MV AGUSTA 350
Fancy an exotic middleweight with a high brand image?
Scoop checks out a sizzler.
The original MV Agusta motorcycles were always high-end machines regardless of engine capacity. The upper crust nobility that ran the parent company were titled, Count Giovanni Agusta formed the original aeronautical business back in 1923 and just four years later it passed on his death to his wife and sons. After the Second World War, brothers Domenico and Vincenzo Agusta formed MV Agusta, producing simple transport and saving the jobs of the original aircraft factory employees. From the earliest days, racing was used as a tool to promote the company but road bikes were what pulled the money in and put bread on the table. Somewhere among the original quirky 600/4s, the later track-aping 750s, the 50s, 125s and 150s were a pair of twins. At 250 and 350 these bikes were the top end of the more financially accessible machinery coming out of the Gallarate factory. For many who aspired to own an MV, the 350 was often the glass ceiling of attainability. Above 350ccs, MVS spiralled stratospherically out of reach. The 350 in camera is a perfect example of the parallel twin MV Agusta offered circa 1969-1974 and represented the final iteration of an Italian industry standard layout before more modern thinking forced a substantial and significant redesign. Variously described in period road tests as looking like a cross between a pre-war Velocette, and Eastern Bloc commuter and a Puch split single
the bike’s looks were essentially 1950s with dashes of 1960s if you looked hard enough. The way the seat rails curve downwards into the seat post and gearbox mounts is very much a just postwar feature. Similarly the positioning of the rear shock absorbers at near vertical and with their lower mounts tucked so far forwards is a layout from a former period. The rest of the bike offered a kind of svelte uncluttered look with a long racing seat (pillions not invited), a low long fuel tank, and clip-ons allied to a large portion of minimalist pseudo track escapee. MV Agusta may have been trying to pick up sales via the inference that this was a race bike on the road yet the reality was more than a little different. The engine was a simple push rod four-stroke twin variously quoted at 29-35bhp. No fancy overhead cams or gear train here, just good old, well established, push rods and two valve heads. Even if the bike was pitched as a high end device the reality is a little different; there are few if any concessions to luxury or even 1970s modernity. No air-box or air filter leaves you with a pair of Dell’orto carbs inhaling anything available, the battery is on open display and the side panels look almost like afterthoughts. If you prefer your classics to look complete and designed as an anodyne entity this may not be the machine for you. Raw and potentially visceral pretty much sums up the look. Out on the road the bike is pure unadulterated racing in terms of its ergonomics. The clip-ons demand an overt racing crouch, that long saddle invites you to stretch out and the foot pegs set aft of the swingarm spindle complete the racing triangular crouch. All of which seems grand but until you’re doing 70 there’s a lot of pressure on the wrists. The MV’S brakes are top end stuff, especially the front, but a badly set up one can be grabby. Tommaselli controls adorn the bars as does the typical ‘tin box’ switch gear; the ying and yang of period Italian detailing. That apparently antediluvian frame allows the bike to be hustled a hell of a lot harder and faster than you might expect; its only foible is an ability to transmit vibration to the hands and feet at higher revs. This is in no small part due to the nature of the parallel twin engine and comes with the territory. The twin instruments get seriously buzzed, which does them little good! However, the motor loves to be worked hard and is happy as Larry when kept in the 6000-8000 zone. This rewards the rider with a glorious cacophony of inlet and exhaust roar which plays nicely to the MV legend. The MV’S brakes are top end stuff especially the front but a badly set up one can be grabby. It’s highly likely that MV realised the 350 was past its sell-by date early on; for 1975 they offered the arguably delicious 350S aka The Ipotesi. Heavily revised it brought MV’S 350 twin into the modern era yet its styling once again polarised opinion. The earlier models tend to command less money and if an Italian middleweight appeals then this may very well be the bike for you. Few things in life are guaranteed but you can rest assured you’ll never lack for interested enthusiasts if you own an MV 350!