MV Agusta have released two very special adventure models. The 5.5 and 9.5 Lucky Explorers are the latest addition to this retro inspired line-up... Press Release: MV Agusta.
December 26th, 1978. That day marked the genesis of one of the most fascinating and dangerous adventures ever: the Paris-Dakar. Famous rally race crossing the Sahara Desert and born from the irreverent and visionary mind of Thierry Sabine.
MV Agusta have launched two new adventure bikes under the Lucky Explorer project.
After its founder’s death in 1986 in the middle of unforgiving Ténéré region, the race has become the test bed for outstanding performance bikes, capable of travelling the desert tracks at insane speeds. The Elefant model in its Lucky Explorer livery is probably the most celebrated icon of that historic desert raid. From the very first sketches, the evocative power of the Elefant, dominating twice the final destination of Lac Rose in Dakar, has inspired many designers, committed to recreating, in a modern key, that magic feeling of motorcycles recognised as the emblem of the eternal struggle between the crudeness of nature and man.
“After its founder’s death in 1986 in the middle of unforgiving Ténéré region, the race has become the test bed for outstanding performance bikes, capable of travelling the desert tracks at insane speeds.”
MV Agusta launches the Lucky Explorer Project, a multi-faceted initiative aiming at gathering the passionate lovers of rally raid and off-road racing around Schiranna’s unforgettable legacy of epic participations and victories in the great African rallies of the golden age.
The Lucky Explorer Project is not just a marketing project. MV say it represents the ultimate character of the Company to express its sentiments in the motorcycle business, revamping deeply the passion, the emotions, the values, the style, the gestures of men and bikes who made the history of racing in the desert. It’s more than a project.
The Lucky Explorer Project has been conceived to create a communication platform to support the launch of two brand new adventure bikes, creating anticipation and thrill, thus:
- Revamping the Lucky Explorer racing heritage
- Telling the story and spread the culture of the great African rallies
- Building an adventure, off-road enthusiast community
- Involving and engaging participants in online and offline actions
The project will be developed on the website www.luckyexplorerproject.com and through the Instagram channel @Luckyexplorer.official. Riders, personalities, clips and anecdotes, historical factory tours, vintage advertising, videos, memorabilia, new content and events will bring together a real community of enthusiasts.
“The new 5.5 and 9.5 adventure bikes offer a concrete yet suggestive perspective in an increasingly crowded competitive arena, focused on riding efficiency and stylistic charm, as well as on advanced technical solutions.”
The new 5.5 and 9.5 adventure bikes offer a concrete yet suggestive perspective in an increasingly crowded competitive arena, focused on riding efficiency and stylistic charm, as well as on advanced technical solutions. Both projects represent the modern interpretation of the desert race’s myth, which appealed the imagination of the Motorsport world since the mid-Eighties, conquering tons of enthusiasts in the continuous search for brand-new and thrilling adventures.
Originally, on the historic Elefant model, at centre-stage in the Dakar races, the Lucky Explorer logo was immediately recognisable, even from a distance, to the point of characterising the whole bike and emphasising its racing-oriented personality. Today, on both new models that logo blooms again thanks to the graphic and set-up winning choices.
The 5.5 adventure bike from MV Agusta broke cover last week at the EICMA 2021 bike show.
5.5
The 5.5 version, developed in close collaboration MV Agusta’s partner QJ, is a new adventure bike inspired by the heritage of the Elefant. Such close collaboration with the partner has brought to life a truly advanced model. Electronics, mechanics and chassis, have been carefully developed on the basis of detailed specifications.
The 5.5 looks to be more road riding centred, with less aggressive tyres than the 9.5….
Electronics, for example, have been made to offer the perfect combination between performance and safety. The two-cylinder in-line liquid-cooled engine with double overhead cams has also undergone specific refinement, aimed at further improving the high efficiency. The increase in displacement up to 550cc (70.5mm bore and 71mm stroke), a distinctive content for this model, has the goal to further enrich the torque curve and smoothen delivery.
Distinctive design of the 5.5 version can be seen both from the superstructures and from other aesthetic crucial features, such as the bespoke optical groups. Stylistic inspiration is shared with the 9.5 model and inspired by the legendary races in the desert, not to mention others features, which allows this new born to proudly claim its technical, conceptual and aesthetic identity.
“The 9.5 truly introduces a gateway to the future in the shape of a premium adventure bike, faithfully based on the new MV Agusta 950 engine.”
9.5
The 9.5 truly introduces a gateway to the future in the shape of a premium adventure bike, faithfully based on the new MV Agusta 950 engine, powered by class-leading technology and close to that racing spirit of the original Elefant.
While both models share similar styling cue’s. The 9.5 jumps to the top of MV’s adventure range with its 950 engine.
The two new models share numerous stylistic elements: the front end area and the sturdy handguard, for example, are both painted black. A side cover protect the radiator, which reveals a semicircle element in the centre. A cover protects the front braking system, with a large flap to ensure the discs the right dose of air flow; the skid plate underlines the off-road oriented use.
Even the extended use of high-technology materials along with their finishing are offroad-inspired: the forged carbon fibre element, a link between the radiator area and the skid plate, reflect this.
The instrumentation is a full suite of useful information as well as connectivity. It has a 7in full TFT panel, with Bluetooth connection to smartphones and Wi-Fi. The electrical switch cubes have been exclusively designed for this model: inspired by functionality and ergonomics criteria they allow the user to easily navigate amongst the numerous configurations available in the menus. In addition, a practical pannier fastening system, located in the tail area, comes with a retractable system: a smart solution that does not compromise the design of the bike.
The headlight has been subjected to an extensive study, aimed at offering a stunning stylistic result and an indisputable light output as well. In particular, the 5.5 mounts DRL in a semicircle, which are clearly inspired by the classic Elefant 900. The headlight assembly of the 9.5 is instead more complex and even more original, thanks to two concentric elements that add the front end an aggressive look.
