MV AGUSTA has taken the EICMA show in Milan to launch itself headlong into the most hotly contested motorcycle market out there. Under the Lucky Explorer banner, MV is harking back to the glory days of the Dakar Rally, when the Cagiva brand was taking the top spot with Edi Orioli riding.
VIDEO: MV Agusta Lucky Explorer adventure motorcycles revealed
Channelling that retro feel, the Lucky Explorer bikes come in two flavours, one called the 9.5 and one called the 5.5.
Starting with the larger bike. Its engine comes from the uber-sexy Turismo Veloce sports touring machine. The chassis though is all-new, as is the bodywork and colour scheme. The 930cc inline three-cylinder engine boasts 121bhp and a healthy 75lb-ft of torque. The swingarm is a lightweight aluminium affair, and the bike features an adventure-ready 21-inch from wheel and 18-inch rear.
The suspension system is something that many riders will be getting excited about, as it comes in the form of long travel electronically controlled semi-active kit. That feature alone does put the 950 in its own little pocket of the market. To pick up anything in the ADV sector that features the tech, you generally have to take a step up in price and capacity.
The second bike is the 5.5, and it’s powered by a parallel twin-cylinder 550cc engine that produces an A2-friendly 47.6bhp and 37lb-ft of torque. Its set-up leans more to the on-road side of life, although as we found out last year when we rode the CB500 X, bikes like this can still raise a smile and a rooster tail off-road.
Suspension is from KYB front and rear, and the forks allow the 19-inch front wheel to travel around 135mm.
The launch date and price of both of these bikes are TBC – MV anticipate the 9.5 landing first then the 5.5.
Interested riders can find out more here: luckyexplorerproject.com
