MV Agusta 125 Sport SE

125 cc was a popular class in Italy, MV having produced four-stroke 125s since 1954, including sports models such as the "125 Rapido Sport" model, produced from the second half of the 1950s, and the "GTLS" of the early 1970s. Following the death of Count Domenico Agusta in 1971, the financial situation of MV Agusta suffered a rapid decline, brought on by competition from low cost, high quality Japanese motorcycles and ongoing labour problems. the 350 Ipotesi, styled by Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro (who had previously designed the Suzuki RE5); and the 125 Sport SE, which was styled along the lines of the Ipotesi. ==Model Details==

. Developed from the 125 Sport GTL-S, the machine followed the striking horizontal lines and sharp contours of Giugiaro's Ipotesi. Departing from MV's usual practice of using a mixture of sheet and tubular steel frame Although the single-cylinder engine's heritage dates back to the 1950s Centomila (so called because MV Agusta claimed the engine was capable of exceeding 100,000 km), the engine featured new, squarer casings. A square alloy cylinder was fitted with a matching square cylinder head. The pushrod engine retained the 53 x 56 mm bore and stroke of previous engines. Compression ratio was raised to 10.5:1 and, breathing through a 24 mm carburettor, power output was 14 bhp (10 kW) @ 8,500 rpm. Electronic ignition was fitted and the gearbox has 5 speeds. The machine was finished in red and silver with a silver frame and a black exhaust, the traditional colours of the MV GP machines. A fairing was offered as an optional extra. ==References==