In the pantheon of motorcycling, few names carry the weight of MV Agusta. The Varese factory doesn't just build motorcycles; they build "Motorcycle Art." It’s a bold marketing claim, but one backed by a pedigree that is statistically unmatched. From 1956 to 1974, MV Agusta dominated the 500cc Grand Prix circuit, securing 17 consecutive world titles and winning all but one of the rider championships in that span. These machines were piloted by the gods of the sport: John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Phil Read, and the incomparable Giacomo Agostini.
Despite this unparalleled racing heritage, MV Agusta has been curiously slow to capitalize on the modern classic trend. While Triumph and BMW have built empires on neo-retro nostalgia, MV has focused on sharp, aggressive, and futuristic streetfighters. This leaves a massive hole in their lineup, a void that the world's best custom builders are more than happy to fill. When you combine Italian exoticism with bespoke craftsmanship, the results are nothing short of breathtaking.
Here are five of our favorite MV Agusta custom motorcycles featured on Bike EXIF.
The Brutale 675 ‘GP’ by Onehandmade
When ‘Chun’ Hung of Taiwan’s Onehandmade looks at a modern MV Agusta, he sees the ghost of a vintage GP racer screaming for release. Tasked with transforming a 2013 Brutale 675, Chun moved away from the bike's "muscle bike" factory proportions and toward the fluid, aerodynamic silhouettes of the 1960s. Working without 3D models or even sketches, Chun shaped the aluminum bodywork by hand, guided only by intuition and a desire for a seamless flow from the nose to the tail.
The mechanical heart of the Brutale remains largely untouched, which is not a bad thing. With 108 bhp and a 140 mph top speed, the 675 triple provides plenty of power. Chun focused his energy on the ergonomics and aesthetics, fabricating a custom subframe, a hidden three-into-one exhaust that exits through a bespoke belly pan, and a new top yoke to accommodate low-slung clip-ons. The stripped-down nature of the build, absent of mirrors and a speedometer per the client’s request, emphasizes the purity of the metalwork.
The finishing touches are a practice in subtlety. A deep-gloss black paint job by Incross Custom Art is accented with silver pinstriping, highlighting the countless contours of the hand-formed tank. With Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V2 tires and a black-and-gold EK chain, the bike looks ready to tech-in at a classic Isle of Man TT. It’s a poignant reminder that if MV Agusta ever decided to build a factory cafe racer, this is exactly where they should start. [MORE]
The F3 675 ‘La Rouge’ by Tricana
Jonathan Natario of Tricana is a man who knows MV Agustas better than most, running a Swiss dealership dedicated to the brand. When a client requested a "neo-retro" F3 675, Jonathan didn't just swap a headlight; he performed a complete redesign. Drawing inspiration from the iconic Ducati MH900e, he crafted a front fairing that is slimmer and sharper, integrating a modern LED unit from a Turismo Veloce. The ram-air ducts were removed for a cleaner profile, and an F4 windshield was grafted on to complete the look.
The transformation continues at the rear, where the tail was completely rebuilt to house the light assembly from a 2016 Brutale 800. The fuel tank was cut away to streamline the silhouette, and a modified fiberglass race belly pan was added to hug the lower reaches of the engine. The bike rolls on gorgeous Kineo wire-spoked rims from a Dragster RR, while the braking performance was leveled up with Brembo M4 calipers.
Performance was refined via an HP Corse ‘HydroTre’ exhaust and a dedicated ECU remap to ensure the 675 triple sings as good as it looks. The livery, designed by Nuno of Capêlos Garage and executed by Marty Designs, is a striking tribute to the bike’s name: 'La Rouge.' It’s a perfect example of how a dealership-born custom can rival the world’s most elite boutique shops through sheer passion and brand expertise. [MORE]
The F4 1000 ‘ConceptTracker’ by Robert Wilson
To many, cutting up an MV Agusta F4 Senna is akin to painting over the Mona Lisa. Only 300 of these 173 hp masterpieces were ever built, making them one of the most sought-after modern superbikes. But when Huntington Beach-based Robert Wilson found a 2007 model missing its fairings, he saw an opportunity for heresy. Applying his background as a car builder, Robert collaborated with Brandon Briscoe of Twisted Tin to create a street tracker that is as polarizing as it is impeccably executed.
