Introduced by The Deus Emporium of Postmodern Activities in Venice, California, the Ago TT is design director Michael Woolaway’s homage to MV Agusta’s rich racing heritage and the spirit of Tourist Trophy racing of the 60s and 70s. Commissioned by MV Agusta itself, the custom Brutale 800RR is aptly named after the great motorcycle racer Giacomo Agostini who won 13 Grand Prix championships and 10 Isle Of Man TTs between 1966 and 1973 astride the MV Agusta marque.

“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 seven separate pieces of aluminium. “This was the most difficult tank I’ve ever made due to the negative curve from the top to the back,” says Woolaway. Getting aluminium 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 70s that Woolie used on the Ago TT, sourcing a set of 27″ megaphones from Cone Engineering. “To get the right curve, I cut out about 30 small slices and brazed it all back together,” says Woolaway, who finished them off with a flat black ceramic coat and end cap baffles from Roland Sands Designs.

No headlight, no turn signals, no license plate, no nonsense. Woolie has built a bike for the track and the racing slicks are properly gummed up from some track time at Laguna Seca and Willow Springs raceway. “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.”

Specs:
– Custom chromoly subframe
– Handmade aluminium tank with vintage Monza vented fuel cap
– Handmade aluminium tail section housing the electronics
– 520 final drive conversion
– Scitsu tach
– Handmade triple clamps by Durelle Racing
– Modified Cone Engineering exhaust with SPD tubing
– Roland Sands Designs exhaust baffles
– Öhlins USA rear shock custom made for this bike
– Pirelli slicks
– Full Beringer hand controls and brake system with cast iron rotors
– Rizoma rear brake reservoir
– LSL clip-on bars from Spiegler
– Rizoma rear sets