MV Agusta 350 Four

MV Agusta 350 1973

The MV Agusta 350 three-cylinder dominated its class from 1968 to 1970. MZ had tried to beat it; then Benelli, with motorcycles ridden by Renzo Pasolini and Kel Carruthers; and then Yamaha, with its racers derived from production models.
In 1971 came the first signs that the MV three-cylinder might be beaten. The Yamaha, especially when it was ridden by the Finnish Jarno Saar-inen, was getting more threatening. It eventually was able to beat Giacomo Agostini's MV Agusta in world championship races.

The situation became more critical in 1972, when Agostini and the MV were regularly beaten by the lightweight two-cylinder Yamaha in the early races of the season. Then MV put its new four-cylinder 350 into the field, and Agostini went back to winning races.

The four-cylinder 350 had extraordinary power in any gear, and it was an extremely stable motorcycle. Agostini rode it to the world championship in 1972 and repeated his achievement in 1973, without any important modification of the engine.
But in 1973 Yamaha had begun its counterattack, and by the end of the season the two motorcycles were all but equal. In 1974 Agostini switched to Yamaha and MV Agusta tempo-

Motorcycle: MV Agusta 350 Four-cylinder Manufacturer: MV Agusta, Cascina Costa,
Gallarate Type: Racing Year: 1973
Engine: MV four-cylinder, four-stroke, with two-shaft overhead geared distribution, four valves per cylinder. Displacement 350 cc.
Cooling: Air
Transmission: Seven-speed block
Power: 70 h.p. at 14,800 r.p.m.
Maximum speed: Over 165 m.p.h.
Chassis: Double cradle, continuous, tubular. Front and rear, telescopic suspension
Brakes: Front, double hydraulic disk; rear, central drum, double cam

MV Agusta 350 1976

The latest version of the MV Agusta 350 four-cylinder is less interesting for its past than for its future.
Pulled out of mothballs after being retired following the first race of 1974, the four-stroke 350 of the leading Italian motorcycle manufacturer showed that it had much to say for itself. (The four-cylinder vehicle was shelved in 1974 because it was not considered up to the competition offered by the Yamaha and Harley-Davidson two-stroke engines.)

The motorcycle passed through the hands of Phil Read and Gianfranco Bonera into those of Giacomo Agostini and his Private team. At the beginning of the 1976 racing season, the MV 350 suddenly appeared competitive, albeit very fragile from the point of view of mechanics. The revived 350 turned in some record performances on the track, which seemed to indicate clear-cut technical progress in tuning it, °ut these were often followed by un-expected breakdowns after a few laps. As a result people wondered if it really was a 350.

Such doubts were dispelled when the MV Agusta technicians solved the problems of stress that had been plaguing the 350. And after its victories at Assen on the international circuit and Mugello on the Italian circuit, the technical officials could see that the vehicle was regulation.

Motorcycle: MV Agusta 350 Four-cylinder Manufacturer: MV Agusta, Cascina Costa,
Gallarate Type: Racing Year: 1976
Engine: MV four-cylinder, four-stroke, with two-shaft overhead geared distribution and four valves per cylinder. Displacement 348.5 cc. (53 mm. x 39.5 mm.)
Cooling: Air
Transmission: Six-speed block
Power: 75 h.p. at 15,000 r.p.m.
Maximum speed: Over 170 m.p.h.
Chassis: Double cradle, continuous, tubular. Front and rear, telescopic suspension
Brakes: Front, double hydraulic disk; rear, single hydraulic disk