The MV Agusta 125 Pullman was a motorcycle produced by the

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

manufacturer

MV Agusta MV Agusta (, full name: MV AGUSTA Motor S.p.A., original name: Meccanica Verghera Agusta or MV) is an Italian high end motorcycle manufacturer. It was founded by Domenico Agusta, Count Domenico Agusta on 19 January 1945 as one of the branches of ...

from 1953 to 1956. The model achieved a good sales success, and had the highest production of any machine from MV Agusta. Many brought the bike as the only means of family transport or as a work vehicle. Despite the questionable aesthetics, the Pullman offered a comfortable ride, derived by the driving position, soft suspension and large section tires. This was particularly appreciated by users, so much so that they were imitated by some competitors. 27,000 machines of this model series were produced. The model was also produced under licence in Spain by Avello, where it was marketed as the ''MV Avello 125 Pullman Turismo''.

Background

At the beginning of the fifties, the motorcycle manufacturers tried to counter the rampant success of scooters produced by

Piaggio Piaggio Group () is an Italian motor vehicle manufacturer, which produces a range of two-wheeled motor vehicles and compact commercial vehicles under five brands: Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Derbi. Its corporate headquarters are ...

and

Innocenti Innocenti () was an Italian machinery works, originally established by Ferdinando Innocenti in 1933 in Lambrate, a neighborhood on the eastern outskirts of Milan. Over the years, they produced Lambretta scooters as well as a range of automobiles, ...

by creating utility motorcycle that offered good versatility and practicality of use, overcoming the serious stability problems of the scooter, due to the small diameter of its wheels. Following the lead of

Moto Guzzi Moto Guzzi () is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer and the oldest European manufacturer in continuous motorcycle production. Established in 1921 in Mandello del Lario, Italy, the company is noted for its historic role in Italy's motorcyclin ...

who, in 1950, had put the ''Galletto'' into production, other motorcycle manufacturers ventured into the construction of hybrid models, such as the ''Sterzi Confort'' and ''Motom Delfino''.

Series 1

Unveiled at the

Brussels Motor Show The European Motor Show Brussels is an auto show held biennially in Brussels, Belgium. The number of visitors is around 270,000. The show is organized by the Belgian and Luxembourgish Automobile Federation (FEBIAC), and is scheduled by the Organis ...

in January 1953, the "Pullman" stood out for its rather original appearance. The cycle parts apparently stretched by the effect of the

engine An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power ge ...

in a very rearward position with the rear

suspension Suspension or suspended may refer to: Science and engineering * Car suspension * Cell suspension or suspension culture, in biology * Guarded suspension, a software design pattern in concurrent programming suspending a method call and the calling ...

mounted on it. The engine was a

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 ...

, The engine was an

air-cooled Air-cooled engines rely on the circulation of air directly over heat dissipation fins or hot areas of the engine to cool them in order to keep the engine within operating temperatures. Air-cooled designs are far simpler than their liquid-cooled ...

single-cylinder A single-cylinder engine, sometimes called a thumper, is a piston engine with one cylinder. This engine is often used for motorcycles, motor scooters, motorized bicycles, go-karts, all-terrain vehicles, radio-controlled vehicles, power tools an ...

two-stroke A two-stroke (or two-stroke cycle) engine is a type of internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle with two strokes of the piston, one up and one down, in one revolution of the crankshaft in contrast to a four-stroke engine which re ...

with a bore and

stroke Stroke is a medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to a part of the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemor ...

of 53 × 56 mm giving a

displacement Displacement may refer to: Physical sciences Mathematics and physics *Displacement (geometry), is the difference between the final and initial position of a point trajectory (for instance, the center of mass of a moving object). The actual path ...

123.5 cc. These dimensions were the same as the previous Motore Lungo model.

Compression ratio The compression ratio is the ratio between the maximum and minimum volume during the compression stage of the power cycle in a piston or Wankel engine. A fundamental specification for such engines, it can be measured in two different ways. Th ...

was 6:1, and the engine was fed by a

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 ...

MA17

carburetor A carburetor (also spelled carburettor or carburetter) is a device used by a gasoline 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 Ventu ...

. Ignition was by a flywheel

magneto A magneto is an electrical generator that uses permanent magnets to produce periodic pulses of alternating current. Unlike a dynamo, a magneto does not contain a commutator to produce direct current. It is categorized as a form of alternator, ...