The chassis of the 9.5 is made of steel, with a closed double cradle structure. Designed to offer the best balance between the comfort required for touring road use and the stiffness to achieve great off-road performance. Despite the excellent torsional strength and longitudinal stiffness, it tops the scales at a relatively low weight. The sturdy swingarm makes use of lightweight aluminum alloy to achieve the highest strength-to-weight ratio. Aluminum is used also for the fork plates, while the rear subframe is made of steel.
“The chassis of the 9.5 is made of steel, with a closed double cradle structure.”
The 9.5 engine has been developed specifically for this model and creates an uncompromised balance of versatility, power and weight. Signed by MV Agusta and inspired by the well-known and admired 800 three-cylinder in-line, it’s new in most of its components. The bore and stroke measurements have both been increased to achieve the effective displacement of 930.63cc. All without changing the overall dimensions of the 800 engine currently in production. Numerous technical contents are confirmed, such as the head plane and cylinders angle.
MV Agusta’s new 930cc three cylinder powerplant boasts some impressive figures….
The new 9.5 motorcycle also stands out for its three-cylinder in-line four-stroke liquid-cooled twin overhead camshaft engine boasts a compression ratio of 12.5:1; the crankshaft is counter-rotating, to improve driving dynamics and reduce inertia. The removable gearbox is also offered in an electro-actuated configuration, specially designed for this model. The maximum power and torque values are respectively 123hp@10,000rpm and 102Nm@7,000rpm.
9.5 engine main features:
- New cylinder head
- New steel intake and exhaust valves
- New head-cylinder base gasket
- New steel crankshaft, counter-rotating, 120° cranks, 1-2-3 ignition
- New main and trimetallic connecting rod bearings
- New forged aluminum alloy pistons, three segments
The transmission has a new primary straight cut drive gear. The base has been completely redesigned: it has integrated oil passages while the passage of water from the upper to the lower base takes place via an external aluminum pipe. Clutch, generator, starter, selector and gearbox covers have been redesigned. The 9.5 wet clutch comes in two versions: the automatic Rekluse variant and the standard, featuring hydraulic control on the left side. Lastly, the electro-actuated gearbox, offered as an option, represents a rare gem.
2022 MV Agusta 5.5 Lucky Explorer Specifications
Price: TBA
Dry weight: 220kg
Fuel capacity: 20L
Power: 35kW@7,500rpm
Torque: 51Nm@5,500rpm
Engine: 554cc liquid-cooled four-stroke, 8-valve DOHC inline two-cylinder four-stroke, 70.5 x 71mm bore x stroke, 11.5:1 compression, Integrated ignition – injection system, 2 injectors
Gearbox: Six-speed, constant mesh
Clutch: Wet multi-plate slipper
Frame: Tubular high-tensile steel trellis frame
Suspension: 43mm KYB USD telescopic hydraulic fork with rebound and spring preload adjustment 135mm travel, KYB single shock absorber with rebound and compression damping and spring preload adjustment
Brakes: Double floating disc 320mm Brembo caliper with 4 pistons, Single steel disc with 260mm Brembo caliper with 2 pistons ABS.
Wheels & Tyres: Alloy spoked 3×19, 4.25×17 100/80, 150/70
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 1505mm
Seat height: 860mm
Ground clearance: 210mm
Length: 2220mm
Width: 915mm
Electronics: TFT 5in Full HD Dashboard – Bluetooth connectivity – GPS sensor – MV Ride app with turn by turn navigation system.
2022 MV Agusta 9.5 Lucky Explorer Specifications
Price: TBA
Dry weight: 220kg
Fuel capacity: 20L
Power: 90.5kW@10,000rpm
Torque: 102Nm@7,000rpm
Engine: 931cc liquid-cooled four-stroke, 12-valve DOHC inline three-cylinder four-stroke, 81 x 60.2mm bore x stroke, 12.5:1 compression, Integrated ignition – injection system MVICS 2.1 (Motor & Vehicle Integrated Control System) with three injectors. Engine control unit Eldor Nemo EM 3.0 Throttle body bore 47mm diameters full ride by wire Mikuni Pencil-coil with ion-sensing technology, control of detonation and misfire. Torque control with four maps.
Gearbox: Cyborg electroactuated gearbox + Electronic quick shift MV EAS (Electronically Assisted Shift Up & Down)
Clutch: Wet multidisc hydraulic clutch + SCS (Smart Clutch System)
Frame: Main frame: double beam frame structure, composed by high-tensile steel pipes and forged components. Bolt on double cradle. Rear frame: trellis structure, composed by high-tensile steel pipes and forged components
Suspension: 50mmSachs electronic USD telescopic hydraulic fork with rebound – compression damping and spring preload external and separate adjustment, 220mm travel. Progressive, Sachs electronic single shock absorber with rebound and compression damping and spring preload adjustment, 210mm travel.
Brakes: Double floating disc. 320mm radial-type monobloc Brembo Stylema caliper with 4 pistons, single steel disc 265mm Brembo caliper with 2 pistons
ABS:Continental MK100 with RLM (Rear Wheel Lift-up Mitigation) and cornering function.
Wheels & Tyres: spoked 2.14×21, 4.25×18 90/90, 150/70
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 1580mm
Seat height: 850/870mm
Ground clearance: 230mm
Length: 2270mm
Width: 980mm
Electronics: TFT 7in Full HD Dashboard – Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity – Cruise control – Launch control – 8 level Traction Control- GPS sensor – Immobilizer – Full led headlight with DRL and bending function – Full led tail light – Fog light – MV Ride app with turn by turn navigation system, engine and vehicle setup
