You can now get an adventure bike in every conceivable color, shape, size, and brand. It is by some margin the fastest-growing motorcycle segment. While other segments continue to shrink, riders looking for the occasional roll in the dirt are genuinely spoiled for choice.
Several companies with no previous experience with off-road bikes are now getting in on the action. We have been inundated with all manner of Chinese motorcycles at the lower end of the market, but it is the Italians that are providing the most food for thought in the luxury segment. One Italian brand has taken it a step further by offering an impressive middleweight at a price that is impossible to ignore.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from MV Agusta. Whereas, the opinions are our own.
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The MV Agusta Enduro Veloce Delivers Luxury Without The Price Tag
MSRP: $16,998
While $17k certainly isn’t anything to sniff at, it is important to note that the Enduro Veloce sells for €19,900 throughout most of Europe. That equates to around $22k, a full $5k more than the price listed in the US. That makes the Enduro Veloce something of a bargain, but even at this rather enticing price, it still has some stiff competition to contend with in this space.
Triumph is the only other brand that offers a triple-powered ADV in the form of the Tiger 900. The latest Desert Edition is well-equipped but lacks luggage and is more expensive. In many ways, it is a safer bet, though, as this platform has been around for quite some time and has no known issues, aside from the usual vibrations associated with any triple. Triumph has also evolved into a genuine luxury brand, but still represents more of an alternative choice in the adventure bike segment.
Ducati surprised everyone with how good the DesertX was when it first came out. Later this year, it will get the new 890cc V2, but for now, the old 937cc Testastretta engine still offers an impressive balance between performance and versatility. The BMW F 900 GS Adventure is a little down on power compared to the other bikes, but it is also the most affordable, at least on paper. To get it to the same level of specification as the MV will require a couple of options boxes to get checked, which will most likely make it more expensive, too.
The Enduro Veloce Has A Sports Bike Engine
Power: 124 Horsepower
With pretty much every modern ADV running on a modular platform, this is not uncommon, but in this case, the sports bike came long before the ADV was even a pipe dream. This triple was first used in the F3 supersport, which has been reworked for more streetable applications. Like most middleweight offerings, it has been optimized for mid-range performance with the vast majority of its 75 pound-feet of torque available from around 3,000 RPM.
This Triple Has A Few Skeletons In The Closet
The unusually long 5-year unlimited miles warranty is a little suspicious. It rather obviously exists to help ease any concerns regarding reliability, and that is mostly because this triple was known for dropping valves in its previous configurations. Naturally, this only happened at high revs, and in this 931cc configuration, there are no reports of engine failure just yet. It would seem highly unlikely, with it in such a different tune, but it is still something buyers should be aware of.
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The Enduro Veloce Is An Affordable Luxury Adventure Tourer
In the rest of the world, this costs more than $20k, so its feature list is comprehensive. Cornering ABS, lean-sensitive traction control, a TFT dash with smartphone connectivity, and a quickshifter have all been there since it came out, but this year it gets a couple of big upgrades. It now comes with crash protection and side cases as standard fitment. This adds even more value to an already impressive package. For the money, you simply don’t get any better than this. The only bikes that can offer a similar level of specification for a similar price are all from Japan and are less powerful.
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This ADV has robust underpinnings, long-travel suspension, and an automatic gearbox, giving it a scooter-like twist-and-go operation.
An ADV With A Heavy Emphasis On Touring Comfort
No bike is perfect, and the MV is no exception. Although it is defined as a middleweight ADV, its wet weight of 528 pounds, without fuel and without the panniers, makes it a pretty porky middleweight. In fact, there are a few genuine full-size bikes out there that weigh less than the Enduro Veloce.
As such, this is not going to be the all-conquering off-road ADV some of the marketing might suggest. It is more of an adventure-tourer, and in many ways, MV would have been better served by giving it more street-oriented 19/17-inch wheels because it is on the street where this bike will excel.
If you are in the market for an ADV that can handle a bit of the rough stuff, this is ideal. While the sticker price is very attractive, it is also a model that can’t simply be taken at face value. This is a bike from a luxury Italian motorcycle manufacturer, so the build quality is excellent.
But there will always be the odd quirk to deal with here and there. You will also need to be prepared to pay a premium for parts and maintenance, because the running costs will be a little higher than average. That said, we still think it offers amazing value to the right buyer.
Chassis, Suspension And Weight Specifications
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Chassis |
Double beam frame |
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Front Suspension |
48mm Sachs fully adjustable USD fork (8.27-in travel) |
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Rear Suspension |
Sachs fully adjustable monoshock (8.27-in travel) |
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Weight |
528 lbs (no fuel, no panniers) |