2015-05-05

2015 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800Editor Score: 87.5%Engine 16.5/20Suspension/Handling 13.0/15 Transmission/Clutch 9.5/10Brakes 9.0/10 Instruments/Controls4.5/5 Ergonomics/Comfort 9.0/10 Appearance/Quality 9.0/10Desirability 10.0/10Value 7.0/10Overall Score87.5/100
Full Disclosure: I already loved this bike before I ever even laid eyes on it. MV’s stunning Rivale got my heart racing and when I first heard they were considering a long-legged sport-tourer with an 800cc-Triple, I didn’t even need to hear its sublime “Turismo Veloce” naming before I knew I wanted one. Then came the aggressively voluptuous visuals followed by a long wait between the time we shot a video of the bike’s unveiling in late 2013 and this actual first ride in spring of 2015. Many of us began to wonder if the bike had been stillborn, the victim of some budget cut or other ignoble fate. Alas, our fears were simply due to our own high expectations and MV deciding to really take their time nailing their first ever touring motorcycle. Now it’s time to see if that wait has paid off.
MV launched three new bikes in 2015, the F4 1000 RC superbike, plus the Turismo Veloce 800 and Turismo Veloce 800 Lusso siblings. At the recent launches MV has also hinted that 2016 will see the debuts of four more new models, namely a revised 1000cc inline-Four-powered lineup, F4, Brutale, RR variants, etc. And that’s a good thing, because MV’s U.S. sales were actually down 6% for Q1 even though it has an aggressive 2015 growth target of +237%, so they’ll certainly need every bit of new-bike excitement they can muster.
If ever there was a lanky sport/adventure tourer that felt at home on the Cote d’Azur, the MV Turismo Veloce 800 is that motorcycle.
MV’s recently announced partnership with Mercedes-AMG should help them capture a portion of the additional market share they’ll be needing. Under that agreement, MV will be attending/sponsoring co-Branded events with AMG, including the Roland Garros tennis series, the Cannes film festival and the UEFA Champion’s Cup (soccer/futbol), all of them events which cater to MV’s well-moneyed core demographic.
With an eye to future growth, MV also let slip that a 1000+cc four-cylinder version of the Turismo Veloce is probably a logical asumption, even if that four-cylinder version may take about three additional years to develop. MV reps wouldn’t go so far as to confirm the bigger bike’s existence, but they also refused to deny one was in the pipeline.
Getting back to this current leggy dual-funbag-equipped Italian beauty, MV took pains to emphasize how much time engineers spent on its development, a lengthy process that began with initial sketches back in 2007. Although related to the F3 800 family, MV takes great pains to describe the Turismo Veloce as “completely new” and their “first ever touring platform.” According to MV, the new Turismo Veloce shares only its crank, connecting rods, engine cases, rear hub, some bearings and assorted fasteners with the rest of the F3 family.
The mostly-new “touring” version of the F3 800 engine was re-engineered to enhance low- to mid-range torque and is notably graced by an extended 15,000km service interval. It also makes an entertaining mountain of midrange torque.
The reason for the emphasis on how not-like the F3 800s it is comes down to the fact MV fully intended for this Turismo Veloce to be a dedicated touring platform, not simply a sportbike fitted with some accessory bags. Then again, MV really doesn’t mind us calling it a sport-tourer, hence the Veloce in its name. Not to mention it’s a freaking MV Agusta… a company that doesn’t really do “slow” or “conservative.”
Each 30L bag on the new Turismo Veloce is large enough to hold a full-face helmet. They open and close securely, do not seem to flex or vibrate much, and seem to appear as if they belong on this motorcycle. Too bad they aren’t included … MV calls them an accessory and charges $1,377.07 for the pair here in the U.S.
