MV Lucky Explorer on the back burner: Twin-cylinder Lucky Explorer 5.5 is put on hold as firm gear up to release first three-cylinder 9.5s

MV Agusta have told MCN plans for their Lucky Explorer adventure bike range have changed, with the A2-compliant 5.5 no longer scheduled for production.

“The 5.5 is on temporary stop,” MV Agusta CEO Timur Sardarov confirmed to MCN. “The project is still frozen and we’re evaluating the market conditions for this bike within the KTM sales network.”

According to a conversation with the MV boss back in May 2022, the 554cc 8v parallel twin was due to begin production in January 2023. Built in partnership with Chinese firm QJMotor and producing 46.9bhp at 7500rpm, it was due to feature a TFT dash and rival Honda’s £6699 CB500X and the £6199 Benelli TRK502 (also built by QJ).

However, around a year after its November 2021 reveal, Pierer Mobility (the Austrian owners KTM, GasGas and Husqvarna) bought a 25.1% stake in MV Agusta.

Pierer already have their own connections in China outside of QJMotor, with CFMoto building the KTM 790 Adventure and KTM taking over distribution of CFMoto models in UK and Ireland. KTM engines also feature in the CFMoto 800NK naked range, as well as the 800MT adventure segment.

When asked if this was partly behind the pause in 5.5 production, Sardarov said: “Nothing specific has been discussed and nobody raised this topic. We’re partnered with Pierer Group with a few projects going on and CFMoto has got nothing to do with us.

“We have a few projects going on with [QJ] and we’re looking forward to continuing,” he added. “We will have the engine projects and a few industrialisation projects going on and there are new projects that we’re launching in the future.

“The main principle is for MV Agusta to stay independent from design language and the engineering of KTM Group of products [and] companies. MV Agusta is not going to be part of the cross-platform and cross-branded platform style that KTM is known for.”

These comments are backed up by a new QJMotor SRK1000RR sportsbike confirmed in dealer meetings and recently reported by MCN. This appears to use a 921cc four from MV’s 921 S concept shown last November – a bike Sardarov says is coming in 2025.

Elsewhere, the larger 931cc three-cylinder 9.5 adventurer is still set to appear, with a limited run of around 500 special editions before mass production begins.

“The 9.5 production starts next month and it goes on sale from October as a model year 2024 bike,” Sardarov said, adding that it will be seen in dealers shortly.

When asked whether this triple motor had been retained, or if it had been shelved for a KTM-derived parallel twin from the 890 Adventure (a recipe already used in the Husqvarna Norden range) the MV boss said: “We are keeping MV Agusta very autonomous in terms of the technology platforms that we use and the 9.5 adventure bike will be completely and fully industrialised by our technology. It will be built by MV Agusta.

“The 950 engine platform has two parts: one adventure and another one for sport, and a different family of products will come from that platform.”

Speaking about the first special versions, he added: “Of course it’s paint and trims and a bunch of content and accessories as well. The first edition will pay tribute to a racing prototype from the beginning of the 1990s.”

This prototype was later disclosed to be the Cagiva Elefant – made possible by Cagiva belonging to the same group as MV. Ducati also played on this heritage for their current DesertX retro adventure, having provided engines for the 750 and 900 Cagiva models.

This isn’t a bike that Sardarov sees as a rival though, stating: “Our competitor… will probably be the [Ducati] Multistrada [V2] but that’s it. Nothing else will come close.

“It’s the same thing that sets apart the Brutale, and the Monster, or Brutale and anything from Triumph. It’s a different philosophy, a different engine, and different chassis dynamics.”

One area where the investment from Pierer has clearly paid off is at the Schiranna factory where expansion is underway. Sardarov said: “We’re expanding the production facilities here. We started the renovation, but the renovation work will continue for at least four to five years. We’re bringing the total capacity of the plant to about 20,000 bikes a year.”

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First time lucky? MV enter the adventure bike market with a punchy 930cc trail and tarmac weapon

First published 12 July 2022 by Adam Child

MV Agusta are set to stir things up in the booming adventure bike market with the Cagiva Elefant-inspired Lucky Explorer 9.5.

