Until 2014, MV Agusta only built motorcycles that would eat apexes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Machines built to just simply look and go fast and handle like a stealth ninja. Then, the company decided to enter a whole new dimension with the launch of the Turismo Veloce, a touring motorcycle that was NOT made with the inspirations of the marquee’s 75 world titles or racetrack pedigree like the rest of the stablemates.

But that notion too has changed, for since 2018, MV has released a limited-production RC (Reparto Corse) edition of the Turismo. It is a legitimate celebration of this MV Agusta’s superior qualities created by the honchos at the racing department, Jules Cluzel and Lorenzo Zanetti.

For 2018, the bike also receives mild updates with its powertrain, electronics, and chassis to keep their mark on the ever-improving sportsbike market. They also get new colors and graphics to mirror the race bikes running hot on tracks around the world.

2018 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 RC

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2018 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 RC
  • Engine/Motor: inline-3
  • Horsepower: 110
  • Torque: 61
  • Transmission: 6
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

STYLING

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2018 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800

2018 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 RC


Till what limit can the art on two wheels be extended to? Ask MV Agusta. Having made some of the most exotic Italian masterpieces on two wheels, MV has a tremendous history in terms of making some of the most beautiful looking and aerodynamic motorcycles on the planet.

Although the Schiranna brand is giving you a touring motorcycle, they are not any less in style and class. The Turismo Veloce can be immediately recognized as an MV Agusta, thanks to the chiseled front fascia resembling the MV Agusta F4 that has a sharp and rakish full LED headlight element flanked by strips of DRLs’.

This motorcycle gets a compact silhouette because of its small 3 cylinder rocket even with the side panniers. The fairing is also minimalistic and does not cover any mechanical component unlike other MV’s and joins the narrow 5.8-gallon fuel tank that has indentations for a tucked in feel.

The fairing also houses an easily adjustable windshield inside which sits a 5” TFT color instrument cluster that among all others worldly information, displays GPS data too. A new switchgear, specially designed for the Turismo Veloce can allow the rider to customize the screen’s display. The Bluetooth-enabled device can connect to your smartphone and let you adjust the ride settings of your Turismo Veloce along with calls and messages displayed.

Each RC sees red aluminum racing wheels derived from the F4 Superbike, carbon fiber front fender spoiler, heated hand grips, central stand and integrated GPS sensor. As this is a collector’s edition, you will also get a rear racing stand and the Reparto Corse graphics paint scheme that includes race decals with newer sponsorship titles across the bike, autographs of Jules and Lorenzo and a plate bearing the authenticity signed by the president Giovanni Castiglioni. Enough to make you drool over this mouth-watering object of desire.

High-visibility LED indicators are embedded into the handguards giving the bike a panache, and to the rider, a great amount of comfort. The engine compartment is decisively small for an 800 cc machine. All thanks to the oil and water cooling systems being built into the engine casting. On the side, you see the distinct three spout exhaust muffler which has a rather quadrangular shape unlike the rest of its brothers.

Split seats can be seen with a perforated visual element with a neatly exposed stitching gives it an edge, and the RC gets it all in red. At the rear, you get built-in handrails and a stylish 3D tail light LED segment that looks like it was designed somewhere a million miles out in space.

Overall Dimension

Make Model

2018 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 RC

2018 Triumph Tiger 800 XCA

Length

83.6 in

84.01 in

Width

35.8 in

31.6 in

Height

53.91 in

54.72 in

Wheelbase

56.8 in

56.3 in

Seat height

33.4 in

31.8 in

Wet weight

450 lb

489 lb

Fuel Tank

5.68 gal

5 gal


POWERTRAIN

MV’s 798cc three-cylinder engine is regarded as the most advanced and powerful mid-sized power unit to have ever been built. The in-line 798cc motor produces a phenomenal 110 hp at 11500 rpm (coming at 1500 rpm more than the previous) and 61 lb-ft of peak torque at 7600 rpm (2 lb-ft more than the previous edition). 90% of this is available at only 3,800 rpm. The performance at high revs is superlative due to double overhead cam timing system with four titanium valves per cylinder.

