Italia Connections' Magni page

Magni ....
Those who have a motorcycling memory of the 1970's and before will recall MV's engineer - Arturo Magni. He and his son build beautiful cafe racer styled bikes in their workshop near Milan.

The History

In 1950, Arturo Magni joined a newly formed MV Agusta racing department, where he remained until MV retired from racing in 1977. Under Magni's management as chief of the famed MV Reparto Corsa, the team won 75 world championships and over 3,000 races. A record still untouched by any other manufacturer. Famous motorcycle racers riding for MV included John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Provini, Ubbiali, and the most famous of modern times, Giacomo Agostini with 15 world championships.

After MV retired from racing, Magni and his sons set up shop to build special versions of production motorcycles. First bikes the Magni's redesigned was the 750cc and 788cc MV Sport & MV America road bikes. With all of the engineering expertise developed over 25+ years of racing, Arturo and sons performed complete transformations of the street version MV's including chain drives, new frames, tanks seats, etc. When complete, a Magni MV looks and sounds very much like a racing MV. A Magni MV is a beautiful piece or motorcycle sculpture. Unfortunately for motorcycle collectors, there were not many street version MV Agustas produced. And the Magni MV's are even fewer, with these masterpieces in the hands of a fortunate few.

In the early 1980's Magni expanded into building Honda 900 Bol d'Or replicas, named MH1 without fairings and a completely faired and full featured bike called the MH2. About 300 of these models were produced.

MH2.

In 1982-1983 Magni turned to BMW boxer 1000cc. engine, designing an all new frame and components. Like the Honda, the bikes was produced in two versions - MB1 and MB2, the MB2 being completed with every imaginable accessory.

In 1985, driven by market demand, Magni went Italian all way beginning a long relationship with Moto Guzzi which continues today.
The first Magni model LeMans incorporated a full fairing, contemporary lines and a new rear suspension system designed by Magni called the parallelogrammo.
This new suspension system eliminates the reactions normally induced with shaft drive motorcycles. The parallelogrammo suspension enables the bike to perform much like a chaindrive unit.
Since inception, similar systems have been developed by others, Dr. John Witner in the USA springs to mind.

The Bikes

• Magni Sfida
  

  In 1989 Magni introduced the Sfida 1000 with styling reminiscent of the Italian races bikes of the 1960's. Fuel tanks of hand hammered aluminum sculpted like the MV Agusta and Gilera racing bikes.
  Magni have once again secured engines from Guzzi. British Importers, Three Cross have the Sfida 1000 and the Sfida 1100ie. Both are traditionally styled cafe racers.
  

  
  

  In 1995 the new model Sfida 1100 is introduced with a new improved frame and other handling improvements.
  

  In 1997, the sfida 1100 i.e. is introduced incorporating the Guzzi Fuel Injected engine and a unique rear seat section that can be adjusted to carry a passenger.
  

  Two new 1998 models have just been released, the Sfida 1000 4V with the Guzzi 4 valve engine, the new Australia 98, with new 102 horsepower 4 valve engines.
  

  The Sfida 1100 using Moto Guzzi's 1064cc Vee twin from the 1100 Sport Injection with pushrod overhead valves, 2 valves per cyclinder and fuel injection.
  

  SFIDA 1100i.e. (ohv) biposto
  

  The Sfida 1000 using Moto Guzzi's 992cc Vee twin from the 1000 Daytona with overhead cams, 4 valves per cylinder and fuel injection.
  

  SFIDA 1000 4V (ohc)
  

• Magni Giapone 52
  

  Giapone 52.
  

  The Giappone 52 a limited production model to commemorate 20 years of Magni activity and 50 years of activity of the firm Fukuda Motors, the official importer of Magni bikes for the Japanese marketplace.
  A fully faired version of the Sfida using the 1064cc ohv vee twin with 2 valves per cylinder and Weber Marelli fuel injection. Delivers a claimed 66kW and 96Nm of torque. Enough to give the Giapone a 150mph top end.

• Magni Australia
  

  In 1990 Magni introduced a new bike designed for racing in two cylinders engine class throughout the world. The Australian importer competed with the new bike with exceptional results!
  

  • 28th Sept, '90 - Kambalda, West Australia - Thunder (bike race) - 2nd place;
    
  • 4th Oct, '90 - Merredine, West Australia - Formula (one) - 4th place;
    
  • 27th Oct, '90 - Wanneroo, West Australia - Formula (one) - 5th place - and Open (4 strokes) - 3th place;
    
  • 3rd Nov, '90 - Wanneroo, West Australia - Thunder (bike) 1st place;
    
  • 10th Dec, '90 - Winton (race way), Victoria - Thunder B.E.A.R.S. (bikes) - 4th place;
    
  • 26th Dec, '90 - Wangauni - New Zealand - B.E.A.R.S. Thunder (bikes) 2nd place - and Formula (one) 4th place;
    
  • 25th Mar, '91 - Manfield - New Zealand - B.E.A.R.S. Thunder (bikes) - 2nd place;
    
  • 11th Apr, '91 - Pukekohe, New Zealand - B.E.A.R.S. Thunder (bikes) - 2nd place.
    

  Magni named the new model Australia in his honor. The Australia has modernlines, full fairing and components found on superbikes style motorcycles.
  In 1993 the first road model Australia is produced with identical characteristic as the racing model except for required electricals, exhaust and accessories that make it fit for road use.
  

  1998 model.

  The Australia uses the 992cc vee twin with 4 valves per cylinder and overhead cams. Standard power output is 75kW at 8400rpm and 88Nm of torque at 6600rpm.
  There are also official Guzzi engine power kits (A, B or C).

  Magni Australia.
  

  How many Guzzi's can be hustled like this?
  

  A Magni Australia will compete at Daytona 1998 in March of this years's battle of twins with Japanese rider Teruo Fukuda and team from Mr. Nagaya, member of Magni Owner's Club of Japan.
  

Links

• Magni's home page
  

  http://www.magni.it
  

• If you have any links or details to assist, please Email me at: webmaster@italia.co.uk

  ---

  • Italia Connection's Home Page