By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport vs Retro Classic
Suzuki GSX-R 750 (L1) vs MV Agusta Superveloce 800 (MY2020)
Suzuki GSX-R 750 vs MV Agusta Superveloce 800: where they split, and which one to buy.
Tipping into a fast bend, the Suzuki GSX-R 750 doesn't argue with your inputs. The MV Agusta Superveloce 800 snaps onto its line once someone's dialed in the suspension. Then it sits planted through the sweep.
So which one do you buy?
The GSX-R 750 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Edges it: GSX-R 750
On a twisty road, the GSX-R 750 edges ahead. It's down to more feel through the bars and a sportier chassis. Not by enough to settle it alone.
Which one's the smarter buy
Different classes, different trade-offs
These two bikes sit in different classes, so the money question is a trade-off, not a clear win. Neither is the obvious better buy for the cash you spend.
What makes each one tick
GSX-R 750
There's no angry animal inside the GSX-R 750, just an inline-four that winds out eagerly and leaves you running the conversation. The throttle's response is clean down low, and the engine pulls nicely as the revs climb. Real power waits a downshift away, where the four screams. Its intake roars up high.
Nils rode the GSX-R 750 in the Eifel in 2015, and in Andalusia in 2025 (NastyNils Testride).
Superveloce 800
The Superveloce 800's triple pulls hard from the middle of the revs and screams at the top, under an exhaust note you won't mistake. The riding position stays relatively relaxed. Stock damping isn't tight, and a sharp bump keeps the chassis moving. Properly set up, the chassis holds quick curves steady.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The GSX-R 750 has the lower seat: 31.9 in (810 mm) vs 32.7 in (830 mm).
- The GSX-R 750 has the lower wet weight: 419 lb (190 kg) vs 431 lb (196 kg).
- The Superveloce 800 has the larger engine: 798 cc vs 749 cc.
Which one for the way you ride
Daily commuting & city riding
No verdict: Superveloce 800
Commuting is off the table for the Superveloce 800, so it sits this one out.
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both fall short
Long-haul comfort is a weak spot for both. If you tour, shop with that in mind.
Keeping running costs low
Not suited: Superveloce 800
Leave the Superveloce 800 out of the cost question. It runs on a different kind of budget.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
GSX-R 750
Strengths
- Eager, never angry
- Commits on a light push
- Gearbox that just works
- Built for long, hard laps
- Bristling, free-revving engine character
Trade-offs
- Geared a notch too tall
- Stock brakes fade when hot
- Minimal electronic aids
- Firm suspension for road riding
Superveloce 800
What owners say
Strengths
- Stunning retro-modern design
- Thrilling inline-triple engine
Known problems to check before you buy
GSX-R 750
- Mirror caps falling off The plastic mirror caps are held by fragile tabs that can break, causing the cap to detach while riding. Suzuki later supplied caps with longer tabs to fix the issue.
Superveloce 800
- Engine stalling at idle Owners report that the engine can stall unexpectedly when idling in neutral or with the clutch pulled in at stops, caused by lean low-speed fueling calibration.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 6-year-old GSX-R 750 with a 6-year-old Superveloce 800.
- GSX-R 750
- about $11,400
- Superveloce 800
- about $24,200
At six years old, the Suzuki GSX-R 750 sits around $11,400 while the MV Agusta Superveloce 800 runs about $24,200. That's a $12,800 gap in the US market. These are estimates from earlier records, not live listings.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| GSX-R 750 | Superveloce 800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.9 in (810 mm) | 32.7 in (830 mm) |
| Wet weight | 419 lb (190 kg) | 431 lb (196 kg) |
| GSX-R 750 | Superveloce 800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 749 cc | 798 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four | Inline-three |
| Power | 150 hp (110 kW) | 148 hp (109 kW) |
| Torque | 64 lb-ft (87 Nm) | 65 lb-ft (88 Nm) |
| Top speed | 170 mph (274 km/h) | 149 mph (240 km/h) |
| GSX-R 750 | Superveloce 800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 44 mpg (US) / 5.35 L/100 km | 39 mpg (US) / 6.1 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 US gal (17 L) | 4.4 US gal (16.5 L) |
| GSX-R 750 | Superveloce 800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 54.7 in (1390 mm) | 54.3 in (1380 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| GSX-R 750 | Superveloce 800 | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Not offered | Standard |
| Traction Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Cruise Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Quickshifter | Not offered | Standard |
| TFT Display | Not offered | Standard |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Not offered | Standard |
| LED Headlight | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
