IN CONCLUSION

The end of the 1960s saw the still-popular 350cc capacity class as a battleground for the Japanese manufacturers. MV offered a different slant. Supplies of bikes were sporadic. They were expensive. They popped up in markets around the world, but wherever they landed, the cachet of that logo guaranteed they were desirable.

Finding a realistic project may take patience. Finding uncommon parts may be an even greater test of patience. Sport models out-sold tourers by quite a margin. As noted above, the MV Owners’ Club can help with servicing or overhaul items, but parts availability can be hit and miss. MV ownership is a worldwide interest, so it will be worth investigating some of the international online virtual groups for advice and further sources of parts.

And when you’ve finally got the bike up and running? Like many of MV’s offerings, the 350B package is greater than the sum of its parts. The engine may be relatively unsophisticated, vibration has been reported to bother some riders, but it has sufficient power and torque combined with relatively light cycle parts to offer performance at least equal to other bikes. The exceptional steering and roadholding qualities are what sets an MV apart and the 350B delivers. Which is, of course, why you want one.