MV is so much more than the priceless four-cylinder. Well, of course, the 350 cc push rods MVs are of a completely different caliber. But they are real MVs and that is also proud of the tanks. From the 'round-clad' 350's, quite a few were sold by Italian standards. But when that model became somewhat old-fashioned in the early 350s, it was time for a new plan. The MV Agusta XNUMX Ipotesi.
The legend
The descendants of founders Count Vincenzo and Domenico Agusta were completely crazy about racing in the most Italian way. In fact, they used their production to pay for their arts on the circuits. Their approach was to set the best Grand Prix motorcycle team in the world on the wheels.
Maybe also interesting: MV not only made four-cylinder
Back to the public road
That passion was paid for with the pasta. Ordinary motorcycles had to be sold. Between 1970-1974 MV made 250 cc twins that later grew to 350 cc. At first those engines just had dots, later - also in 1972 - they got electronic ignition. The on-board voltage grew from 6 to 12 volts. The styling of those 350 cc twins was very similar to that of the 350s. And by the early XNUMXs, the MV XNUMX was just an old-fashioned thing. Something had to be done.
A new plan
The news was that the styling was completely refreshed while retaining the good of its predecessor. The prototype, started as 'Tipo 216' but soon became '350 Ipotesi', and was presented at the 1973 Milan Motor Show. Everyone was very enthusiastic about the styling devised by Giorgio Giugiaro's 'Italdesign', and about the quality of the components used. 'Ipotesi' means 'hypothesis', so 'assumption'. And the assumption was that the MV Agusta 350 Ipotesi would have such excellent handling characteristics that the owner of such an MV on winding roads would be fooled by the much stronger Japanese competition. Typically a case of 'If you dream, dream big'. All in all, the MV Agusta 24 Ipotesi, breathable by two 34mm Dell 'Orto's in breathable 350 hp (those twisted Germans were barely thirty), was a playful dynamic motorcycle for secondary roads. There he scored with his driving behavior, not with raw power. But one Honda CB 500 search drive? Well no…
High-quality and topical
Ceriani suspension took the matter to a higher level in quality. The Double Scarab discs between the front legs did the same. With a disc in the rear wheel, the MV Agusta 350 Ipotesi had an Italian first. The cast wheels and the butt were also things that showed that we were dealing with a very current machine. And with the optional, envelope-sealing fairing, the MV Agusta 350 Ipotesi had a highly dynamic look. The only thing that was classic was that the Ipotesi didn't have a starter motor yet. Folding out the kickstarter was real gynecologists' work with a mounted cockpit. And releasing such an MV, you absolutely had to do that 'rolling'.
The production of the MV Agusta 350 Ipotesi got off to a slow start, entirely by Italian nature
So slow that many interested people dropped out. At a given moment there was a delivery time of 15 months. And that while the Japanese simply delivered their bikes from stock.
In 1975 the GT version that was presented the year before went into production. Just a few months before the company suspended any activity in the field of engines. The most striking changes were the type of handlebar, the two-seat saddle and the two-tone finish of the tank. 350 copies were made of this version.
The end
The space reserved for MV Agusta at the Milan Motor Show in 1977, where the presentation of the updated “350 S” and other new models in the range was planned, would remain sadly empty. It is not until 1980 when the last of the almost 2.000 produced copies, as a shop daughter for a ramshack price, finds an owner ...
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