MV Agusta 500 Three
| Industry | Motorcycle manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 1, 1945 in Italy |
| Headquarters | Italy |
| Products | Motorcycles, racing motorcycles |
The MV Agusta 500cc Three (manufactured between 1965 and 1973), also known as the MV Agusta Tre, was a racing motorcycle developed by the Italian company MV Agusta to compete in the premier 500 cc class of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Championship. Launched in 1966, this model was designed to challenge the dominant Honda racers and was essentially an enlarged version of MV Agusta’s successful 350 cc inline triple-cylinder engine. Renowned rider Giacomo Agostini secured consecutive world titles in the 500 cc category riding this bike from 1966 through to 1972.[1] Furthermore, MV Agusta claimed the Constructors' World Championship for six straight years from 1967 to 1972.[2] The MV Agusta Tre is widely regarded as one of the most victorious racing motorcycles ever produced.[3]
Development and Technology
The debut of the three-cylinder 500 model occurred at the 1966 Dutch TT. This machine evolved from the previous season’s (1965) MV Agusta 350 3C. Count Agusta initially sought a three-cylinder engine for the 350 cc class after being impressed by the three-cylinder two-stroke DKW RM 350. Despite advice from Arturo Magni and designer Mario Rossi against it, he insisted on pursuing this configuration.[4] At one point, he even proposed adding a cylinder to the MV Agusta 250 Bicilindrica. When the three-cylinder engine prototype featured only two valves per cylinder, Count Agusta was dissatisfied. Within a week, engineers upgraded it to four valves per cylinder, which immediately increased output by approximately six horsepower. In 1966, an enlarged version with a displacement of 420 cc was created for competition in the 500 cc division. Notable features included a prominent oil sump and an oil cooler integrated into the aerodynamic fairing to manage engine temperature. The following year, this was replaced by a full-fledged 500 cc model. The triple-cylinder design continued until it was superseded by a new four-cylinder unit in 1973.
These air-cooled triples were MV Agusta’s first engines equipped with four-valve cylinder heads. Intake valves measured 21 mm in diameter while exhaust valves were sized at 16.3 mm, with a valve angle set at 60 degrees. Valve actuation was managed by bucket tappets driven by dual overhead camshafts (DOHC), which were powered via a spur gear train located on the engine’s right side. The crankshaft featured connecting rods arranged with a 120-degree offset. The engine employed six roller main bearings, including two positioned at each end of the crankshaft. An unusual characteristic for a four-stroke was the use of only an L-shaped oil scraper ring on each piston. Fuel delivery was handled by three Dell’Orto carburetors measuring 27 mm each, while ignition came from Magneti Marelli spark plugs sized at 10 mm, powered by an eight-volt battery ignition system.[5]
Specifications such as bore and stroke for both the factory race versions of the MV Agusta’s 500cc and its smaller 350cc counterpart were closely guarded secrets. When details leaked, MV Agusta was known to disseminate misleading information deliberately. Over time, however, race engineers affiliated with MV gradually revealed technical data concerning the triple-cylinder configuration.[6]
Race history
Giacomo Agostini secured seven straight 500cc World Championships between 1966 and 1972 aboard the 500 Three.[1]
The Tre made its debut with a 350 cc displacement during the opening round of the 1965 World Championship at the Nürburgring. The emerging talent Giacomo Agostini triumphed decisively ahead of veteran Mike Hailwood. In the second race of the 1966 season, Agostini competed on a 420 Tre within the 500cc category, with the full-capacity 500 cc version arriving for the 1967 season. Following Honda's exit from competition after the 1967 season, MV Agusta faced no significant rivals capable of challenging their dominance in the 500cc division, a situation that persisted until 1972. At the start of the 1973 season, Agostini continued to race on his Tre before switching to the more potent MV Agusta 500 four-cylinder. Although the 1973 Tre was upgraded with front disc brakes supplied by Scarab, its overall performance lagged behind that of the two-stroke machines produced by Yamaha.
Sister model
The MV Agusta 350 Tre, which preceded the development of the 500cc versions, achieved considerable success in its own right. Giacomo Agostini claimed consecutive 350 cc championships from 1968 through 1973 riding this model. In 1974, MV Agusta withdrew from the 350 cc class to focus exclusively on securing victories in the half-liter category. From a technical perspective, both models were nearly identical; however, the 350 Tre featured a smaller bore of 52 mm, a reduced fuel tank capacity, and weighed approximately 3 kg less. In 1972, its output was rated at 65 bhp at 13,500 rpm.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedwww.mv-agusta-club.de - ↑ Colombo & Patrignani 2000, p. 246.
- ↑ Statement from manufacturer Arturo Magni to journalist Carlo Perelli, summer 1993, published in Moto 73 No. 13 of 1993
- ↑ Spahn 1986, p. 195.
- ↑ Colombo & Patrignani 2000.
Bibliography
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