MV Agusta 500 Six
| Industry | Motorcycle manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 1, 1945 |
| Headquarters | Varese , Italy |
Template:Infobox motorcycle
The MV Agusta 500 6 cilindri (MV Agusta 500 six-cylinder) was a racing motorcycle prototype developed by the Varese-based manufacturer MV Agusta in 1957.[1] Only a single unit of this prototype was ever produced.[2]
Background
After securing championships in the 125, 250, and 500 cc categories during the 1956 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season, MV Agusta faced increased rivalry for the following year. The premier 500 cc class was particularly competitive with promising machines such as the Moto Guzzi V8 and the Gilera 500 four-cylinder emerging.[3]
Count Agusta deliberated between pursuing incremental improvements like Gilera or adopting a more innovative approach akin to Moto Guzzi. Ultimately, he chose a dual-path strategy that involved continuing development of the successful "500 4C" while simultaneously commissioning a new multi-cylinder inline engine.[3]
Development and Technology
The initial concept for this project was formulated in early 1956.[1] Sporting director Nello Pagani oversaw the endeavor, which was conducted under strict confidentiality.
The power unit featured light alloy cylinders and cylinder heads, with separate cylinders containing cast iron liners. Consistent with the four-cylinder models, it utilized dual overhead camshafts operating two valves per cylinder. Six Dell'Orto SS26A carburettors supplied the air-fuel mixture.[4] The chassis was based on the "500 4C" design: a steel tube double cradle frame with detachable front tubes to simplify assembly and maintenance.
Development continued until the machine was prepared for track evaluation in summer of 1957.[3] To ensure secrecy, Pagani himself performed the test rides at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The trials yielded promising outcomes regarding handling—although further refinement was needed—and confirmed the engine's output of 75 bhp at 15,000 rpm, enabling a maximum velocity of approximately 240 kilometres per hour (150 mph).[1]
Racing
The 500 Six initially appeared during practice at the 1957 Nations Grand Prix held at Monza, although it was deemed unfit for competition in the actual race. In 1958, John Surtees conducted test runs with the machine at both Modena and Monza[5], prior to its official entrance at the GP of Nations, which was the concluding event of the 1958 World Championship. The British rider John Hartle was assigned to pilot the bike, but he had to withdraw after completing nineteen laps out of the thirty-five due to a broken connecting rod[1] (although media reports attributed the failure to a gearbox malfunction).
Development efforts on both engine and chassis continued; however, the introduction of the abstention agreement significantly shifted competitive dynamics,[6] positioning MV Agusta as a dominant technical force for more than ten years. According to later disclosures by Arturo Magni, Surtees was not fond of the six-cylinder model, finding it bulkier and heavier compared to the four-cylinder alternative.[3]
The six-cylinder machine made another appearance during practice sessions at the 1959 Nations Grand Prix but did not participate in the race itself.[1] The final iteration of the "500 6C" was developed in early 1960 but ultimately discontinued due to the impracticality of sustaining its costly development.[3]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedMCNews.com.au - ↑ Rauch 1980, p. 160.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedItaliaOnRoad - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedmv-agusta-club.de - ↑ Spahn 1986, p. 261.
- ↑ Barker, Stuart; Aug 2010, Stuart (5 August 2010). "MV Agusta 500/6". Visordown. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
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