Here is my review of the 2016 MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 Lusso based on the two weeks of ownership and my first 500 miles on it. I'd also like to do a short comparison to some other bikes I test rode before choosing TVL, but I'll save that for another post.
This is my first MV Agusta.
1. LOOKS
It may sound strange to start the motorcycle review with looks, but this is the MV Agusta we are talking about here. The TVL is absolutely gorgeous from any angle you look at it! Without a doubt, it looks better in the flesh - the pictures just do not do justice.
Every single curve in the bodywork is an absolute work of art. Every single part of the motorcycle looks just in the right place and compliments all the other parts surrounding it.
This is the motorcycle that makes the owner always look back at it, and not just walk away after the riding is done. Heck, I even make extra trips to my garage just to look at the TVL!
2. OVERALL PACKAGE
The TVL is also, IMHO, complete. This is only the second bike I own that I have absolutely no desire to put farkles on. Everything on it is as it should be right from the factory:
- Indicators are LED, already all in the right places.
- Brake and clutch levers have no free play and are nicely adjustable.
- Bodywork looks great without any carbon fiber embellishments.
- Exhaust style matches the rest of the bike.
- Tail tidy is not needed, the tail is already clean.
- The side cases cannot be integrated with the bike any better.
3. ERGONOMICS
I am 5'11" and TVL fits me nicely. Given the stratospheric seat hight I was a bit surprised that the seat-to-pegs measures at only 18" (same as on my Ducati Monster 1200S). However, this definitely makes for an awesome ground clearance.
The body position is very comfortable, the slight lean forward is perfect for touring.
The rider's seat does not provide for much back-and-forth movement. Nevertheless, it turned out not to be a concern in the canyons as I could easily hang off the bike (albeit not as easily as on the Daytona ). Yes, it's not possible to move one's ass back and tuck all the way in at speed, but the bike will not go 150+ mph anyway (the 120 mph wall is real).
Handlebars are mounted on a very tall risers, thus making it easy to clear the tank at full lock. No fear of pinching hands in tight turns.
Windscreen is surprisingly capable. The air bubble is relatively small, but it's turbulence free. The windscreen is also very solid and does not flop around or buzz at speed as on some other bikes.
4. ENGINE
MV Agusta 800 triple in the TVL is an Ok motor. It is not as powerful as Ducati or KTM twins, nor it is as turbine-smooth as Triumph triples. The sound is somewhat agricultural or even diesel-like sometimes. There is no low range wave of torque, there is no mad rush at high rpms. There are no holes in the rpm range either. The name of the game for this engine is LINEAR. The engine does not force itself on the rider asking him to ride the bike as a cruiser or always scream near the rev limiter. The power is merely adequate, but it's predictable and usable everywhere.
5. CLUTCH
Clutch is strange. The friction zone is well defined but somewhat mushy. Slipping the clutch with precision on the TVL is not as easy and natural as it should be. Also, there is a very pronounced rattling ("rolling marbles") feel in the engine with the clutch engaged in neutral (maybe this will be taken care by the clutch TSB). The slipper aspect of the clutch, however, works extremely well. Even screwed up rev-matching downshifts with this clutch are smooth and easy. Smooth upshifts, surprisingly - not so much.
6. QUICKSHIFTER
Up and down quick-shifter works, however making clutch-less upshifts and downshifts requires throttle finesse. Apparently, the gearbox needs to be loaded just right. I'm still smoother with the clutch shifts (except for the full-throttle upshifts in which MV Agusta quick-shifter really shines).
7. BRAKES
Front brake is good. Stopping power is great, one may ask for more feel on the lever though. Rear brake is useless as it is. I may need to look at adjusting it or something.
8. SUSPENSION
Skyhook works as advertised. Make no mistake, this is not a "magic carpet" Ohlins. In the end, I have adjusted preload, put the electronic compression and rebound to "Hard" and forgot about it. Anti-dive works really well. Suspension is very stable and predictable in turns, at least in the Sport mode.
Steering is very light, though it's been a while since I rode a bike without a steering damper. Not sure TVL needs it unless you plan to do wheelies on it all the time.
9. ELECTRONICS
Rider modes work, but not as clean and well defined as on Ducatis and BMWs. After playing with all the different settings (including custom tuning through iPhone Turismo Veloce+ app) I ended up using stock Sport mode most of the time. As for the ride-by-wire throttle, there is slightly felt disconnect between the throttle and the engine sometimes but not too much to cause a concern.
10. CONCLUSION
TVL is exactly the bike I was looking for. It is gorgeous, light, nimble, well designed, fun to ride hard and practical. Nerdy and modern enough with all the electronics and rider aids.
I ride (and I would venture a guess a lot of other riders do too) the bike for those rare fleeting moments when my mind, body and the machine become one in a pure bliss of flying through the curves on a deserted mountain road, enhanced by the scenery, sound, smell and vibration - nature, human and machine becoming something more that the sum of the parts. High-speed mechanically enhanced meditation, if you will.
Some special motorcycles are capable of taking their riders to that highly desired state of mind at will, but most of them punush their owners with some kind of brutal vengeance every second spent outside of "the zone" (cue in typical and inevitable comparision with women here).
