CEO of MV Agusta reveals new details of Adventure 5.5 and 9.5 motorcycles

New information has been revealed, including the details and timing of MV Agusta’s inaugural launch of the adventure bike market, through an exclusive interview with MV CEO Timur Sardarov, published by the British MCN.

It was back in November 2021 when we first reported about the intention of the famous Italian brand to launch the adventure models 550cc and 950cc after it demonstrated two promising prototypes at the EICMA exhibition in Milan.

The two motorcycles included in the company’s “Lucky Explorer Project” are called simply 9.5 and 5.5 and carry a livery reminiscent of the glory of Cagiva’s parent company’s racing days when its Lucky Explorer bikes under the Paris-Dakar Elefant brand raced across Africa. desert, twice winning the famous rally.

Now, according to Sardarov, the two models are well on their way to production – and are just a sample of future Lucky Explorer adventure motorcycles, including six prototypes that are currently undergoing extensive testing.

Lucky Explorer 5.5, which debuts in series at EICMA 2022 in Milan, runs on a parallel twin with liquid cooling, developed in partnership with the Chinese brand QJMotor. It is said to provide 47.6 liters. “We want to be the best in our class in terms of torque,” ​​R&D director Brian Guillen was quoted as saying, explaining that the 270 ° crankshaft launch procedure will not only give clear sound but also reduce vibration.

Although MV Agusta mentioned that specifications may change before these bikes go into production, the 5.5 in its current form is a more road-oriented adventure bike that rides on 19 “/ 17” wheels and uses an inverted KYB hydraulic fork with 5.3 inches (135 mm) suspension travel. It is projected that this new player will weigh not very light 484 pounds and seems to be designed for motorcycles such as Honda. CB500X.

The 5.5 is expected to have a TFT device, but will not have some sophisticated electronics, according to the CEO of MV, will be available in future versions of the larger model, contributing to its projected price of € 7,000 – € 8,000

Sardarov says the first 9.5 adventure motorcycle will be the base model, a new strategy for the MV Agusta, which typically represents the highest technical version – often limited – first of the new motorcycle and then the mid-range version. “We wanted to avoid it by launching it because it’s an adventure product, and we wanted to work like other companies – if you first make a simplified version and then grow into a more advanced bike.”

This means we may have to wait for sweets like sharpening-sensitive ABS and the Tiptronic gearbox hinted at by Sardarov, which allows you to switch from manual to automatic shifting, a feature that can make the MV 9.5 competitive with the Honda Africa Twin. with his extra DCT to establish.

This is a larger car that MV pays attention to for off-road adventures, equipping it with a longer suspension (8.7 “front / 8.3” rear) and 21 “/ 18” spoke wheels. «[It] it will be a Lucky Explorer working machine, which focuses more on off-road than on the road, ”Sardarov added. The powerplant will be a brand new 930cc tee designed by MV Agusta specifically for this model, providing 123 hp. and 75.2 ft-pounds of torque.

Access to the 9.5 electronics kit will be via a 7-inch TFT panel with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. Radar-controlled cruise control is also teased, but due to the upcoming street version 9.5. “The road version will appear later this year,” Sardarov told MCN. “It will have more options, will be a little more luxurious and will be a little more expensive.”

The 9.5 will also be another milestone for the MV Agusta, becoming the first motorcycle from scratch – including with a brand new engine – to be developed by an Italian manufacturer in 12 years.

Both Lucky Explorer adventure bikes draw inspiration from their parent company’s Cagiva Elefant rally victory. And yes, you may have noticed that the Ducati DesertX style also plays on the legacy of Lucky Explorer from Cagiva, a move that seems to annoy the current boss in MV. “At the time, Ducati was part of the Cagiva Group, and Lucky Explorer used Ducati engines,” he said, adding that Ducati should “choose its own path, not try to merge with something they don’t own.”

It is expected that the first models will be presented next year. According to the CEO of MV, 5.5 will appear on the market first, will go on sale in early 2023, and production of 9.5 will begin in April next year.

Author: Jamie Elwig

Jamie has been a motorcycle journalist for over 30 years, testing the entire range of bikes for major print magazines and specializing in adventure travel stories. To date, she has written and provided photographs for articles describing what it is like to travel in all 50 states and 43 foreign countries, receiving along the way two awards from American travel writer Lovell Thomas. Her most challenging adventure was participating in the GS Trophy 2018 in Mongolia as a journalist for the AusAmerica team.