The MV Agusta Lucky Explorer models edge ever closer to market, and the two new bikes boast some healthy specs.
MV Agusta announced their Lucky Explorer project at EICMA in 2021, and since then it has been mostly quiet, but with the launch of the new adventure range drawing closer we can at least take a look at the specs.
The first thing to know, if you are unaware, is that the Lucky Explorer range will feature two motorcycles split mostly by capacity. There is the 550cc Lucky Explorer 5.5, and the 950cc Lucky Explorer 9.5.
2023 MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 9.5
We will start with the 9.5, whose 931cc three-cylinder engine is derived from the 800cc motor used in MV’s F3 800, amongst others. That means the bike should give a great sound, and with 124 horsepower and 102Nm it should give a decent acceleration, too, right to the top speed of 240kph.
The engine weighs only 57kg, while the crankshaft has been designed for low weight with the intention of improving handling through reduced inertia.
At the chassis, there is a double-beam steel frame design with a bolt-on cradle and a steel trellis subframe.
The large 21-inch front wheel is connected to the chassis via 48mm USD telescopic forks from Sachs with adjustability for the damping and preload that offer 220mm of wheel travel; while the 18-inch rear wheel is connected to a Sachs monoshock via a single-sided aluminium swingarm and Progressive link. 210mm of wheel travel is available at the rear.
Dry, the bike weighs 220kg, and with a 20-litre fuel tank that weight is possible to increase even before adding saddle bags and such. Therefore, stopping the Lucky Explorer 9.5 is a serious task, and MV have called on their compatriots at Brembo to provide four-piston Stylema callipers for the dual 320mm front discs, as well as the calliper for the single 220mm rear disc.
Braking also benefits from ABS, while the aforementioned 20-litre fuel tank will be emptied at an average rate of 5.6 litres per 100km, meaning a maximum range of up to 357km, or 222 miles.
The 9.5 features a wheelbase of 1,580mm within an overall length of 2,270mm; and it is affirmatively a wide boy with a width of 980mm. Further, the seat height is adjustable between 850mm and 870mm, while the minimum ground clearance is 230mm.
There are also many features for the 9.5, including a seven-inch TFT display, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, cruise control, launch control, eight-level traction control, a GPS sensor, immobiliser, and full LED lighting.
2023 MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 5.5
The 5.5 could also be considered the ‘Lucky Explorer A2’, thanks to its 35kW maximum output. That equates to around 47 horsepower from what is a 554cc twin-cylinder DOHC unit, which also produces 51Nm of maximum torque. That is enough to power the 220kg bike to a top speed of 160kph, or 99mph.
Unlike the 9.5, the 5.5’s steel frame is tubular, and the 43mm preload- and rebound-adjustable forks come from KYB, offering 135mm of wheel travel.
KYB also provide the rear shock, featuring damping and preload adjustability, which is connected to the rear wheel via a two-sided aluminium swingarm.
That rear wheel can travel 162mm, and is 17 inches in diameter, compared to the 19-inch front wheel.
Bosch provide ABS for the 5.5, which assists operation of Brembo callipers on dual 320mm front discs, as well as a calliper from the same marque on the single 220mm rear disc.
A 1,505mm wheelbase is combined with a fixed seat height of 860mm, while the tank capacity matches the 9.5 at 20 litres, but with a consumption rate of 3.8 litres per 100km the 5.5 can outlast its larger sibling by almost 200km with its theoretical maximum range of 526km, or 326 miles.
The 5.5 is not as feature-heavy as the 9.5, which is probably to be expected. Still, it comes with a five-inch TFT display, Bluetooth connectivity, a front bumper and an optional bags kit.
