The Marvellous And Majestic MV Agusta Turismo Veloce.

The Turismo Veloce is essentially an 800-cc MV Agusta F3 with a comfortable adventure touring riding position. It comes with an adjustable sport-touring windscreen and enough touring accessories, such as saddlebags and GPS navigation, to make it a decent choice for long-distance riding. Although it may not be perfect, it offers the opportunity to relive your youthful days without straining your joints or ligaments. I had the pleasure of riding the Turismo Veloce through the Italian Alps for a week, and I can say with confidence that it allowed me to ride with the same enthusiasm as I did thirty years ago.

"I'm not lying when I say that the Turismo Veloce has the best middleweight engine out there. Its 798-cc triple engine with a 79-millimetre by 54.3-mm is the screamiest engine you can get for a lot of money. It boasts 110 horsepower of surprisingly torquey grunt, and it is one of the most perfectly calibrated supersport engines I've ever experienced."

The sound of the motorcycle was unique, somewhere between the high-pitched noise of an inline four and the deep rumble of a big twin engine. I frequently shifted down two gears to fully appreciate the Italian-made motorcycle's engine. The engine had a broad powerband, and it was effortless to accelerate from as low as 3,000 rpm. During a ride on the Stelvio Pass, I maintained a speed of 35 miles per hour to just over 120 mph in third gear while enjoying the melodious sound of the triple engine. The MV Agusta's three-cylinder engine was the best combination of power and smoothness I had experienced in a long time.

The MV Agusta Turismo Veloce is an adventure-style bike that handles exceptionally well with two riders on board, even better than when ridden solo. Its full fairing allows for a smooth ride around sharp turns, and it can quickly and easily change direction. The bike's lightweight construction in its lightest form, weighing only 191 kilograms (421 pounds), and a 1,445-mm (56.7-inch) wheelbase with a steering stem raked out at 25.3 degrees from the vertical, makes turning on a dime effortless. It's six kilograms lighter than the 2024 Kawasaki's ZX-636R and slightly heavier than the RR version of the ZX-4 despite being longer and featuring a more oversized adventure-style handlebar.

The Turismo Veloce bike has quick steering, which makes attacking the Stelvio Pass fun. Unlike most bikes, you don't need to jack up the TC's rear spring preload to achieve this quick steering.

The engineers at MV set up the chassis for maximum fun with the preload set to its absolute minimum. If you increase the preload, the experience is not as enjoyable. Therefore, it's best to keep the preload at its minimum to have the most fun.

I won't try to convince you that the TC is as comfortable as a Gold Wing, but it is still pretty good. Actually, it's more than just good. However, it's not exactly spacious due to its short length of 1,445 mm wheelbase. Yet, MV has lowered the seat for 2023 to 830 mm, which means that even my 5-foot-11 frame can rest both feet flat on the ground. However, the seat-to-peg ratio is still a bit tight.

The position of the handlebars is almost perfect, and the windscreen is taller for the 2023 model, providing good coverage. The engine vibration is well controlled until the revs are high, and due to the high torque, the engine is turning at 4,000 rpm at 100 mph. The motorcycle is equipped with an unexpectedly good infotainment system, high-quality saddlebags, and a nicely contoured seat, making for a surprisingly comfortable ride. In fact, there is nothing else that can match this level of enjoyment.

During my tour of the factory, I discovered that MV's engines are still assembled by hand. Each engine has the craftsman's name on it, but certain aspects such as torque settings are automated. The wiring harnesses are exceptionally well made, and each engine goes through a 20-minute quality control test. However, this doesn't guarantee anything. On the other hand, valve service intervals have been increased to 30,000 kilometres, and the engine can reach 13,000 rpm. I wouldn't let the fear of being let down stop me from buying a Turismo Veloce.

A Givi 47-litre Monokey unit is available that can accommodate two helmets. If it is available, it will make the TC more than passable for two touring trips because it will offer back support to the rider and provide a place to store shoes. Without its top case, the Turismo Veloce is definitely a single-person motorcycle. The lack of a top case on a short, fast motorcycle, especially one with which there will be a lot of towing and froing, makes it difficult to accommodate a passenger in comfort and safety.

The only issue worth mentioning is the Skyhook suspension system that MV introduced for the 2023 model. This semi-active system works by using position sensors and gyroscopes from the Inertial Measurement Unit to ensure that the bike remains stable and balanced. It works excellently, allowing the traction control to navigate corners smoothly, as if it were gliding on rails.

To adjust the settings of the MV motorcycle, you can use a controller located on the left handlebar. The bike has electronically adjustable suspension that adjusts compression and rebound damping according to the settings. However, unlike other similar systems, the suspension does not adjust rear spring preload to account for the additional load. This is a mistake, especially for a motorcycle designed for touring with varying loads such as luggage, passengers, or both. In fact, a rear spring preload mechanism that automatically adjusts itself is probably the most crucial feature of a computer-controlled suspension for such a motorcycle.

It's worth noting that the Turismo Veloce features a unique technology called SCS automatic clutch, which might have gone unnoticed. This all-mechanical system is quite advanced, and is inspired by the Recluse dirt bike system. The clutch becomes active only at 1,700 rpm, and it's fully engaged by 2,300 rpm, which means that you can shift to first gear without using the clutch lever. The clutch lever is only necessary for starting the bike.

Although the quick-shifter is a great feature, I still prefer to use the clutch when downshifting because I am used to it. Additionally, the engine does not provide any braking effect at lower speeds, which is unusual. However, it performs better than Honda's DCT when driving at slower speeds and shifts smoothly at higher revs, just like a MotoGP bike.

The MV Agusta Turismo Veloce is an excellent option for those seeking a comfortable and lightweight bike from MV Agusta. The R version is priced at £15,000 and up.