MV Agusta reveals new LXP Orioli adventure bike

MV Agusta has revealed the final production version of their first adventure bike, now named the LXP Orioli. Limited to just 500 units and expected to cost around €30,000, it’s being pitched by MV as ‘the first all-terrain luxury motorcycle’. The name is a tribute to Italian rally racer Edi Orioli, who took two Dakar wins riding Cagiva Elefants in the 1990s, and whose signature features on the tank of the new machine.

If the idea of an MV Agusta adventure bike feels strangely familiar, there’s good reason for that. The Italian firm announced the launch of an adventure sub brand, named Lucky Explorer, in November 2021. Back then, the plan was for two bikes: the 9.5 (a 931cc triple); and the 5.5 (a 554cc parallel twin).

By summer 2022 the 9.5 had reached prototype stage, which BikeSocial tested. But in November 2022 the plot thickened when KTM AG purchased a 25.1% stake in MV Agusta.

In early 2023, KTM CEO Stefan Pierer was quoted in interviews as saying, “Nobody needs those [Lucky Explorer models], and especially not branded with that name.” His comments appear to have been taken to heart at MV, as the Lucky Explorer branding has now been almost entirely ditched (although the words are still moulded into the handlebar grips), while the 9.5 name now just relates to the engine, rather than the complete bike.

The motor itself is largely as announced two years ago: a 931cc triple, with a bigger bore and longer stroke than the current 800, and all new except for valves, oil pump and output shaft. Peak power is 122bhp at 10,000rpm, with maximum torque of 75lb·ft at 7000rpm. Externally it’s no larger than the existing 800, raising the possibility (if not certainty) that racier versions of this 9.5 could be heading to Brutales and F3s down the line.

Electronics are pretty comprehensive, with four riding modes, multiple on and off-road traction control and ABS settings, a two-way quickshifter, front lift control and launch control, all informed by a 6-axis IMU. Cruise control is standard too, its controls integrated into new backlit switchgear. A 7-inch TFT display features Bluetooth connectivity, as well as Wi-Fi to allow over-the-air software updates.

The chassis is a new steel beam design using the engine as a stressed member. At the back is a twin-sided cast aluminium swingarm, and a detachable steel trellis rear subframe. Wheel sizes are definitely dirt-ready, with a 90/90-21 front and 150/70-18 rear, complete with tubeless spoked rims. Homologated tyres are Bridgestone’s A41 (for road use) and AX41 (for dirt). Suspension is by Sachs and fully-adjustable at both ends, albeit manually rather than electronically.

Although the LXP Orioli is MV’s first dual-purpose motorcycle, they talk with confidence when it comes to the bike’s off-road credentials and capabilities. They even mention having performed additional durability testing alongside KTM in American deserts to ensure it meets the adventure market’s expectations. But one area they seem a little cagey discussing is the bike’s weight, choosing to give a ‘dry’ figure of 224kg rather than a true, ready-to-ride kerb weight. For what it’s worth, Ducati’s DesertX claims a ‘dry’ weight figure of 202kg, while KTM’s 1290 Super Adventure R is a claimed 221kg dry.

MV Agusta appears to have thrown a fair chunk of their accessory catalogue at the LXP Orioli as standard – perhaps to add to the sense of ‘luxury’; perhaps in an attempt to justify the, cough, substantial price tag. Every bike will come with a pair of aluminium panniers (39 litres right, 32 litres left), a centre stand, engine skid plate, crash bars and LED fog lights. A Termignoni titanium silencer is also included, presented in a wooden Dakar-style kit box, along with a certificate of authenticity and a bike-specific cover. Convinced to open your wallet yet?

Exact prices haven’t been announced yet – until they are, all we have to go on is MV’s expectation that it will be priced at “around €30,000 for the Italian and German market”. That converts to around £26,000…

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