1974 MV Agusta 750S America Motorcycle

Description

Born in 1948 as the Meccanica Verghera company in the Varese province of Italy, MV Agusta was part of a large industrial conglomeration formed by Giovanni Agusta in 1907 mainly concerned with aircraft production. With aircraft sales struggling post-war, the Agusta family looked elsewhere for expansion and soon turned to motorcycles, initially producing small scooters. In 1950 MV began building a new four-stroke Grand Prix motorcycle in both 125cc and 500cc versions, both of which became hugely successful on and off the track - John Surtees made his name on an MV, winning the 500cc World Championship in his first year with the team in 1956. By the early 1960s all Italian motorcycle manufacturers were struggling to compete with the rise of the Japanese and MV branched out to stay competitive, expanding their model range. At the 1965 Milan Motorcycle Show a new four-cylinder model was announced, the 600. Although intended as a touring bike, the 600 drew heavily from MV's racing experience and the DOHC four-stroke motor was derived from Mike Hailwood's Grand Prix machine. Painted black and boasting features like a twin disc front brake, the MV 600 was certainly one of the fastest bikes on the market in its day. The model range gradually expanded to become the 750, both in Sport (from 1969) and GT (from 1971) guises and with 70hp on tap, could top 120 mph. The ultimate development of the four-cylinder range was the Sport America announced in 1975, with an expanded 790cc engine and the option of cast alloy wheels and a rear disc brake. However Count Domenico Agusta's death in the early 1970s precipitated a decline in the company's fortunes and the big fours of the 1960s and 1970s certainly represent the end of an era.