It will be some time before the production version is actually available, but at the EICMA in Milan, MV Agusta has already given us a glimpse into the future with the presentation of the 921 S concept, according to the Italians a reinterpretation of the style of the past with technology of the future.
The MV Agusta 921 S concept is not so much a refined exercise in style, but rather a conceptual foretaste of a new category of motorcycles that will be developed and presented in the coming years.
The starting point for the project development was the heritage of MV Agusta. Its roots lie in the company’s history, especially in the 1970s, when MV Agusta developed many models that now, half a century later, still exemplify style, personality, elegance and technology.
The 921 project was born last spring on the intuition of MV gurus Brian Gillen and Stephen Zache, who looked closely at the 1973 MV Agusta 750S with the aim of using it as the basis for a futuristic model.
The challenge with the 921 project was to step outside the traditional framework of the retro segment, which tends to propose a technically updated replica of a previous model. The MV Agusta project, on the other hand, creates a new technology and design architecture, with solutions and ideas that are truly progressive.
According to Gillen and Zache, the 921 should not become a modern, or contemporary (however you want to look at it) replica of the 750S, but a tribute to that enchanting engine.
The lines of the 921 S are very horizontal, as was the case with cafe racers of the 60s and 70s. And the shapes also follow the proportions of the past. The engine’s design has been stripped down to the nitty-gritty to maximize the expression of the all-new 921cc inline four.
According to Gillen, mechanical details are an important part of the visual aspect. This is also due to a combination of advanced technology and research into the materials. Integration, another important goal of the project, is reflected in the futuristic technology, which is nevertheless in keeping with the past.
The technical equipment is state-of-the-art according to MV, from the chassis with oversized swingarm to the wheels and exhausts positioned under the engine, to the intriguing aluminum covers around the brake discs, a styling solution that is also functional, they supply air to the brake calipers and ensure that they cool faster.
The frame follows the famous new-generation MV Agusta configuration, with a welded tubular steel trellis and aluminum alloy side plates. The position of the dashboard is original, with a circular section as in the past but with the addition of a touchscreen.
Resting on the tank, it ensures that the futuristic steering wheel and the beautifully milled handlebar plate remain visible. The handlebars are inspired by solutions used in time trials. Two short race-inspired semi-handles are attached to the aerodynamically shaped central section made of forged aluminum in differentiated sections.
The whole butt has been created with the aim of facilitating the transition from an Alcantara-covered single seat to a two-seater. It only takes a moment to move from one configuration to another, and style coherence is guaranteed in a very attractive context, also thanks to the LED taillight at the rear.
The round headlight gets an exciting style boost with a perimeter area of ​​DRLs, a decorative metal ring and a powerful central light. The rear part of the lamp is metal, with a winged design that recalls the old days of dissipating heat in air-cooled engines.
As for the engine, the inline four has been completely redesigned and delivers 115.5 hp at 7000 rpm, with a maximum torque of 116.5 Nm. Many engineering solutions contribute to overall performance, from revised intake tracts to a more efficient liquid cooling circuit and even new camshaft profiles designed to provide a particularly progressive throttle response, increasing ease of use. A secondary shaft reduces second-order vibrations. The rods and pistons are specific to this four-cylinder, as is the entire intake system (throttle bodies and injectors).
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.