MV says it placed a priority on the bags with its earliest concept sketches and through the progression of all engineering mules to ensure the final production bags could both be large enough to each swallow a full-face helmet, yet also tucked-in tight enough to keep overall width at the widest point of the Turismo Veloce’s bags narrower than its handlebar ends. That emphasis paid-off handsomely in the form of a novel subframe that is visually light and airy, as well as being strong enough to support a large American-sized passenger while also carrying a total of 60 liters worth of payload in the bags. When following a bag-equipped Turismo Veloce, it is striking how close-together the inner walls of the bags are considering it still offers clearance for the 190mm wide rear tire to move between them.
Available in Metallic Silver, or MV’s attractive signature two-tone Red/Metallic Silver combo (my favorite), the 2015 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 has a “base” MSRP of $15,998. Its up-level Lusso sibling is available in that two-tone red/silver combo, but adds a very sharp looking two-tone Pearl White / Avio Gray option. Priced at $17,998, the Lusso adds electronically adjustable Sachs suspension components and MV’s Skyhook-like MVCSC chassis stability-control system, plus heated grips and a center stand. Those last two items are extra-cost options for base models. I wish I could comment on the Lusso and its upgraded suspension, alas, the press bikes were first edition base models equipped with a ton of accessories, not actual Lussos.
The top of the range Lusso is priced at $17,998 and is available in this sharp looking two-tone Pearl White / Avio Gray paint scheme. Its electronically adjustable Sachs suspension and MV’s Skyhook-like MVCSC chassis stability-control system is the Lusso’s most significant upgrade, but it also includes a center-stand and heated grips which are extra-cost options on the base model
No matter which trim level you choose, you’ll definitely want to add $1,377.07 to its base price so as to equip it with the side cases for which it was originally designed. It seems incongruous that those very bags which were priority #1 from the beginning, are not included as a standard feature on the first-ever MV “Touring” motorcycles that will be coming stateside, according to the latest data from MV’s official U.S. website.
Sufficient fuel capacity for a long day on the road was another priority from the start. At 5.8 gallons, the Turismo Veloce’s tank is decently large. However, my own reality intruded on MV’s narrative when, after flogging my Turismo Veloce over 137.3 spirited miles in “Sport” mode over a twisting route that involved nearly constant acceleration and deceleration, its fuel gauge showed less than 1/4 of a tank remaining and the yellow low-fuel light was glowing on the dash. To be fair to MV, it’s important to note that another, shall we say less-aggressive, journalist rode that same route with their bike’s ECU set in “Touring” mode and still had close to half a tank remaining at that same distance, so your mileage will definitely vary depending on the aggression of your right wrist.
The new Turismo Veloce 800 provided a comfortable platform from which to view the spectacular scenery of the Alpes Maritimes and Côte d’Azur…
The mostly-new “touring” version of its F3 800 engine was re-engineered to enhance low- to mid-range torque and is notably graced by an extended service interval, which is now up to 15,000km (9300+ miles), from the previously very short 6000km (3700-ish mile) requirement.
Following my time in the Turismo Veloce’s saddle, I can definitively say that in 95th percentile use, the new engine’s 110-hp peak figure shouldn’t be a limiting factor, as the 800 Triple makes loads of midrange torque. Much to the detriment of my social life, I can be a harsh critic, and unfortunately for MV, one of my favorite traits about Triples is how they sound at high rpm. That means I wasn’t at all predisposed to cut much slack to this re-tuned for torque Italian Triple, and was pleasantly surprised when its vivacious character shined through when out on the road, particularly via a frankly impressive midrange surge that made me stop focusing on the top-end and start enjoying surfing its torque out of even the tightest hairpins dotting the Alpes Maritimes above France’s Côte d’Azur.
