Courtesy of Magni

The Magni Filo Rosso Black Edition Will Take Your Breath Away

A modern MV Agusta-powered three-cylinder café racer that continues to improve with age

February 24, 2018

Giovanni Magni unveiled the emotion-evoking Magni Filo Rosso at EICMA in 2014, and I had the opportunity to ride the stunning machine a year later. Magni designed the Filo Rosso around the three-cylinder engine from the MV Agusta Brutale 800 to create a remarkable modern replica of the original GP 350/500 triple that Giacomo Agostini rode to 12 world titles, five and seven in each class, respectively.

The Filo Rosso followed MV’s classic red-and-silver color scheme—the final touch to an incredibly accurate piece of work. The megaphone-style exhaust system emanates a glorious roaring thunder reminiscent of the real thing, and my ride turned into a lovely nostalgic experience. I suppose other sportbike enthusiasts experienced similar feelings just looking at that sleek fully faired beauty.

The Magni Filo Rosso Black Edition is absolutely breathtaking in its combination of shining piano and matte black. Everything, in fact, is black, except for the frame and swingarm, which are painted flaming red.Courtesy of Magni

In fact, Magni continues to fulfill orders for the Filo Rosso that arrive from all corners of the world. The passion for his creation compounded desires in customers that has led to personalized editions. One individual even requested a most striking diversion from the classic red-and-silver graphics, and so Filo Rosso Black Edition was born and is now listed as a regularly available option.

Past and present: A classic bubble windscreen and analog tachometer meet modern materials and switchgear.Courtesy of Magni

Since my ride on the original Filo Rosso, Magni has made a few modifications, the main one represented by the adoption of a classic-style 43mm Öhlins fork. The swingarm has also gained a few millimeters in length to improve high-speed stability, but the wheelbase remains a compact 53.9 inches. The rest of the machine is unchanged, including the claimed 120-hp 798cc three-cylinder engine.

At least one customer has ordered his Filo Rosso with an open megaphone exhaust, like the example in the accompanying photos. And the guy apparently rides the bike on the streets of... Ah, never mind, I don’t want to get anyone in trouble. But I would love to ride his bike just to hear the scream of Agostini’s MV 350/500 GP three. Magni says this Filo Rosso Black Edition sounds exactly like the real thing.