MV Agusta

A carbon-encrusted evolution of the Brutale 1000 RR, the new Mv Agusta Rush 1000 is a 208-horsepower, 186-plus mph naked beast with a carbon rear wheel cover and the sauciest undertail we've seen on a motorcycle.

The storied Italian brand of MV Agusta has signed a long-term strategic partnership with Loncin, one of China's manufacturing powerhouses, which will result in a new four-model family of MV Agustas between 350-500cc, as well as some new Voge brand bikes around 800cc.

Bonhams Spring and Autumn Stafford Sales are two of the highlights of the global auction year for rare and storied motorcycles. Every year there are records broken, and many of the world's most expensive motorcycles have crossed the block at this venue. This year was no exception.

Ducati, Honda, Munch and MV Agusta have all broken auction marque records repeatedly in the last few years as 1970s motorcycles have come into vogue. A collection of MV Agusta motorcycles to be auctioned in Paris later this week will almost certainly raise the bar higher again ... maybe much higher.

The motorcycle marketplace is recalibrated each year with the January Las Vegas sales, and this year saw new records and the changing tastes of the buying public. While vintage bikes performed well, the real movers were two-strokes, seventies classics and Japanese motorcycles.

​"Stop detuning our naked sportsbikes," cried the hooligans. "OK," grinned MV Agusta, and let this brute off the leash. How exactly you're supposed to hold onto this unfaired monster with the wind blasting your puny body at two and a half times the speed of a hurricane? Well, that's your problem.

Another day, another special edition MV F4? Not this time. This is it. The ultimate MV Agusta superbike in both senses of the word. Named for MV's late President, a giant of the moto-world, the F4 Claudio marks the final chapter for a gorgeous bike that has entranced riders for more than 20 years.

Motorcycle auctions have always been somewhat of a sideshow during Monterey Car Week, but just the same, some delectable machinery is scattered between the four-wheeled lots and this year saw quite a few remarkable two-wheeled offerings.

MV Agusta has released a new special edition of its Turismo Veloce Lusso sports tourer, featuring a wacky centrifugal automatic clutch arrangement that might sound familiar to dirt bike riders. Crucially, though, the clutch lever remains, so you can choose when you feel like clutching or auto-ing.

A few days after announcing the updated Dragster 800 RC, MV Agusta has outed a refined F3 RC supersport in both 675 and 800 versions. There’s also​ a new special Brutale 800 RR Pirelli to celebrate a partnership extension with the Italian tire manufacturer.

The limited RC version of the naked Dragster 800 has received an update, invisible from the outside, yet extensive enough to make a difference. A series of mechanical changes aim to bring the triple-cylinder motor up to par with the latest emission norms without compromising its fiery character.

This year the Autumn Stafford Sale seemed more eccentric than normal, with some extraordinary motorcycles selling for not very much, and at the other end of the scale, several of the most expensive two-stroke motorcycles ever sold at auction.