…It also offered a capable chassis with which to blitz through said scenery.
True to its demographic position, MV Agusta always chooses the swankiest spots for press launches and impressive as the scenery was, the locale also felt a little douche-centric at times. None of that was my concern on the ride however, as that sweetheart wrapped in the sexy Italian attire continued to entertain and draw my undivided attention when I was in her presence, or, better yet, on top of her. And in that happy place there was honestly precious little about which to complain.
There were a only a couple of brief moments on our guided group ride where I could really get down to business and hustle the MV through a few curves at speed, and those fleeting moments gave little cause for concern. True to her design brief (and this motorcycle genre in general), the new Turismo Veloce was happy to let me ride her right down to the edges of her tires and then twist her love handle until she screamed for more. The TC tuning worked unobtrusively yet effectively, and the fully-adjustable 43mm Marzocchi fork and Sachs shock which offer 6.3” and 6.5” of travel, respectively, maintained their ability to damp the bumps and support my considerable load at speed.
Without its optional hard bags, the Turismo Veloce presents a clean tail and a clear view of its sexy rear end.
Speaking of loads, the Turismo Veloce has a remote rear spring preload adjuster that offered enough range to level the chassis for my girth and riding style. It’s a little crowded by the bottom rail of the subframe, and its proximity to the rear 12-volt power outlet, but is easy enough to adjust from the saddle while stopped (right-hand) as long as you grip it from behind instead of the side. One might expect to find Öhlins at this price point, but MV claims to have fewer “problems” and warranty issues with the Marzocchi and Sachs components compared to their fancy Swedish competition. I can’t comment on reliability, but I will say that fork stiction was somewhat noticeable from the Turismo Veloce’s Marzocchi unit, something rarely exhibited by the sliders and seals on an Öhlins unit. Perhaps the fix is as simple as a slick coating for the Marzocchi’s shafts, which doesn’t seem like too much to ask for from a bike of this caliber.
MV is justifiably proud of the electronics suite on their new Turismo Veloce 800. In addition to traction control, selectable ride modes in its bespoke Eldor ECU, and Bosch ABS 9-plus with rear lift mitigation (that advanced ABS system has its own convenient bar-mounted “Off” button), MV has also equipped this alluring machine with two 12V power points for rider and passenger, and a clever pair of 5V USB slots under its rubber steering stem cap. MV’s all-new 5-inch TFT digital dash offers clear data and makes it easy to adjust the large array of modes and settings in its sub-menus, once you’ve mastered the switch clusters next to the left and right grips, of course. The instrumentation also includes Bluetooth connectivity for phones and intercom systems, and it remained bright and easy to read in direct-sunlight.
MV used its new second generation MVICS 2.0 (Motor & Vehicle Integrated Control System) which lets the rider select from three presets plus a fourth “custom” maps. “Turismo” mode limits power output to a maximum of 90 hp and helps fuel economy and softens throttle response. “Sport” mode increases power to the maximum of 110, and “Rain” mode limits peak output to 80 hp while also setting TC to its maximum level. The ‘Custom’ mode allows the rider to select various parameters like two levels of peak engine power, hard or soft rev limiter intervention, selectable three-level throttle sensitivity, selectable two-level engine braking, selectable two-level engine response, and of course the eight-level (plus off) traction control.

