1 minute read
LONG TERM RIDES
4. Usability...or Lack Thereof
With a composite material fuel tank (read: plastic) magnetic tank bags aren’t an option. This left us struggling to carry anything larger than a fanny pack. At one point, our tech Jeremy Haynes even bunjeed a tank bag to the tank in desperation. The pillion pad, which is too small for an actual human passenger, is covered in a tactile, mock suede which means you can (with luck) strap a six-pack or your lunch there. As expected, the brakes are world-class and fuel economy is decent at 40 MPG, giving the 4.4-gallon tank a range of 158 or so miles. Unless you’re A) three feet tall or, B) work as a yoga instructor or gymnast, you’ll be stopping long before then. Despite Blake and Jeremy’s’ throttle abuse, the MV never burned any oil but the chain did become very slack at just over 500 miles.
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5. Details To Please
Everyone seemed to dig the (purely decorative) brown leather strap that spans the fuel tank and the careful (and deliberate) branding exercise MV undertook with the SV, which places their distinctive logo on every available surface from the handgrips to the fuel cap rim and engine covers. The engine’s designer even signed the motor, which is very House of Gucci. There are functional bar-end mirrors, a singlesided swingarm and curvy alloy wheel spokes that are sharp looking, though getting the rear wheel off the pavement for a chain adjust or lube requires an outlay of $519 for MV’s own race stand, although knockoffs are available at $200. The full-color dash is programmed with everything from a lean angle sensor to Bluetooth and GPS settings, but it requires a 300-page owner’s manual (included) to sift through. We still can’t find the engine temperature gauge.
Overall Impression
The MV Agusta Superveloce is built upon a proven platform, simply being the F3 superbike in retro bodywork. It’s reliable and satisfying and gives a pride of ownership that, for some, only exotic small-batch motorcycles can. MV’s spotty dealer network was a definite drawback, but a recent merger with KTM means that’s all about to change for the better. Service intervals come at 600 miles (around $475) and a major service at 9,000 miles costs a bit more.
Short of building your own Italian cafe racer, the Superveloce is custom in a crate with the performance to back up its looks.
Verdict ***** (five out of five stars)
