The name Magni is well known to the motorcycle community. In 1947, Arturo
Magni began his distinguished career in the racing department of Gilera working
under the guidance of world famous Ing. Piero Remor. Remor was the designer of
the famous four cylinders 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 racing 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 included John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Provini,
Ubbiali, and the most famous of modern times, Giacomo Agostini with 15 world
championships.
After MV retired from racing, Magni and his sons set up shop to build special
versions of production motorcycles. First bikes the Magni's redesigned was the
750cc and 788cc MV Sport & MV America road bikes. With all of the engineering
expertise 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 beautiful piece or motorcycle sculpture.
Unfortunately for motorcycle collectors, there were not many street version MV
Agustas produced. And the Magni MV's are even fewer, with these masterpieces in
the hands of a fortunate few.
In the early 1980's Magni expanded into building Honda 900 Bol d'Or replicas,
named MH1 without fairings and a completely faired and full featured bike called
the MH2. About 300 of these models were produced.
In 1982-1983 Magni turned to BMW boxer 1000cc engine, designing an all new
frame and components.
Like the Honda, the bikes was produced in two versions -
MB1 and MB2, the MB2 being completed with every imaginable accessory.
In 1985, driven by market demand, Magni went Italian all way beginning a long
relationship with Moto Guzzi which continues today.
The first Magni model LeMans incorporated a full fairing, contemporary lines
and a new 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 chaindrive unit.
Since inception, similar systems have been developed by others, Dr. John
Witner in the USA springs to mind.
Any corrections or more information on these motorcycles will be kindly appreciated.