Another impressive element of electronic tuning is the programming of the Turismo Veloce’s standard quick-shifter, which is a bi-directional (works both up- and down-shifting) unit that feels very intuitive and is not sensitive to varying techniques, unlike some other systems. I could shift this new Sport-Luxury-Utility-Tourer like a race bike, or any other way I wanted, with clutch, without clutch, blipping, not blipping, throttle open, throttle closed, quick, slow or lazy, and it never once missed a shift, caused a concern or acted in an unnatural way. That’s an elusive detail, and MV nailed it.
Picking nits, I would say that although MV has largely and commendably put the F3 platform’s fueling concerns in its past, the tuning of its ride-by-wire throttle seemed a little unnatural to me, specifically the engine’s torque delivery in response to a set movement of the right grip. MV brushed it off as supreme accuracy, claiming if you twist the Turismo Veloce’s right grip X%, you will get exactly X% of the engine’s maximum available torque at whichever rpm the engine is currently spinning. Therefore, the strong midrange torque and accurate throttle mapping could seem non-linear at times to those with an untrained wrist, MV asserts. It’s likely that some riders may not notice this throttle-response condition, and actual owners who spend time on a Turismo Veloce would subconsciously re-train their wrists to match the MV’s particular throttle responses.
This is how you do a subframe with integrated bag mounts. “What bag mounts?” you may be asking … look at the four little black rectangles underneath the tail section. Elegantly awesome.
My whole point, however, is that owners of premium motorcycles shouldn’t be forced to re-train their wrist for each different bike they own. I’m pretty sure that if MV had tuned its FI system so that X% of grip twist equaled the exact same percentage of throttle plate position and injector load (absent TC intervention, and regardless of peak power/torque mapping), then it would feel 100% “natural.” As is, MV seemed reluctant to admit that with selectable throttle maps (coupled with careful tuning to smooth-out low-rpm response) the low-end throttle damping percentages in the ECU still have to “catch-up” with the right grip’s position by the time it reaches 100%, and that if that catching-up occurs anywhere near the engine’s torque peak, it might feel to the rider like the engine is over-reacting to its throttle inputs… which I think it does at times, perhaps more than would be ideal for an expensive machine ridden by those blessed with refined senses. It could also make wheelies a very exciting proposition that could end in tears for rich guys who are so inclined.
The attractively curvaceous and contrast-stitched seat proved itself to be wide, supportive, and comfortable, although its width also means the rider’s legs have to stretch a bit further to reach the ground.
The Turismo Veloce’s attractively curvaceous and contrast-stitched seat proved itself to be wide, supportive, and comfortable during our fairly short ¾ day test ride, but its width and the tall nature of the Turismo Veloce’s chassis did make footing a bit challenging for a couple of the shorter editors in our group. All that seat height usually results in an extra-roomy cockpit but, in the TV’s case doesn’t translate into extra legroom, as my 34-in. inseam resulted in sharply-bent knees while underway.
Overall comfort is still excellent though, and as with other motorcycles in this genre, the Turismo Veloce’s riding position affords excellent visibility, balance and leverage, which are all traits that help make a motorcycle more fun to ride. The cockpit is capped by an attractive windscreen which is easily adjusted on the fly. Although the adjustable screen only has high and low positions covering a 2.4-inch spread, I wasn’t bothered by wind noise or any aerodynamic buffeting around my helmet. Aerodynamics are a crucial consideration for any long-distance machine, and MV clearly nailed them for the Turismo Veloce.
MV’s striking LED halo ring acts as a daytime running light and encircles the full-LED high/low-headlight and cornering lamps.
Below that sleek adjustable screen, MV has thoughtfully included its supersport-style faired-in headlight system that includes an attractive diamond-shaped LED halo ring that acts as a daytime running light and encircles the full-LED high/low-beam and cornering lights. The effect is beautiful, day or night, and the main beams are coupled with an ambient light sensor that switches them on automatically when needed. A nighttime bonus ride which I snuck and video’d while the other journalists were tucked safely inside the hotel, revealed the lighting system works especially well on low-beam where its pure blue/white color temperature did a great job exposing surface and roadside details in high-contrast. The high-beam also performed well but seemed to lack the eyeball pleasing drama of the low beam. One can only assume the full LED tail light did its job effectively.
From visceral and an aesthetic perspective, it sounds the business and looks like Sophia Loren in her prime.
Don’t be fooled by the Turismo Veloce’s fairly modest 110-horse peak power rating or its almost pedestrian sounding 143-mph top speed. The layout of its chassis and ergonomics strike that same magic balance between comfort and handling as other upright-seated, wide-barred, and properly suspended sport/adventure themed bikes, and I’ve always said splitting the difference between the lithe 58-hp Versys 650 LT and the large 130-hp Multistrada 1200S, by using an 800-ish Triple would be the sweet-spot for this type of platform. Now with the new Triumph Tiger 800 XRT, Yamaha FJ-09 and MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 we’ll actually get to find out, and you know that isn’t going to suck!
At this point, I’m leaning in the MV’s direction, if only from visceral and an aesthetic perspectives. It sounds the business, looks like Sophia Loren in her prime, is comfortable, handles well, and MV has made a strong case for its pre-game homework on its first “touring” model. The fact that it’s light and has a modest wheelbase means the new Turismo Veloce 800 will probably have a much sportier feel compared to those other new motorcycles once it meets them head-to-head in an upcoming Motorcycle.com shootout.
If the new Turismo Veloce truly offers the same level of comfort and stability as its competition, but also turns-inside them, accelerates harder, sounds better, and looks much better, then I think a strong case could be made for actually spending all that extra cash to get an MV. What a great time to be a motorcyclist!
Headed stateside any day now, the new MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 brings more Italian flair to the practical world of Sport/Adventure touring than the Aprilias and Ducatis by which it has been preceded.

