MV Agusta 125 Sport SE

MV Agusta

Industry	Motorcycle manufacturing
Founded	1945 (1945)
Founder	Domenico Agusta
Defunct	1980 (1980)
Headquarters	Samarate , Italy
Products	Motorcycles

The MV Agusta 125 Sport SE was a sport motorcycle manufactured by the Italian company MV Agusta between 1975 and 1977. It ranks among the final motorcycles produced at the Meccanica Verghera facility located in Samarate’s Cascina Costa.

Background

The 125 cc category held significant popularity in Italy, with MV Agusta having produced four-stroke 125 cc motorcycles since 1954, including sport variants like the "125 Rapido Sport" that emerged in the late 1950s, as well as the early 1970s "GTLS" model.

After the passing of Domenico Agusta in 1971, MV Agusta’s financial condition deteriorated swiftly due to mounting competition from affordable, well-built Japanese motorcycles and persistent labor disputes. By the year 1975, MV Agusta’s lineup had been streamlined to three newly introduced models. These were unveiled at a Milan press event hosted by Corrado Agusta alongside senior company executives. The trio included the MV Agusta 750 Sport America, developed upon request from Chris Garville and Jim Cotherman of Commerce Overseas Corporation, the American importers; the Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro-styled MV Agusta 350 Ipotesi, who had previously contributed to the design of the Suzuki RE5; and the 125 Sport SE, which featured styling inspired by the Ipotesi model.

Despite these models being introduced as a fresh start for MV Agusta and signaling an ambitious plan to launch road motorcycles based on their Grand Prix machines, production ceased entirely in 1977.

Model Details

1976 MV Agusta Sport SE equipped with optional fairing.

Derived from the 125 Sport GTL-S, this model embraced the distinctive horizontal styling and sharp edges characteristic of Giugiaro's Ipotesi design. Moving away from MV Agusta's traditional combination of sheet and tubular steel frames, it introduced an entirely tubular frame, finished in silver. Mirroring the Ipotesi, it featured a pronounced humped seat with an integrated rear mudguard and side panels incorporating ventilation slots. The front suspension utilized Ceriani telescopic forks, complemented by a Scarab disc brake, lending the front assembly a contemporary appearance.

Although the single-cylinder engine's roots trace back to the 1950s Centomila (named for MV Agusta's claim of its capability to surpass 100,000 km), it was updated with more angular casings. The engine housed a square-section alloy cylinder paired with a matching square cylinder head. Retaining the 53 x 56 mm bore and stroke dimensions from earlier versions, the pushrod engine featured an increased Compression ratio of 10.5:1. Equipped with a 24 mm carburettor, it delivered 14 bhp (10 kW) at 8,500 rpm. The ignition system was electronic, and power transmission was managed through a 5-speed gearbox.

The bike was presented in a red and silver color scheme, with a silver frame and black exhaust, reflecting the classic livery of MV's Grand Prix motorcycles. An optional fairing was available for this model.