The all-new MV features a 931cc triple, pushing out a claimed 121.4 bhp and 75.3lb.ft of torque, fully adjustable Sachs suspension and an off-road-focused 21/18-inch wheel combination. MCN grabbed a ride on a development prototype in northern Italy.

While our test mule is only an early prototype, it’s clear that when the twin-headlight Lucky Explorer 9.5 goes on sale next year its evocative styling will pay homage to the famous Cagiva Elefant Lucky Explorer that took victories in the Paris-Dakar rally in 1990 and 1994 – but this is much more than a tribute act.

The engine is derived from the 800cc three-cylinder unit that powers the F3, Brutale, Dragster, Turismo Veloce and Superveloce. Capacity is increased to 931cc, while a raft of internal modifications including a new cylinder head, (counter-rotating) crank and pistons, plus a new cooling system, oil feed, clutch, generator and starter motor effectively make this an all-new power plant.

The triple produces more power than Ducati’s DesertX, KTM’s 890 Adventure, Triumph’s Tiger 900 and Honda’s Africa Twin, but MV have focused on delivering handfuls of smooth and progressive torque.

Despite not wishing to get too carried away riding an irreplaceable prototype, the motor will have the competition worried. It has a lovely spread of easy-to-use torque – even at less than 2000rpm the Lucky Explorer will pull cleanly – and drives through its midrange beautifully.

And when you want to have some fun, the 9.5 delivers with a noticeable step in power at 7000rpm that rushes to the redline in traditional MV style and emits an exhaust note that should make it the finest-sounding adventure bike on the market.

While the motor is 90% complete, the fly-by-wire mapping is yet to be finalised and our test bike had only two riding modes to play with (Urban and Touring). The final version will have multiple rider modes for both on and off-road, and rider aids linked to a six-axis IMU.

The riding position is roomy yet not too tall, and made me feel at home straight away. The wide bars are slightly swept back, the screen is effective and I had no problem getting two feet to the ground.

There’s a generous 7in TFT dash and the final version will have Bluetooth connectivity and cruise control as standard. MV have spent a lot of time looking at the aero package, optimising comfort, reducing noise, and for both rider and pillion. With a 20-litre fuel tank the MV should be ready to take on some serious miles, too.

Unfortunately, we only got a taste of what the new 9.5 can do off road but on the move the Lucky Explorer feels light like a Yamaha Tenere 700, and much lighter and fluid than Honda’s Africa Twin.

On Tarmac the MV does not feel out of its comfort zone when ridden hard. The long-travel fully-adjustable Sachs suspension is plush and controlled, with no pitching or excessive movement. Despite that large 21in front wheel, the MV is happy to turn in and lay on its side mid-corner, very much like the Ducati DesertX which MCN tested recently and praised highly.

The brakes are top-quality Brembo Stylema items normally associated with superbikes, and bring one-finger braking to the party, no matter how fast you need to slow down.

I’d prefer a slightly stronger rear brake, but again this was only a first ride on the prototype. The final version will come with switchable cornering ABS, for both on and off-road, which can be switched off entirely should you wish to.

The Elefant in the room is the Lucky Explorer’s price. Historically, MV has proven expensive – it’s an exclusive brand and bikes are still built in Italy using quality components – and the nearest obvious competition in terms of price is Ducati’s DesertX (£14,095), so expect the MV to be around £15,000 or possibly more when it hits UK dealers in early 2023.

Verdict

The Lucky Explorer is MV’s first purpose-built adventure bike, and the Italian sportsbike and super-naked specialists appear to have got it right first time. It’s still an MV with character and it sounds great and looks fantastic. Remove the famous badge and you’d still know it’s an MV, all be it a relatively sensible one.

On the road it’s suitably sporty, but MV hasn’t chased peak power. The three-cylinder engine is smooth, usable, and torquey. Rider aids should be excellent, but we can’t say for sure how comfortable it will be over distance, although first impressions are positive. Off-road we only touched the surface of what this exotic bike is capable of. But we can say that it will have the competition worried.

