The Ago TT

MV Agusta and FAUST have joint forces to create a one of a kind custom bike to honor Giacomo Agostini’s unparalleled racing successes of the 60’s and 70’s astride the MV Agusta marque. The “Ago TT” embodies MV’s rich racing heritage capturing the spirit of the Tourist Trophy and GP bikes that Agostini won 13 Grand Prix championships and 10 consecutive Isle Of Man TT’s on.

Finding the right man to recreate what is arguably the most beautiful and successful race bike of all times was a challenge. After meeting with many custom and race bike builders around the world we decided to work with Deus ex Machina’s design director Michael “Woolie” Woolaway. His meticulous knowledge of Agostini's MV Agusta race bikes and his immediate vision of the bike he wanted to build resonated with us. Woolie is a true racer and his ability to hand-craft the fastest and most beautiful custom bikes entirely by himself was unparalleled.

Based on MV Agusta’s Brutale 800 RR, Woolie hand-crafted a pure bred race bike that embodies the beauty, passion and heritage of the MV Agusta brand.

“MV’s were not only the best looking motorcycles ever built, but they were also the ones to beat because they had the most amazing motors and a secret weapon — their tinsmith Primo Selotti” says Woolie, recalling a conversation he had with fellow aluminum shaper Evan Wilcox. “Selotti was from the airplane industry and was revolutionary in his gas tank shapes that not only looked great but were super aerodynamic with ergonomics to fit the rider. They were only meant to go fast.” The Ago TT implements these functional style cues from the distinctive shapes of early small displacement Italian race tanks with dished in sides and top and pronounced edges. The tank’s shell ended up being 7 separate pieces of Aluminum. “This was the most difficult tank I’ve ever made due to the negative curve from the top to the back,” says Woolie. Getting aluminum to shape this way without it creasing is a tricky process. “I had to throw away the first version of the tank I made for this bike”

The sweeping curved pipes are another distinguishing feature of vintage MV Agusta race bikes in the 70’s that Woolie used on the Ago TT, sourcing a set of 27 inch megaphones from Cone Engineering. “To get the right curve, I cut out about 30 small slices and brazed it all back together,” says Woolie.

No headlight, no turn signals, no license plate, no nonsense. The racing slicks are still gummed up from the track time at Laguna Seca where we presented the bike at the WSBK round. “It feels like a Grand Prix bike, laser-straight and very responsive,” says Woolie “While testing it on the track, I didn’t want to go back to the pits.”

When we met with Giacomo Agostini in his hometown of Bergamo to present him the images of the “Ago TT” his reaction was: “Bellissima ! A true MV Agusta, when can I ride it?”

Special thanks to our partners and contributors:

MV Agusta / Rizoma / Motul / Pirelli / Cone Engineering / Öhlins USA / Beringer USA / Scitsu / Durelle Racing / Motion Pro / RSD / Bell Helmets / Bates Leathers