MV Agusta Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro (2024) - Technical Review

The market for ultra expensive, limited-edition playthings for the super wealthy is showing no sign of declining and even before MV Agusta previewed its new Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro to the media more than half the planned 500-bike run had been preordered by some of the brand’s most loyal followers. But don’t dismiss the Superveloce 1000 from your mind as another piece of motorcycling unobtanium – as while those 500 ‘Serie Oro’ machines will rarely stray from their climate-controlled garages a more affordable, non-limited version of the bike is all but guaranteed to follow it.

And that’s important. Because while MV Agusta officially says that the Superveloce 1000 is a genre-defying machine thanks to its retro-inspired styling – MV calls it a ‘neo-retro hyperbike’ – the reality is that it’s a faired, four-cylinder machine that essentially marks MV’s return to the superbike arena for the first time since the F4 was discontinued in 2018.

MV AGUSTA SUPERVELOCE 1000 SERIE ORO

2024 MV Agusta Superveloce 1000 - Price

MV Agusta has never courted the average motorcyclist and following KTM’s purchase of a majority stake in the company earlier this year the brand is expected to venture even further upmarket – something that the Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro certainly does with its £61,400 price tag.

That puts it firmly into the top echelon of the market, one that’s been booming recently with sell-out successes for bikes like Ducati’s Streetfighter Lamborghini and Diavel for Bentley limited-editions. MV Agusta reports that it previewed the bike to a few of its most loyal customers before even showing it to the media, resulting in more than half the planned 500-bike run being sold immediately.

The company says that the 500 figure is an absolute maximum and that the Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro will be made to order, so there can never be surplus stock. If fewer than 500 are ordered, then fewer than 500 will ever be made.

But behind all that exclusivity lies a bike that’s eminently possible to build in much larger numbers, and you only have to look at the history of MV’s ‘Serie Oro’ (gold series) machines to deduce that a cheaper (but still not cheap) version with slightly lower specs but the same style is sure to follow.  The original MV Agusta F4 debuted with the very first ‘Serie Oro’ bike back in 1997, and the ‘Serie Oro’ tag was later adopted by introductory versions of the Brutale 750 in 2003, the F3 in 2012, the Brutale 1000 in 2019, and the Superveloce 800 in 2020. A common thread is that every one of those bikes was followed by a mass-produced version.

2024 MV Agusta Superveloce 1000 - Engine & Performance

The Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro’s four-cylinder engine is borrowed from the Brutale 1000, with unchanged peak performance figures of 208hp (153kW) at 13,000rpm and 86lb-ft (116/5Nm) of torque at 11,000rpm. Like the latest generation of Brutale 1000, the engine meets the newest set of Euro emissions rules and features forged titanium rods, DLC-coated cams and a countershaft to keep it smooth all the way to the 14,000rpm redline.

Using MV Agusta’s MVICS 2.1 engine management and two fuel injectors per cylinder, the electronics include ride-by-wire control of the 50mm throttle bodies, traction control with eight levels of intervention, wheelie control and launch control. On top of that there are four riding modes – rain, sport and race plus a rider-preset custom mode – each adjusting the throttle map, torque delivery, engine braking and the electronic suspension.

The transmission is the normal six-speed box, with MV EAS 4.0 up/down quickshifter.

The engine breathes out through a titanium Akrapovic exhaust with four under-seat pipes to recall the distinctive rear end of the original F4 750.

2024 MV Agusta Superveloce 1000 - Handling & Suspension (inc. Weight)

Like the engine, the chassis is essentially borrowed from the Brutale 1000, albeit garnished with the highest-spec components for the suspension and brakes.

The combination of steel trellis tubing for the front section and aluminium alloy plates around the swingarm pivot has been an MV signature since the F4 was launched 27 years ago, as has the single-sided swingarm. On the Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro that swingarm’s pivot point is adjustable and combines with Ohlins electronic suspension comprising 43mm USD forks with a TiN finish and electrically-adjustable compression and rebound damping. Preload can be tweaked manually.  

Ohlins provides the matching monoshock at the back, with electric adjustment for preload, compression and rebound, and the Ohlins steering damper is also electronically tweaked.