The Facts

Price: £TBC

Engine: 931cc liquid-cooled, DOHC, three-cylinder

Frame: steel double beam 

Front suspension: Sachs 48mm, 220mm travel fully adjustable 

Rear suspension: Sachs, single shock, 210mm travel fully adjustable

Front brake: 2 x 320mm discs, Brembo Monobloc Stylema 4-pot calipers, cornering ABS

Rear brake: 265mm disc, 2-piston caliper, cornering ABS

Seat height: 850/870mm

Front tyre: 90/90 x 21

Rear tyre: 150/70 x 18

Power: 121hp @ 10,000rpm

Weight: 220kg (dry)

Fuel capacity: 20 litres

Torque: 75.3lb.ft @ 7000rpm

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Elefants in the room: MV Agusta borrow a slice of Cagiva’s Dakar racing heritage for two new adventure bikes

First published on 23 November 2021 by Dan Sutherland

MV Agusta have dived headfirst into the adventure bike market, revealing two mud-plugging models inspired by the Dakar Rally success of the Cagiva Elefant.

Called the 9.5 and 5.5, the bikes are the Varese firm’s first true adventure offerings and sport liveries reminiscent of the ‘Lucky Explorer’ design used by Cagiva in their heyday – made possible by MV belonging to the same group.

Both bikes share a similarly styled front end, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the current Honda Africa Twin and share the same blacked-out finish above their LED headlight arrangements.

Other features seen across the range include front disc brake covers with gaps for cooling, as well as hand guards, bash plates, and a seven-inch colour TFT dash with Bluetooth connectivity and Wi-Fi for updating.

Both bikes are named to reflect their engine displacements, with the 9.5 sporting a new 930.63cc triple based on their existing 798cc unit and the 5.5 powered by a 550cc two-pot, produced by Chinese partners QJ.

The larger capacity of the 9.5 has been achieved by increasing the motor’s bore and stroke, with the overall unit dimensions unchanged. And it’s all held in place by a steel dual cradle chassis.

Producing 121bhp at 10,000rpm and 75lb.ft at 7000rpm, the revvy unit also gets a new cylinder head, intake and exhaust valves, counter rotating crank, conrods, main bearings, aluminum pistons and more.Elsewhere, the bike will be available with either a standard hydraulic or Rekluse auto clutch system.

The 9.5 has clearly been designed with some serious off-road in mind, coming with 21/18” wheels and long travel (220mm front, 210mm rear) Sachs semi-active suspension. Ground clearance is listed at an impressive 230mm while seat height is a sensible 850mm. Claimed weight is 220kg dry, which will likely end up around 250-odd kg wet once you’ve brimmed its 20l tank.

The smaller 5.5 bike model been developed alongside Chinese firm QJ and features a liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine, with a 70.5mm bore and 71mm stroke. As expected the bike is A2 compliant, with a 46.9bhp peak power (at 7500rpm), while torque is a decent 37.6 ftlbs @ 5500rpm.

Distinguished from its three-cylinder bigger sibling by its more pronounced rear end and high-swept exhaust can, the 5.5 looks set to go up against Honda’s CB500X and the Benelli TRK502 X next year for the half-pint adventure bike top spot. Just like the bigger model it gets a decent ground clearance of 210mm, a 20l tank and with a dry weight also of 220kg. Wheels however are size for more road focus with a 19” front and 17” rear.

So why didn’t MV revive the Cagiva name for these new models? Well, in an exclusive interview with MCN back in 2020, company CEO Timur Sardarov said: “Cagiva will be back, Cagiva will be electric. It will focus on urban mobility, and we will see something within the next 24 months.”

Whether that 24-month claim is still accurate remains to be seen, having since stated in an interview earlier this year, that a first plug-in model will be seen by 2027. And there are no pricing details for either of these new models, but the 9.5 looks like a Multistrada V2 (£12,500) rival, while the 5.5 should be more Tenere 700 money (£9500).