footpegs and supports, carbon passenger heel guards, CNC-machined brake and clutch levers and height adjustment plates for the swingarm pin. But you also get a fabulous set of riding kit: a bespoke Agostini-replica AGV Pista GP RR helmet and Dainese Custom Works Demone GP 3X race suit.
And unlike some other limited edition bikes, the helmet and leathers are included in the Ago SV1000 purchase price, rather than an optional cost extra. Designed by MV Agusta in collaboration with Dainese, the Dainese Demone GP 3X suit is the firm’s top MotoGP leather suit. Made in kangaroo leather, it integrates the latest D-air® Racing Shield 3X airbag system, titanium shoulder and knee plates, and the unmistakable pentaxial elasticated back for total freedom to perform on the bike.
It features a modern design inspired by Agostini’s racing leathers and will be produced, after a dedicated measurement session at a Dainese store, exclusively for MV Agusta Superveloce Ago customers, giving them also the possibility to customize their name on the leather suit back.
The Pista GP RR is the exact same helmet used by AGV’s top riders in MotoGP. FIM homologated – thanks to its full carbon shell, the optical class 1 Ultravision visor, the rear Pro Spoiler and the 360° Adaptive Fit interiors system – the Pista GP RR provides the highest level of protection and confidence for legendary performance on the racetrack.
The exclusive version designed only for the Superveloce 1000 Ago customers takes inspiration from the iconic Giacomo Agostini’s tricolore livery, reshaping it in a modern version with exposed carbon fibre pattern details. Lovely stuff.
A very sweet package then – though MV says only dedicated Agusta fans and collectors will be able to get hold of one. The bike costs €83,000, and just 83 of them will be built, for delivery in September. More info from your local dealer or at www.mvagusta.com