. A Wet

multi-plate clutch A clutch is a mechanical device that allows an output shaft to be disconnected from a rotating input shaft. The clutch's input shaft is typically attached to a motor, while the clutch's output shaft is connected to the mechanism that does th ...

was driven by gears from the

crankshaft A crankshaft is a mechanical component used in a reciprocating engine, piston engine to convert the reciprocating motion into rotational motion. The crankshaft is a rotating Shaft (mechanical engineering), shaft containing one or more crankpins, ...

, and a three-speed

gearbox A transmission (also called a gearbox) is a mechanical device invented by Louis Renault (who founded Renault) which uses a gear set—two or more gears working together—to change the speed, direction of rotation, or torque multiplication/r ...

was fitted, which was controlled by a

twist grip A twistgrip is a handle that can be twisted to operate a control. It is commonly found as a motorcycle's right handlebar grip to control the throttle, but is sometimes found elsewhere, such as on a bicycle as a gearshift, and in helicopters. Hi ...

. Drive to the rear wheel 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 ...

. The MV Agusta had an open cradle

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 ...

, made of steel tube, similar in shape to that of MV's "125 Ovunque" scooter, which itself was modelled on the successful "

Lambretta Lambretta () was a brand of motor scooters, manufactured in Milan, Italy, by Innocenti. The name is derived from the word Lambrate, the suburb of Milan named after the river Lambro which flows through the area, and where the factory was locat ...

125 C" of 1950. Attached to the gearbox was the

swinging arm A swingarm ( or swinging arm), 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 the ...

, with an

undamped In physical systems, damping is the loss of energy of an oscillating system by dissipation. Damping is an influence within or upon an oscillatory system that has the effect of reducing or preventing its oscillation. Examples of damping include ...

shock absorber A shock absorber or damper is a mechanical or hydraulics, hydraulic device designed to absorb and Damping ratio, damp shock (mechanics), shock impulses. It does this by converting the kinetic energy of the shock into another form of energy (typic ...

each side. Additionally a hydraulic central shock absorber was fitted. The machine was fitted with

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 Shock absorber, dampers. The main advantages of the ...

s and 130 mm

drum brake A drum brake is a brake that uses friction caused by a set of Brake shoe, shoes or Brake pad, pads that press outward against a rotating bowl-shaped part called a brake drum. The term ''drum brake'' usually means a brake in which shoes press o ...

s. Rider comfort was enhanced by foot plates rather than the usual footrests, a single

saddle A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider of an animal, fastened to an animal's back by a girth. The most common type is equestrian. However, specialized saddles have been created for oxen, camels and other animals. It is not know ...

and wide, for its class, 3,50 x 15 tyres. A rack was fitted above the rear mudguard. The position of the engine created an unusual gap between the front wheel and the downtube of the frame that could be fitted with an optional sheet metal fairing, which could be used as a storage compartment. Priced between 155,000 and 163,000 Lira, dependent on options, sales of the model were good and helped MV Augusta to achieve and annual production of over 20,000 units.

Series 2

The second series of the Pullman introduced in 1954. Apart from cosmetic changes, the twist grip gearchange was replaced by a conventional foot change. The rear shock absorbers were changed to hydraulically damped units, and the now redundant third shock absorber omitted. Production of this model stopped in 1956.

Super Pullman

In 1955 the Pullman was joined by the "Super Pullman" model. This model was intended to look more like a "normal" motorcycle. A sheet metal beam frame was used. The frame was pressed in two halves that were electrowelded together.

Earles fork A motorcycle fork connects a motorcycle's front wheel and axle to its frame, typically via a yoke, also known as a triple clamp, or triple tree, which consists of an upper yoke joined to a lower yoke via a steering stem, a shaft that runs throug ...

s and more conventionally sized 18" wheels were fitted. Engine power was increased to 6 bhp @ 5,200 rpm. The last machines produced in 1957 were used to test a prototype

fuel injection Fuel injection is the introduction of fuel in an internal combustion engine, most commonly automotive engines, by the means of a fuel injector. This article focuses on fuel injection in reciprocating piston and Wankel rotary engines. All c ...

125 cm³ two-stroke engine which, due to the crisis in the motorcycle sector following the marketing of the

Fiat 500 The Fiat 500 (, ) is an Economy car, economy / city car that was manufactured and marketed by Fiat Automobiles from 1957 until 1975. It was sold as a two-door semi-convertible or saloon car and as a three-door panel van or estate car. Launched ...

, did not go into production. Production of the Super Pullman ceased in 1958, after approximately 3,000 machines had been made.

References

{{MV Agusta 125 Motore Pullman Motorcycles introduced in 1953 Standard motorcycles Single-cylinder motorcycles Two-stroke motorcycles