Scoresheet
5
4
5
5
5
4
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4
5
Highly entertaining bike. I have 24K on mine and ride it frequently. The more I ride it, the more I like it. It can be short-shifted around town very comfortably, and yet when caned it responds with an extremely fast-revving, hard-hitting, two-stroke like wail as it gets on the pipe. The engine could be faulted for its soft character down low, but I give it five stars there because I find it challenging and entertaining to ride, and I actually like the soft character when I'm feeling mellow or just tooling around a suburban block.
The suspension I'm knocking down a peg because it IS hard and stiff and takes a long time to break in. About 8,000 miles. Finer suspension does exist, and MV has made efforts to address this issue with subsequent models. But it's not as bad as some say. The fact of the matter is that the suspension does break in, and when it does, it performs superbly at speed. The faster you go, the more it will make sense. Basically, this is race suspension. You hit some nasties at 100mph and you'll be motocrossing and appreciating that stiffness the way Bubba appreciates his supercross-stiff suspension in the whoops of Anaheim. Cornering feel is outstanding. You always know what the tires are up to.
Handling, transmission, and ergos are all the best I've ever experienced. I want for nothing in those departments. The best bike ever in this regard.
Value suffers a star because of the high cost of replacement parts. On the other hand, overall these bikes are outstanding values due to the high build quality. They are worth the money. This bike will hold its value better than most and will continue to look good and turn heads long after other bikes fade into obscurity. So, given that, overall I score this bike very high in terms of value.
The brakes I take down a notch because of their lack of initial bite and somewhat wooden feel and lack of power. Everyone complains about this. I cannot say they are the best brakes I have ever used. But consider my earlier comments about the engine and suspension. They do redeem themselves, especially at speed. These brakes are similar in that regard. While they lack bite, they have a smooth, progressive feel that aids trail-braking without upsetting the chassis. I can brake smoother and deeper with these brakes. Also, they work better at speed. The faster you go, the better they work. I truly believe that they were simply designed to perform their best at track speeds and the resulting track temps. Get them hot and the wooden feel goes away and the smooth, predictable nature of these brakes lets you go faster and feel the tire more.
On the whole then, I would agree with those who have assessed this bike as a sharp-edged tool for experts. You have to whip it and rev it and trail brake it and motocross the sucker at triple-digit speeds before you really start to see what genius it is. And yet, you can pussy-foot around on it quite quietly. I like that dual character, common to many fours. But many riders of medium experience will wish for more immediacy: more compliance over rough pavement, more grunt at low revs, more bite at street speeds. Those attributes are usually prized in a street bike.
Ask yourself if you're a two-stroke or four-stroke person. If you're a two-stroke MXer, you'll adore this bike. If you're a four-stroke trail rider, you'll find it lacking. If this question means little to you, you might want to sample some more bikes before you move to an MV.
Also consider basic ergos. I'm 5'6". I'm the sort of small Italian guys this bike was built for. If you're over 5'8", you might find it a bit cramped. If it fits you, it will lock to your body like a hand in glove. But if it's too small for you, you'll never be happy. Basic fit is something often overlooked when shopping for a bike, but it's important. Sit on one. You'll know.