The bodywork is a geometric marvel. The aluminum fuel tank features mesh screens that allow a direct view into the throttle bodies, while a flat-track-inspired number board houses dual LED spots. The waspish tail section sits atop the F4’s signature trellis frame, hiding the electronics and terminating in twin LED strips. Despite the radical change in stance, Robert kept the forged magnesium Marchesini wheels, now wrapped in Pirelli MT60 RS dual-sport rubber, and the high-spec Marzocchi and Sachs suspension.
Technically, the bike is a tour de force. The wiring was completely overhauled to hide the loom, a Shorai Lithium-ion battery was tucked away, and the Akrapovič exhaust was shortened by 8 inches for a more aggressive bark. Finished in a combination of matte gray powder coating and gold pinstriping by Colorzone, the ‘ConceptTracker’ is a wild, high-performance middle finger to tradition. It’s Motorcycle Art with a dirty face. [MORE]
The Brutale 800 RR ‘Ballistic Trident’ by Rough Crafts
Winston Yeh of Rough Crafts is the master of the dark arts of customization, and the ‘Ballistic Trident’ is perhaps his most ambitious work. Commissioned by MV Agusta Taiwan, Winston looked to the 1950s for inspiration, specifically the massive "dustbin" fairings used in vintage GP racing. Recognizing that traditional dustbin fairings are notoriously dangerous in crosswinds, Winston designed a "modern dustbin" that turns with the forks and maintains a compact, manageable profile.
The fairing was developed using a 1:1 scale wood carving to create a mold for the carbon fiber. It creates a continuous visual line that flows from the nose, through the tank wings, and back to the custom subframe and tail. The level of detail is staggering: the standard gauge was relocated to a custom-machined housing on the tank, and the 17-inch six-spoke wheels were designed by Winston himself to mimic vintage racing wheels.
Underneath the carbon skin, the 140 hp triple is treated to Öhlins FGR 800 forks and a custom Beringer braking system. The exhaust is the stunning HP Corse ‘Hydro-Tre,’ a system that perfectly complements the mechanical density of the Brutale engine. Finished in Rough Crafts’ signature matte black and gold, the ‘Ballistic Trident’ was the star of the Mooneyes Yokohama show, proving that Winston Yeh can take the "Motorcycle Art" of Varese and make it even more legendary. [MORE]
The Dragster 800 RR ‘Guerilla Tre’ by Rough Crafts
Following the success of the Ballistic Trident, Winston Yeh returned to the MV stable with the ‘Guerilla Tre.’ Based on the Dragster 800 RR, this build applies the Rough Crafts Guerilla philosophy, low, mean, and functional, to the urban scrambler genre. Unlike many scramblers that are purely aesthetic, the Guerilla Tre keeps the RR’s 140 hp output and twin-injector setup, ensuring it has the performance to back up its aggressive looks.
The tail section is a short, tracker-inspired unit that hides a custom GEARS shock. Up front, a more angular, bespoke headlight replaces the round factory unit to better align with the bike's sharp edges. The ergonomics were opened up with custom risers and ACCEL motocross bars, giving the rider a commanding, upright position for carving through city traffic.
In typical Rough Crafts fashion, the bike is "murdered out." The gold fork tubes were anodized black, and the 17-inch forged aluminum Wukawa Industry wheels were finished in a deep noir. Beringer provided the stopping power with custom discs and calipers, and an AEM Factory rear sprocket adds a final touch of jewelry to the single-sided swingarm. It is a more coherent, purposeful version of the Dragster—a bike that feels like it belongs on the streets of a dystopian future. [MORE]
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