MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 [2018-2019]

MV Agusta has a lot of famous names. There’s the Brutale, the Dragster and also the famous F3 and F4. These famous names through their styling and performance have made the Italian brand well known across the world. But there’s one MV Agusta bike that doesn’t have a strong brand recall like the rest of the bikes, but has its own aura. It goes by the name Turismo Veloce and it is a sports tourer. But does it have the same performance and charm like the other MVs? We find out! 

If there’s one motorcycle that is bound to be liked by all when it comes to design and style, then it has to be the Turismo Veloce. The motorcycle looks stunning from every angle. The front with its large fairing has some great contoured lines. The headlamp unit fits in perfectly. The adjustable windscreen too, merges beautifully on the fairing.  

Move towards the side and the flowing lines of the fuel tank along with the slim tail section makes the motorcycle look like a dream. The combination of black frame, red and grey body panel gives it a unique taste and some exclusivity as well.

Just like the styling, the Italians know a thing or two about packaging a product. The Turismo Veloce is loaded with some great equipment. From the safety side, there’s the eight-level traction control system. There’s a Bosch ABS system with rear wheel lift-up mitigation.  

To increase the fun aspect of the motorcycle, MV Agusta has equipped the Turismo Veloce with a quickshifter which works both ways – up and down. There’s also multiple engine mapping modes that can be selected on the go. For long distance riding, the cruise control provides ample of opportunity to reduce the fatigue. The instrument cluster is fully-coloured and is loaded with lots of information. Unfortunately, the design of the fonts and the overall layout gives out a crammed interface. 

The Turismo Veloce gets the same 798cc motor that powers the mental Brutale 800 and the exhilarating F3 800. But this unit produces a bit more power at 110bhp. The torque, however, has gone down. Crank up the motor and you are welcomed with an addictive sound that comes out of those neatly designed pipes.  

From the moment you twist that throttle to the moment you pin down those brakes, your heartbeats are bound to reach a level it never has because the Turismo Veloce is a tourer on steroids. The acceleration, the pull from the motor and that sharp throttle response amps up the rider’s emotions. Post 7000rpm, the bike becomes ferocious and there are chances of the front wheel praying to God.  In the lower revs, the Turismo Veloce turns into a different machine. The bike is forgiving and predictable. Plus, thanks to the tall and wide handlebar along with an upright ergos, the motorcycle feels easy to live with. The pegs though, do give out a sporty feel.  

In the twisties, this MV feels at home. Even with an upright sitting position, the bike feels happy to be leaned over. In fact, thanks to its large cornering clearance, there’s always room for more leaning. This obviously is possible due to the grippy Bridgestone tyres.  

The most surprising aspect of this motorcycle was its ride quality. Our previous instances with the other MVs have been backbreaking but with this one, it was enjoyable and likeable. The Marzocchi upside down forks does the duty at the front and there is a Sachs monoshock at the rear. The setup comes equipped with preload, rebound and compression adjustment and that's such a nice thing to have. Now coming to the brakes – the system works flawlessly. The power and the bite from the levers is such an awesome experience. 

The MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 costs almost Rs 24 lakhs on-road Mumbai and that’s a lot of money for an 800cc touring machine. But for the MV Agusta fans, that doesn’t matter a lot as the pricing is one of the last things they will ever fret about. For them, it’s all about the legendary brand that offers the most exclusivity in the world of motorcycles. The Turismo Veloce 800 has all the necessary ingredients to make you feel special and at the same time, give out one thrilling motoring experience. So if you have those extra lakhs to spend and want to be known as the coolest and the most exotic guy in town, you know what to buy. 

Indoor & Outdoor photography by Kaustubh Gandhi