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MV Agusta 750 S Magni: - In Norway, almost no one knows what it is

  • Håkon Thorstensen (right) on his MV Agusta 750 S Magni in France this summer. A French friend is riding the Magni on the left. It is also owned by Håkon, but that is another story. Photo: Private

When Håkon Thorstensen is out on a trip in Italy with his MV Agusta 750 S Magni, people crowd around him wherever he stops. - It's easier to own something like that in Norway, here almost no one knows what it is, he says.

When Håkon Thorstensen goes on a trip in Italy with his MV Agusta 750 S Magni, people gather around him wherever he stops. - It's easier to own something like this in Norway; here, almost no one knows what it is, he says.

Text: Borgvald Moen

  • Håkon showed off the Magnien at the Oslo Motor Show this fall, and took off the hood so that the goodies could be examined in detail. Photo: Borgvald Moen

Håkon's MV Agusta 750 S Magni was finished on December 11, 1975, and was then sold to the Netherlands. It cost about the same as five Honda CB750Fours, according to Håkon. Some time later it was sent back to Italy for rebuilding at MV Agusta's racing department, where Arturo Magni was the boss. There it received, among other things, a new and lighter frame, chain drive and several other things for better performance. - Some also got other engines. These are hand-built machines, and none of them are exactly the same, says Håkon. He bought the Magni himself 20 years ago, and is the third owner. Through MV Agusta community, he has learned that there are six or seven such bikes that he himself has. - From what I have been informed, a total of about 20 were built, and of those, seven had the original MV Agusta frame number stamped on the new frame, explains Håkon. His own is one of the seven. Another of them was stolen, which is why there is some uncertainty about it.

Håkon's MV Agusta 750 S Magni was completed on December 11, 1975, and was then sold to the Netherlands. It costs about the same as five Honda CB750Fours, according to Håkon. Some time later, it was sent back to Italy for modifications at MV Agusta 's racing department, where Arturo Magni was in charge. There it received, among other things, a new and lighter frame, chain drive, and several other improvements for better performance. - Some also received different engines. These are hand-built machines, and none of them are exactly alike, says Håkon. He bought the Magni himself 20 years ago and is the third owner. Through the MV Agusta community, he has learned that there are six or seven such bikes like his own. - From what I have been told, a total of around 20 were built, and of those, seven had the original MV Agusta frame numbers stamped onto the new frame, explains Håkon. His own is one of the seven. Another one of them was stolen, which is why there is some uncertainty surrounding it.

  • Arturo Magni's sons Giacomo (left) and Carlo Magni practically demanded to be included in Håkon's Magni when he took a picture of them. Photo: Private

Håkon does not want to say exactly how much he paid for it, but does not hide the fact that it is a good chunk of money, to put it mildly. - They range from 60,000 euros up to 140,000 euros. But those are the "normal" ones. The Magni are more sought after. His own was in pretty good condition when he bought it. Håkon picked it apart and put it back together. New tires were needed, and the rims were X-rayed for cracks, without finding anything. The original paint was restored. At home in Nærbø on Jæren, Håkon has several Italian sports motorcycles standing around, and he is not only interested in the bikes themselves, but also the stories and not least the people behind them.

Håkon does not want to say exactly how much he paid for it, but he does not hide that it involved a substantial amount of money, to put it mildly. - They are listed from 60,000 euros up to 140,000 euros. But that is the 'regular' ones. The Magnas are more sought after. His own was in fairly good condition when he bought it. Håkon took it apart piece by piece and put it back together. New tires were needed, and the rims were X-rayed for cracks, without finding anything. The original paint was restored. At home in Nærbø in Jæren, Håkon has several Italian sports motorcycles, and he is not only interested in the bikes themselves, but also in the stories and, not least, the people behind them.

  • Giacomo Agostini is considered by many to be the best road racing driver of all time. Here is Håkon at his home, and the racing legend is sitting on his own World Championship racer, a 1968 model MV Agusta 500 cc triple. Photo: Private

A group of individuals were crucial to MV Agusta's name being written in gold in racing history today. - It was absolutely incredible what they achieved together, he says. One of them was Giacomo Agostini, considered by many to be the best racing driver of all time. He was associated with MV Agusta from 1965 to 1973, and won an incredible 15 World Championship titles, and in the years 1968 to 1972 he and MV Agusta made a clean sweep in both the 350 and 500 class. - They won ten World Championship titles in five years. Agostini was named Sportsman of the Year in Italy ten years in a row, and is a national hero, says Håkon.

