1990 Magni-Guzzi 949cc Arturo, Frame no. MAGNI MG*0195* Engine no. VV*017016*

1990 Magni-Guzzi 949cc Arturo
Frame no. MAGNI MG*0195*
Engine no. VV*017016*
• Retains its original specification
• Hand built by Arturo Magni

Motorcycle race engineers are rarely household names but one exception to this general rule is the legendary Arturo Magni. Born in Usmate Velate, Milan in 1925, Magni started his motorcycle career in 1947 in Gilera's racing department. The Arcore factory had decided to return to Grand Prix racing, and Arturo Magni was employed assembling the new four-cylinder engine designed by Piero Remor, co-creator of the pre-war OPRA and CNA Rondine fours. Gilera would go on to win six 500cc World Championships with this engine, courtesy of Messrs Duke, Masetti and Liberati.

In 1949 Count Domenico Agusta tempted Remor away from Gilera to design MV Agusta's first four-cylinder race engine. Magni followed him in 1950 as chief mechanic and later managed the racing department during MV's Grand Prix 'golden age'. At the height of its powers the Italian team could command the services of the world's finest riders, among them Sandford, Ubbiali, Surtees, Provini, Hailwood, Read and Agostini, and under Magni's direction MV won no fewer than 75 World Championships.

After more than 25 years at MV, Magni moved onto the next phase in his life; starting the Magni company which would go on to produce trick versions of (mostly) MV's existing street models. He took the 750 motor out to 861cc and sold those. Eventually Magni made its first chassis – a chrome-molybdenum and tig-welded steel tube frame - to house a modified four-cylinder MV engine. Magni then moved on to Honda-four based machines before setting his sights on BMW's big boxer engine, then Suzuki's big fours, and then set his focus on his near neighbor Moto Guzzi. The first was the Magni Le Mans – a full-faired racer with an innovative 'parallelogram' rear suspension.
By 1987, Magni had introduced a pair of 'MaGuzzis' with the Classic 1000 and the Arturo 1000, the bike on offer here. Both retro-styled bikes mimicked '1970's racers' with spoked rims, polished stainless fenders, a single round headlight, and the engine on full display. The Classic 1000 came with no bodywork, the Arturo 1000 a half-fairing. In 1989 and 1990 Magni would unveil another two Guzzi-based models, the Sfida 1000 and the Australia, respectively. Magni would continue refining his Guzzi-based specials through 2013.

The Guzzi 1000 – or big twin – used in the Arturo is an air-cooled, two-valve, carbureted overhead cam transverse v-twin of 948.8cc with shaft drive making something over 80 horsepower at around 7,500rpm. 60,7 pounds-feet of torque at 6,250rpm provides real grunt.

This Artuno was hand built and while carefully used – as it should have been – it has retained its original specification and maintained an excellent finish. The bike was first imported to New Zealand by its first owner who ordered it personally at the Magni shop. It reportedly starts and runs well.