The MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 5.5 has been developed in collaboration with Qianjiang
The MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 5.5 has been developed in collaboration with QianjiangMV Agusta

MV Agusta Lucky Explorer project unveiled at 2021 EICMA

The MV Agusta Lucky Explorer aims to relive the glorious days of the 1980s Dakar-spec motorcycles with the same name

MV Agusta has unveiled not just one, but two new adventure motorcycles in the 2021 EICMA Motor Show. The MV Agusta Lucky Explorer project may sound like a prototype at first, but the motorcycles look like they’re nearing production. The new motorcycles from MV Agusta are named after the Cagiva Elefant Dakar-spec motorcycles from back in the 1980s, and also carry some of the design influence of the old Lucky Explorer. The MV Agusta Lucky Explorer range consists of two motorcycles, named the 9.5 and the 5.5.

Let’s start with the 9.5, which will probably be the flagship motorcycle in this range. The 9.5 is powered by a 930cc three-cylinder engine derived from an existing 800cc engine with a larger bore and stroke. Producing a claimed 121bhp at 10,000rpm and 106Nm of torque at 8500rpm, this engine is paired to either a six-speed manual or an auto The 9.5 boasts of an electric suspension from Sachs, featuring 50mm USD forks at the front with 219mm of travel, and a rear monoshock at the rear with 210mm of travel. Both motorcycles share the same braking setup from Brembo — four-piston Stylema calipers mounted on 320mm floating twin discs at the front, and a two-piston caliper mounted on a 260m steel disc. Not much is known about the features list, but the 9.5 does receive Bosch ABS, cruise control, launch control, GPS sensor, eight-level traction control system, and a 7-inch TFT display among others.

The 5.5 is the smaller of the two motorcycles in the Lucky Explorer lineup, and unlike the 9.5 which has been built completely in-house, the 5.5 was developed in a partnership with China-based Qianjiang, who also owns Benelli. In fact, the 5.5 shares a lot of components with the Benelli TRK 502. The MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 5.5 is powered by a 550cc parallel-twin engine derived from the 500cc unit of the TRK 502, again with a larger bore and stroke like on the 9.5. This 550cc engine puts out a claimed 46bhp at 7500rpm and 51Nm of torque at 5500rpm. In terms the suspension, the 5.5 gets 43mm USD forks with rebound and spring preload adjustability at the front, followed by a monoshock at the rear with rebound, compression damping and preload adjustability. As is the case with the Lucky Explorer 9.5, not much is known about the equipment list of the 5.5 either, but it does get a 5-inch HD dashboard with a GPS sensor, bluetooth connectivity, and turn-by-turn navigation.

It is unclear whether the Lucky Explorer nametag would just stay limited to prototype stages or it could actually make it to production
It is unclear whether the Lucky Explorer nametag would just stay limited to prototype stages or it could actually make it to productionMV Agusta

Being in the prototype stages, it is still difficult to say when the MV Agusta Lucky Explorer project 9.5 and 5.5 might make it to production. Moreover, it is unclear whether the production versions would even use the same name. However, the MV Agusta Lucky Explorer project is bound to lock horns against the upcoming Ducati DesertX globally. Stay tuned to our social media handles and website, for we are bringing you more and more news from the 2021 EICMA Motor Show.

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