The MV Agusta 350B (Bicilindrica) was a series of

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...

s produced by the

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

manufacturer

MV Agusta MV Agusta (, full name: MV AGUSTA Motor S.p.A., original name: Meccanica Verghera Agusta or MV) is a motorcycle manufacturer founded by Count Domenico Agusta on 19 January 1945 as one of the branches of the Agusta aircraft company near Milan in ...

from 1970 to 1974. The motorcycle was first introduced at the

Milan motorcycle show EICMA (''Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo Motociclo e Accessori''), or the Milan Motorcycle Shows is an annual trade show in Milan, Italy featuring motorcycles A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-w ...

in 1969. The introduction of the "350" model was intended to bridge the production gap of MV Agusta in the medium-displacement sector and to take advantage of the prestige gained by the dominant GP racers. It was produced in "Sport", "Gran Turismo" and "Scrambler" versions. The series was replaced by the ''MV Agusta 350 Ipotesi'' in 1975.

Technical details

The

four-stroke A four-stroke (also four-cycle) engine is an internal combustion (IC) engine in which the piston completes four separate strokes while turning the crankshaft. A stroke refers to the full travel of the piston along the cylinder, in either directio ...

parallel twin A straight-twin engine, also known as an inline-twin, vertical-twin, or parallel-twin, is a two-cylinder piston engine whose cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft. Straight-twin engines are primarily used in motorcycles; ot ...

OHV An overhead valve (OHV) engine, sometimes called a ''pushrod engine'', is a piston engine whose valves are located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier flathead engines, where the valves were located bel ...

engine was derived from the existing 250 twin cylinder, the bore being increased by 10 mm to 63 mm to give 349 cc displacement. Featuring alloy barrels and heads, the cylinders were inclined forward by 20 degrees. Two 24 mm

Dell'Orto Dell'Orto is an Italian company, headquartered in Cabiate, specialized in the construction of carburetors and electronic injection systems. The company was founded in 1933 as "Società anonima Gaetano Dell'Orto e figli" (Gaetano Dell’Orto and ...

carburettor A carburetor (also spelled carburettor) is a device used by an internal combustion engine to control and mix air and fuel entering the engine. The primary method of adding fuel to the intake air is through the venturi tube in the main meterin ...

fed fuel to the engine, which had a compression ratio of 9.2:1. Lubrication employed a

wet sump Within piston engines, a wet sump is part of a lubrication system whereby the crankcase sump is used as an integral oil reservoir. An alternative system is the dry sump, whereby oil is pumped from a shallow sump into an external reservoir.Wet sum ...

. Power output was @ 7,600 rpm. A geared primary drive took power to the wet,

multi-plate clutch A clutch is a mechanical device that engages and disengages power transmission, especially from a drive shaft to a driven shaft. In the simplest application, clutches connect and disconnect two rotating shafts (drive shafts or line shafts). ...

. The

unit construction : ''For the vehicle design where the vehicle's skin is used as a load-bearing element, see Monocoque.'' Unit construction is the design of larger motorcycles where the engine and gearbox components share a single casing. This sometimes includes ...

gearbox Propulsion transmission is the mode of transmitting and controlling propulsion power of a machine. The term ''transmission'' properly refers to the whole drivetrain, including clutch, gearbox, prop shaft (for rear-wheel drive vehicles), differe ...

had 5 speeds, and final drive was by

chain A chain is a serial assembly of connected pieces, called links, typically made of metal, with an overall character similar to that of a rope in that it is flexible and curved in compression but linear, rigid, and load-bearing in tension. A c ...

. For the chassis, MV's usual single-beam

frame A frame is often a structural system that supports other components of a physical construction and/or steel frame that limits the construction's extent. Frame and FRAME may also refer to: Physical objects In building construction *Framing (con ...

in steel tube and sheet metal was used.

Telescopic fork A telescopic fork is a form of motorcycle front suspension whose use is so common that it is virtually universal. The telescopic fork uses fork tubes and sliders which contain the springs and dampers. The main advantages of the telescopic fork ...

s were used on the front, which because of the oil damping, were called "oleohydraulic forks" by MV.1970 MV Agusta owners manual Rear suspension was by

swinging arm A swingarm, or "swinging arm" (UK), originally known as a swing fork or pivoted fork, is a single or double sided mechanical device which attaches the rear wheel of a motorcycle to its body, allowing it to pivot vertically. The main component of ...

and twin shock absorbers. Brakes were

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

front and rear and spoked

wheels A wheel is a circular component that is intended to rotate on an axle bearing. The wheel is one of the key components of the wheel and axle which is one of the six simple machines. Wheels, in conjunction with axles, allow heavy objects to be ...

were fitted. In 1972 the machines were fitted with

electronic ignition An ignition system generates a spark or heats an electrode to a high temperature to ignite a fuel-air mixture in spark ignition internal combustion engines, oil-fired and gas-fired boilers, Rocket engine#Ignition, rocket engines, etc. The widest ...

and had cosmetic changes. These models were designated "''Elettronica''".

Model variants

350B Sport

The 350B Sport was the most popular model of the range with its sporty appearance and agile handling. A racing tank and humped seat were fitted with "clip-on" handlebars. The machine was finished in red with chrome fork legs, side panels,

mudguard A mudflap or mud guard is used in combination with the vehicle fender to protect the vehicle, passengers, other vehicles, and pedestrians from mud and other flying debris thrown into the air by the rotating tire. A mudflap is typically made fro ...

s and

headlight A headlamp is a lamp (electrical component), lamp attached to the front of a vehicle to illuminate the road ahead. Headlamps are also often called headlights, but in the most precise usage (language), usage, ''headlamp'' is the term for the ...

. It retailed at 510,000

lira Lira is the name of several currency units. It is the current currency of Turkey and also the local name of the currencies of Lebanon and of Syria. It is also the name of several former currencies, including those of Italy, Malta and Israe ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

. In 1972 the updated 350 B Sport Elettronica was introduced. As well as electronic ignition, it gained a new

petrol tank A fuel tank (also called a petrol tank or gas tank) is a safe container for flammable fluids. Though any storage tank for fuel may be so called, the term is typically applied to part of an engine system in which the fuel is stored and propelled ...

and larger side panels. A sports fairing (Carenatura) kit was available as an extra. 2,083 Sport Elettronica machines were produced.

350B GT

A less sports styled version was also offered, the 350B GT, also known as the ''350B Turismo''. It had a larger tank, a more conventional seat and higher handlebars. Frame, forks, mudguards and headlight were painted black, various colours of tank were available. 300 machines were produced. Introduced in 1972, the MV Agusta 350B GT Elettronica had a new tank, larger side panels and electronic ignition. 646 machines of this variant were produced.

350B Scrambler

Introduced in 1972, 350B Scrambler was an off-road "scrambler" styled machine. Using the ''Elettronica'' specification engine, the machine had high level

exhaust Exhaust, exhaustive, or exhaustion may refer to: Law *Exhaustion of intellectual property rights, limits to intellectual property rights in patent and copyright law **Exhaustion doctrine, in patent law ** Exhaustion doctrine under U.S. law, in p ...

pipes, raised handlebars and high front mudguards. The machine was aimed at the US market, but only 217 models were produced.

350B Polizia Urbana

Produced for Italian law enforcement agencies, a special version of the ''350B GT'', the 350B Polizia Urbana, was fitted with a single seat, a wind shield and panniers. Optionally, crash bars, a siren and direction indicators could be fitted. MV Agusta Supersport 1971

References

External links

* * * {{MV Agusta 350B Sport Motorcycles introduced in 1970 Sport bikes Motorcycles powered by straight-twin engines