An adventure bike is the must-have model in any manufacturer's line-up (although try telling that to Kawasaki!) and MV Agusta is the latest to follow the herd onto the road less travelled.

MV Agusta Planning Adventure Bike

These days, it's the exception rather than the rule to have no adventure bike in your line-up. Let's face it, when even Harley Davidson, that most traditional of manufacturers, heads down the adventure route, then you know it's time you stopped resisting and joined the gang.

Back at the beginning of 2020 (ahhh, remember those heady days before we were told what we could and couldn't do?) MV Agusta owner Timur Sardarov gave an insight into future models under his new ownership and the one that really got everyone sitting up and taking notice, was a proposed adventure bike.

This would be a proper adventure bike and not the sports tourer that is the Turismo Veloce. As good as that bike is, it's definitely not designed to go anywhere other than the smoothest boulevards and trendiest locations.

Fast forward to this week and images have allegedly surfaced of a prototype test mule being put through its paces. According to www.visordown.com this is apparently a real, rugged adventure bike, with tall suspension and what looks like a new chassis, lacking the trellis frame that is a hallmark of all other MV Agusta models. a 21" front wheel is fitted, further confirming its off-road aspirations.

The timing for a new reveal is right, with the EICMA show in Milan, Italy, just around the corner: MV often use the show to reveal their next big thing.

Then, just a couple of days later, MV Agusta has revealed the Lucky Explorer Project and confirmed that not one, but two new adventure models are to be launched.

Again, there are no images of the bikes but if the colour scheme of the roundel looks familiar, that's because the whole project is using the Lucky Strike-sponsored Paris-Dakar Cagivas as inspirational touch-points for the new project (Sardarov also owns Cagiva).

A visit to the website has nothing but a countdown clock and a video of footage from Paris-Dakar rallies of old. The Instagram channel has nothing more.

Timur Sardarov, CEO, MV Agusta Motor S.p.A., said:

“I am excited about the launch of this very special project. The Lucky Explorer concept is not just about bikes, it’s about a comprehensive world of emotions, memories, values and a way of being. A long-awaited return for all the fans of Made-in-Schiranna, but also a new beginning and a leap into the future: no matter where life takes us, we know where we’re from.”

It's a bold move from MV Agusta. Developing a new model isn't cheap and MV has been best known in recent years for its shallow pockets but all that has changed with Sardarov's billions backing it up and we have to expect the new MV adventure bike to be at least half-way competent. It will be interesting to see how they adapt the traditionally rev-hungry triple-cylinder engine to low-down plugging torque delivery.