The adventure bike that offers versatility, comfort and control

Every manufacturer has now entered the adventure bike market. Of all the motorcycle segments, this is the only segment that is still experiencing steady growth, so it’s easy to see why it has suddenly become such an important segment. Finding a foothold here could mean the difference between success and failure for some smaller companies.

MV Agusta is one of those smaller companies. It has changed hands several times in recent years, and while it is a company with a reputation for exclusivity, a bread and butter model is necessary for survival. This used to be left to the cheaper Brutale 800, but the Naked Bike segment is no longer as popular as it once was. So it has passed the torch to one of the most interesting middleweight adventure bikes on the market today.

In order to provide you with the most current and accurate information, the data used to compile this article was sourced from MV Agusta. While the opinions are ours.

The MV Agusta Enduro Veloce offers versatility, comfort and control

MSRP: $16,998

When the updated Enduro Veloce was announced a few months ago, the price in Europe was set at €19,900. This works out to around $22,000, but MV’s US website lists the bike – including the new accessories – for just $17,000. While it is not unusual for manufacturers to price motorcycles differently around the world, it is highly unusual for such a large price difference to exist. We can only assume that MV is betting big on the US market, and at this price it’s certainly very competitive.

The Ducati DesertX Discovery is the most like-for-like alternative in terms of weight, specifications and the fact that it is also made in Italy. It’s $3k more expensive and doesn’t even get side cases. The new Triumph Tiger 900 Desert Edition also offers a similar level of specification and is the only other ADV with triple drive. Unfortunately, it also lacks luggage and is still more expensive.

The only comparably priced ADV that offers the same level of specification, including luggage, comes from Japan. The Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE Adventure comes with all the bells and whistles added to an outdated platform. It has proven to be exceptionally reliable over the years, but it is still more expensive. The V-Strom is also really a full-size ADV, and while it has less power than the Enduro Veloce, it is considerably heavier.

The Enduro Veloce has a sporty three-cylinder engine

Several modern ADVs use reworked engines found in other bikes, but this may have its origins in the highly strung F3 675. It’s an unlikely place for an adventure bike to get an engine, but it’s in a very different state of tune these days. It was first increased to 798cc and has now been further expanded to 931cc. It now also has 75 Nm of torque, the vast majority of which is available from around 3,000 rpm. All that said, it’s now a much more usable, user-friendly powertrain that can perform in the real world.

The MV Triple has a past

MV offers this bike with an unusually long 5-year unlimited mileage warranty to alleviate any concerns about reliability. One of the reasons for this is the fact that this triple was known for dropping valves in its previous configurations. There were no recalls and no fixes. So far this 931cc configuration hasn’t suffered from the same problem, but there isn’t really much data available yet. With such a different tune it seems highly unlikely, but it’s nevertheless worth mentioning as a cautionary tale.

The Enduro Veloce stands for attainable luxury

MV Agusta is a luxury brand, and the fit and finish is indicative of a motorcycle that normally costs more than $20,000, as it costs just as much in other parts of the world. In line with that, it’s not short on features either. You get riding modes, cornering ABS, slope-sensitive traction control, a TFT dashboard with smartphone connectivity and a quickshifter.

This year it’s also getting some nice physical features, helping it stand out from the growing crowd. Both crash protection and side cases are now standard features. There are popular aftermarket additions, and the fact that MV has included this as standard is a real point of difference. Unfortunately, they also add weight to an already relatively fat middleweight, if it should be considered a middleweight at all.

Adventure touring the Italian way

Weighing in at 528 pounds, without fuel, it’s a pretty heavy ADV. So while it may have off-road-oriented wheels, it will definitely be more of an adventure tourer. It is an ideal option for those who want to drive adventurously – usually on asphalt – at high speed and in complete luxury.

You should also be open to the potential running costs. This is a bike manufactured by a luxury Italian brand, and while its sticker price may rival that of Japanese bikes, it will certainly cost more to run. It will also bring with it a strange Italian quirk, and some will be put off by that prospect. For others, this might be one of the best ADV deals on the market today.