A handful of individuals were crucial for MV Agusta 's name to be written in gold in racing history today. - It was absolutely incredible what they achieved together, he says. One of them was Giacomo Agostini, considered by many to be the greatest racing driver of all time. He was associated with MV Agusta from 1965 to 1973, and won an incredible 15 World Championship titles, and from 1968 to 1972 he and MV Agusta swept both the 350 and 500 classes. - They won ten World Championship titles in five years. Agostini was named Italian Sportsman of the Year ten years in a row, and is a national hero, says Håkon.

  • Håkon rides all his motorcycles every summer. Here is a break during a ride with Magnien at home in Jæren. Photo: Private

Every summer he and his wife take a few sports motorcycles with them in a van and go to Italy with friends. There they go on day trips, and participate in meetups and street races in a village near Varese, where MV Agusta was built. In this environment, Håkon has met the now 83-year-old Agostini several times, they have even raced classic races together in the village. - He is a very pleasant guy, says Håkon. A few years ago he was also at the home of Arturo Magni, the man behind the Magni bikes. He was also one of the individuals who took MV Agusta to the top in racing. - He was incredibly gifted. He originally came from Gilera , but moved to MV Agusta , where after a while he became sports director. - He commented on my Magni, and among other things noticed that I had original aluminum brake discs with ceramic coating, recalls Håkon. Arturo Magni died a few years ago.

Every summer, he and his wife take some sport motorcycles in a van and go to Italy with friends. There, they go on day trips and participate in meetups and street races in a village near Varese, where MV Agusta was built. In this environment, Håkon has met the now 83-year-old Agostini several times; they have even raced classic events together in the village. - He is a very pleasant guy, says Håkon. A few years ago, he also visited Arturo Magni, the man behind the Magni motorcycles. He was also one of the individuals who took MV Agusta to the top in racing. - He was an incredible talent. Originally from Gilera , he switched to MV Agusta , where after a while he became the sporting director. - He commented on my Magni, noting, among other things, that I had original aluminum brake discs with a ceramic coating, recalls Håkon. Arturo Magni passed away a few years ago.

  • A lot of nice work on this motorcycle. Photo: Borgvald Moen

A third cornerstone in MV Agusta's proud history is naturally the founder, Count Domenico Agusta. - He was engrossed in racing, and went around to events and races and followed them. He spent a lot of money on development, and wanted to win everything. Together with Magni and Agostini, he achieved incredible results, says Håkon. - What is it like to own and ride such a motorcycle? - It's fantastic. It actually has quite good handling characteristics, and is quite easy to ride. In Norway, it's easy to have such a machine, because almost no one knows what it is. In Italy, it's something completely different. People flock to it, and many get very involved. At a meet I attended, the organizer assigned two men to look after my Magni the whole time, even though I had locked it securely.

A third cornerstone in MV Agusta 's proud history is naturally the founder, Count Domenico Agusta. - He was obsessed with racing, and traveled around to events and races to keep track. He spent a lot of money on development and wanted to win everything. Together with Magni and Agostini, he achieved incredible results, says Håkon. - What is it like to own and ride such a motorcycle? - It's amazing. It actually has quite good riding characteristics and is fairly easy to handle. In Norway, it's easy to have such a machine because almost no one knows what it is. In Italy, it's a completely different story. People flock to it, and many get very involved. At a gathering I attended, the organizer assigned two men to watch my Magni at all times, even though I had locked it securely.

  • Arturo Magni's sons Giacomo and Carlo with Håkon's Magni. Carlo's son-in-law is standing in the back in a black t-shirt. Photo:Private

Håkon enjoys Italy, and on one trip he drove with some other guys, and they had modern Agustas. - They were accelerating, and I had to rev to keep up. And the Magnien is very loud, so it was noisy. Suddenly we were at a roundabout, and it was full of police. Then I thought that was the end of that drive. Now they're going to arrest me. But then I noticed that the officers were looking at me and smiling from ear to ear. Then they signaled with their hands for me to rev more! Those Italians, that is... chuckles Håkon.

Håkon is enjoying life in Italy, and on one trip he drove along with some other guys, and they had modern Agustas. - They were revving, and I had to twist the throttle to keep up. And the Magnien makes a lot of noise, so it was loud. Suddenly we were in a roundabout, and it was full of police. Then I thought that was the end of the ride. Now they're going to get me. But then I noticed that the officers were looking at me and smiling from ear to ear. Then they made a hand signal for me to twist more! Those Italians, huh… chuckles Håkon.

  • Tech-spec. MV Agusta 750 S Magni, 1976 model:
  • Motor/Engine: 750 ccm DOHC, 80-85 hp.
  • Weight: 180 kilos dry weight
  • Frame: Magni
  • Wheels: 18 inches
  • Brakes: Scarab, dual discs front, single rear. Aluminum discs with ceramic coating
  • Fuel tank: 20 liters
  • Top speed: approx. 220 km/h