FIRST RIDE
P64
2014 MV AGUSTA RIVALE 800
The Adrian
Morton-designed
Rivale is nothing
short of beautiful.
tale and F3, but it's subtly revised
to deliver a completely different
personality from the other longstroke siblings in the now 14-bike
strong 2014 MV lineup (up from
just three bikes in 2010, and
eight in 2012).
MV's growth is impressive, with
president Giovanni Castiglioni revealing that 2013 sales are set to
hit the 7500 mark, 1000 more
than a year ago, compared to
just 3274 units in 2010, and with
a 2014 sales target of 10,000
bikes. Those numbers make MV
Agusta more than a boutique
bike brand – it actually outsold
both Moto Guzzi and Aprilia in
Europe this year - but a serious
competitor whose products bear
comparison with those of larger
manufacturers.
Costing Euro 12,690 in Italy
($17,182) with just 2000 planned
for production in 2014, the Rivale is a premium product that's
still relatively competitively priced
against its rivals, though another
model directly in its firing line is
its Brutale 800 sister retailing at
$15,000, including the optional
EAS powershifter that is standard on the Rivale. Is the new socalled 'crossover' bike – the Italian term for a street supermotard
- really $2000 better than its Naked sports sibling? Let's see…
You need only ride the Rivale
for 10 minutes to realize that MV
Agusta has taken a substantial
step forward with this model,
which is by a good margin the
