MV Agusta Superveloce 800

MV Agusta refers to its new Superveloce 800 (or ‘Superveloce Ottocento’ as it says on the headstock) as a concept bike – but it also says it’s going to be on sale in the second half of 2019 with only relatively minor tweaks. 

Styled under the guidance of MV’s British design boss, Adrian Morton, the Superveloce strikes a neo-retro figure that’s reminiscent of machines like Ducati’s MH900e and last year’s Honda Interceptor concept bike. But with its mechanical bits taken straight from the F3 800, it’s facing a straightforward route into production and will be a unique proposition when it reaches showrooms.

At the moment MV hasn’t released specifications, but since the engine and chassis are from the F3 it’s not a huge leap to suggest it’s going to have similar performance to that bike. The unique exhaust system, with two pipes on the right hand side and one on the left, is reminiscent of the firm’s 500cc GP bikes from the late 60s and early 70s and helps boost power a fraction over the F3 800’s 145bhp (108kW), aided by a remapped ECU. And with skimpier bodywork and lightweight components like its LED head and tail lights, allied to a new rear subframe, it could be lighter than the F3’s 173kg (dry), too. 

Although the leather strap and machined fuel cap are new, the tank itself comes from the F3 – saving costs when it comes to production – and the colour TFT instrument panel is shared with the newly-announced 2019 Brutale 1000. 

At the moment, there’s no word on the bike’s price or whether it will be a limited or full-production model. But if you’re in the market for a middleweight sports bike in 2019, it might be worth hanging on for the second half of the year to give the Superveloce a look.