Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/751305
MAGNI MV AGUSTA FILOROSSO ROAD TEST P88 Metzeler. It holds a line well, and even though the twin rear shocks are period kit that isn't very sophisticated in damp- ing terms, there aren't enough bumps on the Pista Pirelli to deliver an examination of their capability. But in spite of being so short, the Magni Filorosso was super stable around a fast fifth-gear sweeper, and it not only steers well, but stops bril- liantly, too. The twin 320mm Brembo front discs gripped by axially mounted four-pot calipers are heaps more 49.5/50.5% weight bias to work in your favor. Another big difference on the Filorosso is the Brutale 800 motor's electric leg. So instead of the bump start that Ago was so adept at on the GP triple, you just thumb the starter button, but you'll invariably find yourself sit- ting there for a moment relishing the rasping offbeat engine note, before you head out onto the track. The three-cylinder Brutale 800 engine pulls strongly from low down, and you can acceler- ate wide open in sixth gear from M A G N I M V A G U S T A F I L O R O S S O ENGINE: ......................Water-cooled, DOHC, transverse inline 3-cylinder 4-stroke with 4 valves per cylinder, 120º crankshaft and offset chain camshaft drive BORE X STROKE: ..................... 79 x 54.3mm DISPLACEMENT: ...................................798cc OUTPUT: ............. 125 bhp/92 kW at 11,600 rpm at crankshaft (140 bhp/103 kW in production) MAXIMUM TORQUE: .....62 lb-ft at 8600 rpm COMPRESSION RATIO: .......................... 13.3:1 FUELING/IGNITION:...Eldor EFI and engine management system with 3 x 50mm Mikuni throttle bodies and single injector per cylinder TRANSMISSION: .......6-speed cassette-type CLUTCH: ...Multiplate oilbath slipper clutch CHASSIS:...TIG-welded duplex open-cradle chrome-moly tubular steel frame FRONT SUSPENSION: .........Fully-adjustable 43mm Forcella Italia telescopic fork REAR SUSPENSION: .....Fabricated chrome- moly steel swingarm, twin Girling shocks RAKE: ...........................................................25° TRAIL: .....................................................3.3 in. WHEELBASE: ....................................... 53.9 in. WEIGHT/DISTRIBUTION: . 368 lbs dry, split 49.5/50.5 % FRONT BRAKE: ......... Dual 320mm Brembo steel discs with four-piston Brembo calipers REAR BRAKE: ........ Single 230mm Brembo steel disc with two-piston Brembo caliper FRONT WHEEL: ............110/80-2.50 in.; cast magnesium REAR WHEEL: ...........160/60-4.50 in.; EPM cast magnesium FRONT TIRE: .... ZR18 Metzeler Roadtec Z8 REAR TIRE: ....... ZR18 Metzeler Roadtec Z8 SEAT HEIGHT: ..................................... 30.3 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ..................................3.6 gal. MANUFACTURER: ................ Magni di Magni Giovanni, Via Leonardo da Vinci 331, 21017 Samarate, Italy www.magni.it S P E C I F I C A T I O N S You'll invariably find yourself sitting there for a moment relishing the rasping offbeat engine note, before you head out onto the track. effective than the drum brakes fitted to the early GP triples, or the plasma-sprayed aluminum Hunt discs which replaced them. The Filorosso's vastly more effective Brembo package is more than good enough to haul a bike weighing 368 pounds dry down hard from high speed, though you must be careful about squeezing too hard on the adjustable lever, else with that short wheelbase you risk street- sweeping the tarmac with the back wheel in the air. You must make a point of using the rear 230mm brake with its twin-piston caliper a fraction before you brake really hard with the front, to preload the suspension on such a short bike, and get the just 2000 revs without a hint of transmission snatch. At 3000 rpm it starts to take off, and you can feel the extra kick at around 7000 rpm when you hit maxi- mum torque, then surf the curve all the way to the 13-grand lim- iter, accompanied by that deep, sonorous exhaust note that's good enough to bottle. Magic. Riding the Magni MV Filoros- so was an emotional trip down memory lane, complete with all mod cons—well, except TC and ABS, I suppose. I bet Arturo Magni went to meet his maker suitably content with the ultimate creation of the brand he founded 40 years ago. Retro bikes don't come any better than this. CN