TVL does not take the rider into "the zone" to the 10. It reliably delivers 8. But it does not punush on the exit either. Which makes it a great bike in my book.
This is my first MV Agusta.
1. LOOKS
It may sound strange to start the motorcycle review with looks, but this is the MV Agusta we are talking about here. The TVL is absolutely gorgeous from any angle you look at it! Without a doubt, it looks better in the flesh - the pictures just do not do justice.
Every single curve in the bodywork is an absolute work of art. Every single part of the motorcycle looks just in the right place and compliments all the other parts surrounding it.
This is the motorcycle that makes the owner always look back at it, and not just walk away after the riding is done. Heck, I even make extra trips to my garage just to look at the TVL!
2. OVERALL PACKAGE
The TVL is also, IMHO, complete. This is only the second bike I own that I have absolutely no desire to put farkles on. Everything on it is as it should be right from the factory:
- Indicators are LED, already all in the right places.
- Brake and clutch levers have no free play and are nicely adjustable.
- Bodywork looks great without any carbon fiber embellishments.
- Exhaust style matches the rest of the bike.
- Tail tidy is not needed, the tail is already clean.
- The side cases cannot be integrated with the bike any better.
3. ERGONOMICS
I am 5'11" and TVL fits me nicely. Given the stratospheric seat hight I was a bit surprised that the seat-to-pegs measures at only 18" (same as on my Ducati Monster 1200S). However, this definitely makes for an awesome ground clearance.
The body position is very comfortable, the slight lean forward is perfect for touring.
The rider's seat does not provide for much back-and-forth movement. Nevertheless, it turned out not to be a concern in the canyons as I could easily hang off the bike (albeit not as easily as on the Daytona ). Yes, it's not possible to move one's ass back and tuck all the way in at speed, but the bike will not go 150+ mph anyway (the 120 mph wall is real).
Handlebars are mounted on a very tall risers, thus making it easy to clear the tank at full lock. No fear of pinching hands in tight turns.
Windscreen is surprisingly capable. The air bubble is relatively small, but it's turbulence free. The windscreen is also very solid and does not flop around or buzz at speed as on some other bikes.
4. ENGINE
MV Agusta 800 triple in the TVL is an Ok motor. It is not as powerful as Ducati or KTM twins, nor it is as turbine-smooth as Triumph triples. The sound is somewhat agricultural or even diesel-like sometimes. There is no low range wave of torque, there is no mad rush at high rpms. There are no holes in the rpm range either. The name of the game for this engine is LINEAR. The engine does not force itself on the rider asking him to ride the bike as a cruiser or always scream near the rev limiter. The power is merely adequate, but it's predictable and usable everywhere.
5. CLUTCH
Clutch is strange. The friction zone is well defined but somewhat mushy. Slipping the clutch with precision on the TVL is not as easy and natural as it should be. Also, there is a very pronounced rattling ("rolling marbles") feel in the engine with the clutch engaged in neutral (maybe this will be taken care by the clutch TSB). The slipper aspect of the clutch, however, works extremely well. Even screwed up rev-matching downshifts with this clutch are smooth and easy. Smooth upshifts, surprisingly - not so much.
6. QUICKSHIFTER
Up and down quick-shifter works, however making clutch-less upshifts and downshifts requires throttle finesse. Apparently, the gearbox needs to be loaded just right. I'm still smoother with the clutch shifts (except for the full-throttle upshifts in which MV Agusta quick-shifter really shines).
7. BRAKES
Front brake is good. Stopping power is great, one may ask for more feel on the lever though. Rear brake is useless as it is. I may need to look at adjusting it or something.
8. SUSPENSION
Skyhook works as advertised. Make no mistake, this is not a "magic carpet" Ohlins. In the end, I have adjusted preload, put the electronic compression and rebound to "Hard" and forgot about it. Anti-dive works really well. Suspension is very stable and predictable in turns, at least in the Sport mode.
Steering is very light, though it's been a while since I rode a bike without a steering damper. Not sure TVL needs it unless you plan to do wheelies on it all the time.
9. ELECTRONICS
Rider modes work, but not as clean and well defined as on Ducatis and BMWs. After playing with all the different settings (including custom tuning through iPhone Turismo Veloce+ app) I ended up using stock Sport mode most of the time. As for the ride-by-wire throttle, there is slightly felt disconnect between the throttle and the engine sometimes but not too much to cause a concern.
10. CONCLUSION
TVL is exactly the bike I was looking for. It is gorgeous, light, nimble, well designed, fun to ride hard and practical. Nerdy and modern enough with all the electronics and rider aids.
I ride (and I would venture a guess a lot of other riders do too) the bike for those rare fleeting moments when my mind, body and the machine become one in a pure bliss of flying through the curves on a deserted mountain road, enhanced by the scenery, sound, smell and vibration - nature, human and machine becoming something more that the sum of the parts. High-speed mechanically enhanced meditation, if you will.
Some special motorcycles are capable of taking their riders to that highly desired state of mind at will, but most of them punush their owners with some kind of brutal vengeance every second spent outside of "the zone" (cue in typical and inevitable comparision with women here).
TVL does not take the rider into "the zone" to the 10. It reliably delivers 8. But it does not punush on the exit either. Which makes it a great bike in my book.