Now, the same powerplant will conform to Euro-IV emission norms and will have various technical redesigns to accommodate the same without lowering those performance figures. Primarily, the engine gets optimized balance shaft and gearings along with new intake cam profiles and titanium valves. The fuel consumption is 20% lower than the rest of the line-up.

The mechanical slipper clutch system takes power to the rear wheel through the redesigned cassette type 6 speed gearbox with an updated gearing and optimized design to improve general functionality for faster, precise, gear shifting.. The Higher compression ratio of 12.2:1 makes the rpm redline limit at 13500 to maintain reliability.

The MVICS (Motor & Vehicle Integrated Control System) platform combines fully electronic management of the accelerator and throttle body and 8 level adjustment traction control in case you decide to go bonkers with this and to let loose is not for the faint-hearted. It also makes use of a new traction control system and the EAS 2.0 with-blipper shift system that can be controlled by the TFT instrument panel.

Giving serious thought to lightweight, the engines weighs at only 114 lbs and houses a counter-rotating shaft which was exclusive to only MotoGP monsters. This makes the engine reduce inertia during quick directional changes and enhances engine balance to give the bike a better handling ability. Functional changes include a new sprocket, which improves smooth driving characteristics and precision.

The MV Agusta Turismo Veloce is the only sports tourer with a counter-rotating crankshaft making riding a smooth pleasure unlike anything in its class, and for 2018, it is further redesigned to further reduce vibration and noise. The front engine mounts have increased longitudinal chassis stiffness and subsequently driving dynamics.

Engine Specification

Make Model

2018 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 RC

2018 Triumph Tiger 800 XCA

Capacity cc

798

800

Bore/ Stroke mm

79/54.3

74.05/91.9

Output

110 hp @ 11500 rpm

95 hp @ 9500 rpm

Torque

61 lb-ft @ 7100 rpm

58 ft-lb @ 8050 rpm

Type

Three cylinder, 4 stroke, 12 valve, DOHC

Liquid-cooled, 12 valve, DOHC, in-line 3-cylinder

Clutch type

Wet, multi plate with slipper clutch

Wet multiplate

Transmission

6-speed with MV EAS 2.0 (Electronically Assisted Shift Up & Down)

6-speed


RIDE AND HANDLING

Being a tourer, the Veloce is MV Agusta’s most comfortable and supple ride to take you more than 200 miles at a stretch without hurting your body. Compared to all its competitors, it also handles like a racer. With 850 mm of saddle height, it is a task to put your feet planted on the ground at a standstill, or even to throw it around the saddle. Talking about the saddle, it is much better padded for 2018, and heated grips come as standard on the RC adding to that comfort level.

Derived from the MV Agusta Stradale 800, the Veloce’s tubular trellis frame now has a revised steering geometry. The chassis response is positive giving you the right amount of flex and has the quality to put many touring bikes to shame. It uses a trellis frame coupled to aluminum alloy side plates acting as a pivot for the single swingarm.

Three engine settings: Rain (80 hp), Touring (90 hp) and Sport (110 hp) and a custom mode along with the ride-by-wire throttle let you play around with the bike’s performance according to your imagination. Some of the parameters that can be customized are the engine torque curve in-line with power output (two levels), rev limiter cut-in point (Hard or Soft), throttle sensitivity (three levels), engine braking (two levels), engine response (two levels) and of course the traction control (eight levels).

The motorcycle feels compact and agile twisting down on the winding curves and giving you a soft, supple ride is Sachs USD semi-active telescopic hydraulic fork at the front and Progressive Sachs, semi-active single shock absorber with hydraulic spring preload adjustment at the rear. Both of these can be adjusted with respected to rebound and compression by a graphical tool on the app on your smartphone.

Braking units are taken by the Brembo radial-type monoblock with twin 320 mm discs in the front and a 220 mm at the rear clutched by 4 and 2 pistons respectively. Bosch 9 Plus with RLM (Rear wheel Lift-up Mitigation) ABS comes as standard. The RC gets 17” forged aluminum alloy wheels, in red of course.