Who else but Brembo could be countenanced for braking on a bike like the Superveloce? It uses Stylema radial calipers at the front on 320mm discs, plus a two-pot rear Brembo on a 220mm rotor, with adjustable ABS featuring a ‘Race’ mode that deactivates the rear anti-lock.

Specially-made Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V4 tyres with red-lined sidewalls sit on intricate alloy wheels that are intended to evoke those of the original F4 750.

At 209kg without fuel and around 10kg more than that when its 16-litre tank is 90% full, as most companies measure their bikes, the Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro isn’t at the lightest end of the superbike spectrum. Indeed, a Brutale 1000 is some 11kg lighter according to official type-approval documents. That’s unsurprising, as even though the Superveloce’s fairing is among 41 components made of carbon fibre on the bike, it’s still something that the naked Brutale doesn’t have at all. That carbon is a combination of the usual laminated weave – apparent on components like the clutch cover – and a more unusual forged carbon with a marbled finish, which can be seen on unpainted sections of the fairing air outlets.

When it comes to handling, that fairing pays dividends thanks to front winglets that are genuinely effective, promising 20kg of downforce at 250km/h. MV is keen to point out that while every superbike manufacturer is on the winglet bandwagon now, and aero is the hottest development field in MotoGP, it was first to add front winglets to its race bikes way back in 1972.

2024 MV Agusta Superveloce 1000 - Comfort & Economy

While neither comfort nor economy is going to be near the top of the priority list for Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro customers, there are concessions to luxury including a seat made of leather and Alcantara, matching a leather strap running the length of the fuel tank.

A passenger seat pad, again in leather and Alcantara, plus pillion footpegs and their brackets are supplied in a kit of bolt-on components that comes with every Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro. The kit also includes carbon passenger heel guards, CNC-machined brake and clutch levers, and alternate height adjustment plates for the swingarm pivot.

Fuel economy is to be confirmed, but it’s unlikely to be significantly different to that of the Brutale 1000, and almost certainly inconsequential to anyone seriously considering the Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro.

2024 MV Agusta Superveloce 1000 - Equipment

As well as the electronic suspension, rider assists and the vast array of adjustable settings for the engine, the Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro gets equipment including an integrated GPS module that communicates with the MV Ride app on the owner’s phone, allowing navigation via the 5.5in TFT colour dashboard. Buyers also get a Mobisat Greebox satellite alarm/tracking system, including a year’s subscription to the service, included, and there’s cruise control as standard.

Other than that, though, the Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro is essentially a superbike, so goes without too many creature comforts.

2024 MV Agusta Superveloce 1000 - Rivals

What’s a rival to the Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro? If you’re simply a fan of the styling, then the smaller Superveloce 800 offers a similar look for a fraction of the price – starting at £19,900 for the base model and £24,000 for the ‘S’ version. You can even get a limited edition Superveloce 800 ‘98’, even rarer than the Serie Oro, as only 300 are being made, for £27,600. If you want crazy superbike performance, your choices are vast but would surely include the likes of the £38,995 Panigale V4 R or £37,195 Panigale V4 SP2 30th Annivesario 916.

Alternatively, customers might prefer to splash their cash on the likes of the £58,000 Ducati Diavel for Bentley or go really exclusive and head-turning with the all-electric, £54,880 Verge TS Ultra.

But the reality is that at this end of the market most buyers won’t be making either/or choices. They’ll have one of each, and plenty more to go with them.

MV Agusta Superveloce 98 | Price: £27,600

Read more

Power/Torque

147bhp / 65lb-ft

Weight

173kg

Ducati Diavel for Bentley | Price: £58,000

Read more

Power/Torque

168bhp / 93lb-ft

Weight

236kg

Verge TS Ultra | Price: £54,880

Read more

Power/Torque

201bhp / 885lb-ft

Weight

245kg

2024 MV Agusta Superveloce 1000 - Verdict

We’ll tell you once we’ve ridden it.

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2024 MV Agusta Superveloce 1000 - Technical Specification

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The higher the star rating, the better the security, so always ask your dealer what rating your bike has and compare it to other machines on your shortlist.