Words: Bill Hunter.
There’s no doubt that MV Agusta produce some of the most gorgeous motorcycles on the planet – and this Superveloce 800 is certainly of no exception. We could instigate a debate over the bikes from the other Italian stable, Ducati, but in my opinion the MV label is just a little more exotic.
The Agusta brand began in 1907 when a Sicilian fell in love with aero planes, after a couple of devastating World Wars and producing planes for the Italian Air Force the MV (Meccaniche Verghera) part was attached in 1945 to form the name we have today. Their first bike that rolled of the production line was called the “MV 98”, and won its first race in 1947, and the rest is history.
Anyway, that’s just a brief recap of the iconic brand and I’m sure those founders would be immensely proud of what we’re riding in 2025, the Superveloce 800. It’s a stunning piece of visual pleasure in their familiar red/silver livery, expensive of course, which you’d expect, so that’s no bombshell. 
The Superveloce 800 isn’t a new bike though; it’s been on sale since 2021, with various updates in-between. I did ride the previous version before 2021 that had a few issues, regarding fueling, rough suspension, and the like, but I can gladly now report that those problems have been addressed.
So let’s delve into this 2024 Superveloce 800 to see why it’s so special. Well, the chassis and engine is basically from their 800 F3 Super Sports bike. MV then wrapped it in classic/modern-retro styled bodywork, offering something different and unique to the rider, making it an instant classic and perfect for a rich collector, which sadly rules me out. Still, I did get to ‘own’ it for week, so life’s not so bad.
Without doubt the most impressive ‘thing’ about the Superveloce 800 is this amazing in-line, three-cylinder, DOHC, 798cc engine. The exceedingly short stroke (79mm x 54mm) motor is stuffed full of exotic parts, like 12 titanium valves and valve guides, giant (for the displacement) 50mm Mikuni throttle-bodies, feeding twin injectors for each cylinder. Now most ‘800s’ produce around 100hp +/-, however this particular MV delivers a knockout 147hp@13,000rpm and 88Nm@10,100rpm. That’s an awful lot of horsepower from a ’mere’ 798cc, I’m sure you’ll agree? The engine also rotates in an anti-clockwise direction, unique for an ‘800’, which is claimed to assist with quicker direction changes, the same concept is also used in MotoGP bikes.
Predictably being a race derived bike it enjoys a wealth of electronic wizardry. The ride-by-wire system allows for three power modes, rain, street and sport, eight levels of traction control (including off), and four maps for torque control. You can also select anti-wheelie mode, launch control and cruise control by using either the left or right switch clusters, oh, and a stopwatch feature for track use. Being Italian they’re a bit ‘fiddly’ to begin with but once you’ve navigated around the system a couple of times it all comes to fruition. All of your selections are relayed on the updated 5.5-inch TFT display, which can receive and activate Bluetooth/GPS and the MV Ride App. The electronic suite for the bike is made by e-Novia, again from Italy. Their six-axis IMU measures, among the above, lean-angle sensitive, and cornering assisted ABS parameters too. So if you desire to take your posh Superveloce for a lap or two around a track, you have everything you need to do so.
I mentioned earlier that the steel-trellis frame from the F3 is the same, with a striking aluminium swingarm, connected by hefty, and stiffer, cast alloy frame plates. To complement the chassis is new, and far better, Marzocchi 43mm forks with pre-load, compression and rebound damping, and the single rear Sachs shock has similar adjustability. I’d just like to mention here that this bike is the standard (if you can believe that) version, with an S and Serie Oro option available, with even better components. Check out the MV Agusta site at the end of the article for more information, but I do know that the Serie Oro will cost well over R1Mill’.
More top-shelf components consist of Brembo Stylema four-piston calipers, acting on 320mm discs, providing eyeball extending stopping power. All well and good but the major talking point is the unique bodywork. From the front to the rear nothing else looks like it. Possibly the most distinctive piece is the, deep breath, Pollyelipsoidal headlight, hard to say after a bottle of wine I’d imagine. Above that is the aero-wing caressing the screen, then there’s a leather strap across the fuel tank, a suede-like seat, beautiful wheels, and of course those howling triple-stacked exhaust pipes.
So is it just a styling exercise or is it excellent to ride you may ask. Well, being a Super Sport bike the clip-ons are low set, throwing you into a race like crouch. Surprisingly it isn’t too bad for a man of my age, even the 830mm high seat was quite good regarding comfort levels. You sit inside the bike as your legs wrap around the 16.5-litre, and wonderfully sculptured tank. The pillion seat is virtually useless, depending on whom you’re dating, if you know what I mean? I did admire, like the headlight, the shape and design of the rear taillight though. Wasn’t too sure about the mirrors stuck on the end of the ‘bars, regarding the visibility aspect, form over function, etc…
The Superveloce 800 weighs in at 195 (wet), which is about right for an 800 Sport bike, but the way it performs in a straight line isn’t. MV claims a 0-100km time of just 3.05-seconds – very impressive. It picks up so quickly, now with perfect fueling, and delivers so much outrageous power (from an 800) that it’s hard to believe this engine only displaces 798cc. The quick-shifter works both ways and certainly helps with the relentless drive, one of the best I’ve had the pleasure of shifting. Top speed is around 240km/h-ish but it’s more about the soulful noise coming from the air-box and those three-stacked pipes. Hard to explain unless you ride one, but an audible orgasm maybe describes the experience. You really feel like you’re riding something special, which it is on all counts. It’s elegant, sleek, very fast and very agile.
Oh yes the handling is equally as good as the motor, and seeing as it evolved from their F3 race chassis I’d expect nothing less. Even down to the little badge at the bottom of the right side of the engine, telling you who built it, everything emits refined engineering in true MV fashion.
R419,000 is a lot money, but in it’s defense the MV Agusta Superveloce 800 costs about the same as a big Adventure bike with few bits thrown on. However it’s far more collectable and exclusive. Some will say it’s a rich person’s toy, but so is a Ferrari, and we all want one of those. So, to end this review I think we should finish off with bit of Italian opera to match the Superveloce’s classic design and nature – enjoy.
Visit: www.mvagusta.com or www.mvagusta.co.za to view the other Superveloce options mentioned, or to view the new range available in South Africa for 2025.