Chassis Specifications

Make Model

2018 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 RC

2018 Triumph Tiger 800 XCA

Frame

ALS Steel tubular trellis

Tubular steel Trellis frame

Suspension / Front

43 mm Sachs “UPSIDE DOWN” semi-active telescopic hydraulic fork MVCSC (MV Agusta Chassis Stability Control)

WP 43 mm upside down forks, with adjustable rebound and compression damping, 8.66 in travel

Suspension / Rear

Progressive Sachs, semi-active single shock absorber with hydraulic spring preload adjustment MVCSC

WP monoshock with remote oil reservoir, hydraulically adjustable preload, 8.46 in rear wheel travel

Brakes / Front

Double floating 320 mm disc. Caliper: Brembo radial-type, with 4 pistons. Bosch 9 Plus with RLM

Twin 305 mm floating discs, Brembo 2­piston sliding calipers, switchable ABS

Brakes / Rear

Single 220 mm disc. Caliper: Brembo with 2 pistons. Bosch 9 Plus with RLM

Single 255 mm disc, Nissin single piston sliding caliper, switchable ABS

Tires / Front

120/70 - ZR 17 M/C (58 W)

90/90-­21

Tires / Rear

190/55 - ZR 17 M/C (75 W)

150/70 R17


PRICE

The MV Agusta Turismo Veloce RC is now available in America dealerships for a premium price of $23,298 and is available in red/pearl RC white/green, typical RC flavor. That is a cool $7,300 more than the base Veloce 800.

You will also get MV’s accessory lounge access to customize your bike to your needs. You can install side panniers, Garmin sat-nav, bags, carbon fiber mudguards and silencer covers, seats and stands. The optional side-mounted luggage holds 15.84 gallons of space and is designed to integrate seamlessly not only with the lines of the bike but also with the supporting structure of the rider seat and passenger.

Price

Make Model

2018 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 RC

2018 Triumph Tiger 800 XCA

$23,298

$15,850


COMPETITION

The MV Agusta Turismo Veloce has very few contenders for the 800cc category, and the biggest one amongst them is the British-made Triumph Tiger. The ‘Tiger’ range got the much needed revamp and were launched earlier this year.

Triumph Tiger 800 XCA

Triumph has a beeline of buyers for this Tiger for its practical approach and usability as an adventure motorcycle. Seeing its success, Triumph has loaded it with changes and updates than to make sure they reign the middleweight segment. The 800 gets 200 improvements over the engine and chassis components making it more capable off-road and more comfortable.

It gets a new full-color TFT instrumentation, heated seats and grips, all-LED lighting and backlit switchgear just like on the Veloce RC, albeit the heated seats. Keeping the 800 looking smart is the new bodywork and decals with updated side panel designs that keep the off-road stance pronounced even better. It gets new five-position adjustable windscreen and aero diffusers for segment-leading aero protection.

The 800cc in-line triple is now mass-optimized to give out 95 ponies and 58 lb-ft of torque with a fine-tuned throttle response for immediate power delivery. The powertrain sees significant improvements in the form of shorter ratio 1st gear for enhanced off-road traction and responsiveness and gets a lighter, free-flowing silencer to create a raw soundtrack.

Giving the 800 a commanding riding position is the new handlebar position and new saddle compounds that cater to all-day comfort on and off-road. High spec Brembo brakes and Showa suspensions do their job perfectly. Electronic rider aids include ABS, traction control, ride-by-wire throttle, cruise control and up to six riding modes including the new “Off-Road Pro” mode (XC models only), which allows the rider to disengage the electronic rider aids.

The top-of-the-line Tiger 800 XCA is available for $15,850.

VERDICT

The MV Agusta Turismo Veloce RC is the hottest performing middleweight tourer in production wearing civilian clothing. The bikes come in the perfect blend of performance and handling together with the graphically accurate duplicate of the factory racers as seen on this limited-edition RC (Reparto Corse) paint jobs. How limited? That stands at just 250.

For a bike having many facets all soldered into one solid handling machine, there is nothing much that could go wrong. Now, you don’t have to have two bikes to do two different things. This MV is the most versatile of all of them in its class. The rider aids and electronic package you get in this is worth every penny you pay. With more and more people investing in tourers, there has never been a better time for MV to introduce the Veloce RC into the market, and by the looks of it, it is going to be one of the favorites.