MV Agusta 850SS
Racing Bikes MV Agusta 850SS | |
Class | Racing |
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Weight | |
Manuals | Service Manual |
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Overview[edit | edit source]
MV Agusta 850SS
The MV Agusta 850SS was the last, the largest, and the
fastest of the MV Agusta 4-cylinder road machines from the
1970s. In fact it was one of the fastest production road-going
motorcycle in the world in 1977 with a top speed of 150+mph and
between 85 and 95 hp.
MV Agusta became famous quickly for their advanced, high-performance
motorcycle engines, the largest of which would evolve from the inline-4, DOHC
engine designed by Piero Remor and first installed in an MV in 1950.
Iterations of this engine would remain in production for racing till 1966,
eventually being replaced by a triple, then with a new inline-4 in 1973 which
won MV Agustas final two 500cc world titles in 1973 and 1974.
The first street bike to get the MV Agusta inline-4 DOHC engine was the oft
maligned MV Agusta 600. Nicknamed the Black Pig thanks to its looks and color,
the heavyweight 600 had a rectangular car headlight, a shaft drive, a measly 50
hp, and very few buyers. Just 127 were made, but today theyve acquired cult
classic status and collectors hunt them down.
After much arm twisting, Count Domenico Agusta finally agreed to manufacture
a performance street bike with the much sought after inline-4. The MV Agusta
750S was released in 1970 just a year before the Count passed away. As the model
name suggests it had a 750cc capacity, four 24mm DellOrto carburettors, and 66
hp at 8000 rpm.
The 750GT was released in 1972 with revised touring-oriented bodywork and
handlebars. It wasnt popular, and just 50 were sold. The 750S made a comeback
in 1974 with Scarab dual-disc front brakes, improved cam timing, bigger valves,
and ports, 4 27mm DellOrto carburettors, and 69 hp at 8,500 rpm.
After being convinced by their US importers that a market existed for a
superbike to take on the Japanese, the MV 750 America of 1975 1976 was
developed. It featured a left-side shifter, a new more angular gas tank with
matching side panels and a suede-seat with a nifty hidden storage space under
the prominent bump-stop rear, 4 26mm DellOrto carburettors, and 75 hp at 7500
rpm.
Sadly the importers were wrong, and the MV America sold in relatively limited
numbers largely due to the increasing competition from far cheaper Japanese
superbikes.
The final swing MV Agusta took at the superbike market was too expensive to
ever sell in significant numbers, but today over 40 years later its remembered
as one of the most impressive Italian motorcycles of the era.
Released in 1977 as a significantly upgraded 750 America, the 850SS had an
actual capacity of 837cc, with revised cams, 27mm DellOrto carburettors,
a 9.5:1 compression ratio, and 85 hp at 8500 rpm.
A new set of twin Brembo discs were fitted up front with a matching Brembo in
the rear, and the bike featured classic MV Agusta styling that paired a
curvaceous fairing with the angular fuel tank, side covers, and seat of the
America.
Depending on who you listen to, between 27 and 42 examples of the
were built, some of which were modified Americas built by
the dealers to clear stock, and some of which were built at the factory in
Italy.
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