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Magni is well
known in the motorcycles field because of its joint with MV Agusta. In 1947,
Arturo Magni began his distinguished career in the
Gilera racing department
working under the guidance of world famous Piero Remor. Remor was the
engineer of the famous four-cylinder double
overhead cams Gilera racing engine.
In 1950,
Arturo Magni joined a newly formed MV Agusta racing department, where he
remained until MV retired from
races in
1977. Under Magni's management as chief of the famed MV Reparto Corsa, the
team won 75 world championships and over 3,000 races. A record still
untouched by any other manufacturer. Famous motorcycle racers riding
for MV were John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Provini,
Ubbiali, and the most famous of modern times, Giacomo Agostini with 15 world
championships.
After MV
retired from races,
Magni and his sons set up factory to build special
versions of production motorcycles. First bikes the Magnis
redesigned were the 750cc and 788cc MV Sport & MV America road bikes. With
all of the engineering experience developed
over 25 years of racing, Arturo and sons performed complete transformations
of the street version MV's including chain drives, new frames, tanks,
seats, etc. When complete, a Magni MV looks and
sounds very much like a racing MV. A Magni MV is a masterpiece of
motorcycle art.
In the
early 80s
Magni expanded into building Honda 900 Bol d'Or replicas, named MH1 without
fairings and a completely faired and full featured bike called MH2. About
300 units were produced.
In
1982-1983 Magni turned to BMW boxer 1000cc. engine,
designing brand new frame and
components. Like the Honda, the bikes were produced in two versions - MB1
and MB2, the MB2 was completed (assembled?) with
every imaginable accessory.
In the
1985, driven by market
demand, Magni bikes became completely Italian with
a long-lasting relationship with Moto Guzzi for engines.
The first
Magni model with the
new engine was the "LeMans" incorporated a full fairing, contemporary lines
and a innovative rear suspension system designed
by Magni called the "parallelogrammo".
This new
suspension system eliminates the reactions normally induced with shaft drive
motorcycles. The "parallelogrammo" suspension enables the bike to perform
much like a chain-drive
unit. From then on, other
similar systems have been developed by other
manufacturers.
In 1987
Magni introduced two new models "Classico 1000" and "Arturo 1000". These
bikes were styled in Retro look
with 70s
styling - spoke wheels, big round
headlights, exposed engines, and many polished steel parts. The bikes were a
big success, meeting the maturing motorcyclist with a product of
unique beauty and extremely high quality.
In 1989
Magni introduced the
"Sfida 1000" with style looking at the Italian races bikes of the 60s. Fuel
tanks of hand hammered aluminium sculpted like the
MV Agusta and Gilera racing bikes.
In 1990
Magni introduced a new bike designed for racing in two cylinder engine class
throughout the world. The Australian importer competes with the new bike
with exceptional results!
28/Sept/90 -
Kambalda, West Australia - Thunder (bike race) - 2nd place;
4/Oct/90 -
Merredine, West Australia - Formula (one) - 4th place;
27/Oct/90 -
Wanneroo, West Australia - Formula (one) - 5th place - and Open (4 strokes)
- 3th place;
3/Nov/90 -
Wanneroo, West Australia - Thunder (bike) 1st place;
10/Dec/90 -
Winton (race way), Victoria - Thunder B.E.A.R.S. (bikes) - 4th place;
26/Dec/90 -
Wangauni - New Zealand - B.E.A.R.S. Thunder (bikes) 2nd place - and Formula
(one) 4th place;
25/Mar/91 -
Manfield - New Zealand - B.E.A.R.S. Thunder (bikes) - 2nd place;
11/Apr/91 -
Pukekohe, New Zealand - B.E.A.R.S. Thunder (bikes) - 2nd place.
Magni
names the new model "Australia" in his honor. The Australia has modern
lines, full fairing and components found on "superbike" style motorcycles.
In 1993, the first road model Australia is produced with identical
characteristic as the racing model except for required electrical items,
exhaust and accessories that make it fit for road use.
In 1995
the new model "Sfida 1100" is introduced with a new improved frame and other
handling improvements.
In 1997,
the Sfida 1100 i.e. is introduced incorporating the
Guzzi “Electronic Fuel
Injection” engine and a unique rear seat section
that can be adjusted to carry a passenger.
In 1998 two new models
were released, the "Sfida 1000 4V" with the Guzzi 4
valve engine, the new Australia 98, with the new 102 hp 4 valve
engines, and the "Giappone 52" a limited
edition model to commemorate 20 years of Magni
activity and 50 years of activity of the firm Fukuda Motors, the official
importer of Magni bikes for the Japanese market.
In 1998,
Magni entered the U.S. market with Commerce Overseas Corporation (COC).
Magni and COC date back to the MV Agusta days when COC was the importer of
the MV750 Sport and MV America models.
The last Magni
model is called “Sport 1200 S” which has a four-cylinder engine: the Suzuki
GSX 1200 Inazuma.
The main feature
of this bike is its line, which draws on the MV
Agusta 750S.
Nowadays production continues with Sfida 1100 i.e., Australia, Giappone 52,
Sfida 4V and Sport 1200S together with
“custom-made” special bikes realized in single unit,
special parts and kits, vintage motorcycles restoration. |