+ Highs

Looks like Loren, sounds like Pavarotti
Goes like Ferrari
Flexible like SUV

- Sighs

Tight seat-to-peg for those with long legs, long reach to the ground for those with short legs
Not for those with short wallets
A bit unnatural when modulating throttle around-town for those with sensitive wrists

2015 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 Specifications

Engine Type
Three cylinder, 4 stroke, 12 valve

Timing System
“D.O.H.C” with hydraulic chain tensioner

Displacement
798 cm3 (48.7 cu. in.)

Compression Ratio
12.2:1

Starting
Electric

Bore x Stroke
79 mm x 54.3 mm

Max. Power (claimed)
110 hp at 10.000 rpm

Max. Torque (claimed)
61.2 lb-ft. at 8000 rpm

Cooling system
Separate liquid and oil radiators

Engine Management System
Integrated ignition – injection system. MVICS 2.0 (Motor & Vehicle Integrated Control System) with three injectors.

Engine Control Unit
Eldor EM2.0, throttle body full drive by wire Mikuni, pencil-coil with ion-sensing technology, control of detonation and misfire. Torque control with four maps, Traction Control with eight levels of intervention with lean angle sensor

Electronic Quick Shift
MV EAS 2.0 (Electronically Assisted Shift)

Clutch
Hydraulic clutch, wet multi-disc with slipper clutch

Transmission
Cassette style; six speed, constant mesh

Alternator
450W at 5000 rpm

Wheelbase
1460 mm (57,48 in.)

Overall Length
2137 mm (84,13in.)

Overall Width
900 mm (35,41 in.)

Saddle Height
850 mm (33.46 in.)

Min. Ground Clearance
140 mm (5.51 in.)

Trail
108 mm (4.25 in.)

Dry weight
191 kg (421.1 lbs.)

Fuel tank capacity
22 l (5.81 U.S. gal.)

Maximum Speed
230 km/h (143 mph)

Frame
ALS Steel tubular trellis (MAG welded) with aluminum rear swing arm pivot plates

Front Suspension
USD 43mm Marzocchi telescopic hydraulic fork with rebound-compression damping and spring preload external and separate adjustment. 6.3-inches of travel

Rear Suspension
Progressive Sachs, single shock absorber with rebound and compression damping and spring preload adjustment; 6.5-inches of travel

Swingarm
Single-sided aluminum swingarm

Front Brake
Brembo radial-type, with 4 pistons; Double floating 320mm steel rotors

Rear Brake
Brembo with 2 piston caliper; Single steel disc with Ø 220 mm dia.

ABS
Bosch 9 Plus with RLM (Rear wheel Lift Mitigation)

Front Wheel
Material/size Aluminum alloy 3.50” x 17”

Rear Wheel
Material/size Aluminum alloy 6.00” x 17”

Front Tire
120/70 – ZR 17 M/C (58 W)

Rear Tire
190/55 – ZR 17 M/C (75 W)

Other
Immobilizer, Bluetooth, cruise control, adjustable windshield

Options
Bags* (30 l – 7.92 U.S. gal. each)
Heated Grips
Center stand

2015 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 First Ride Review appeared first on Motorcycle.com.

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