MV Agusta F4 series
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| MV Agusta F4 | |
|---|---|
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| Manufacturer | MV Agusta |
| Class | Sport bike |
| Engine | inline 4 750/1000/1080cc |
| Transmission | 6 speed cassette |
| Related | MV Agusta Brutale |
| Similar | Ducati 999 Honda CBR1000RR Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Suzuki GSX-R1000 Yamaha YZF-R1 |
The F4 was the motorcycle that launched the resurrection of MV Agusta in 1998. The F4 was created by famous motorcycle designer Massimo Tamburini at CRC (Cagiva Research Center), following his work on the Ducati 916. The F4 is unique with its four pipe undertail exhaust, single sided swingarm, huge front forks (49 or 50 mm) and traditional MV Agusta red and silver livery. The F4 is also one of the only production superbikes to have a cassette style transmission and radial valved engine.
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[edit] Engine
The F4 engine was derived from the 1990-1992 Ferrari Formula One engine. Early in the design process Ferrari engineers assisted in the development of the engine. MV (Cagiva at the time) quickly deviated from the Ferrari design, but they kept one important feature, the radial valves. The F4 engine is unique in the sense that it is the only radial valved motorcycle engine currently in production.
[edit] Torque Shift System
The Tamburini, Veltro, and CC models are equipped with variable length intake ducts known as the TSS system. The TSS system is designed to increase torque in the low to midrange, while still allowing for max horsepower at the top of the rev range (usually two mutually exclusive properties of an engine). The TSS system has two positions, it is not able to vary the height of the intake ducts continuously. The TSS system is able to lower peak torque from the 10,000 rpm to 9,000 rpm while maintaining maximum power. This system debuted on the Tamburini and was lauded by famous independent motorcycling publications such as Australian Motorcycle News.
[edit] F4 750
[edit] F4 750 Oro
The first F4 model released to the public was the F4 750 Serie Oro in 1997-98. Only 300 examples were produced. Many parts such as the swingarm and wheels were made from magnesium. These magnesium parts were anodized gold for consistency with the name 'Oro'.
[edit] F4 750 Strada
The mass production model, the F4 750 Strada, was released in 1999, and was essentially the same bike as the F4 750 Oro but with aluminum pieces in place of magnesium. Both of these bikes produced 126 horsepower at the flywheel, with a 13,300 RPM redline. Top speed is estimated at 160 mph (260 km/h). The F4 750 uses a 49 mm Showa front fork and sachs rear end. MSRP $18,895.
The F4 750 also comes in a 1+1 model, which has a pillion for a passenger.
In 2002, the F4 750 Evo 02 model was released. The major improvement to this model was the addition of eleven horsepower, for a total of 137 hp (102 kW). In 2003, the F4 Evo 03 was released, which was mostly a cosmetic upgrade.
[edit] F4 750 Senna
The F4 750 Senna was also released in 2002 along with the Evo 02 model. Built purely to raise money for the sports development charity founded by Ayrton Senna, the Senna was a limited production run of 300 bikes like the Oro. The Senna shared the 136 hp engine of the Evo 02 but with a higher redline of 13,900 rpm. The Senna also had some suspension upgrades and some carbon fiber bodywork.
[edit] F4 750 SPR and SR
The F4 750 SPR was released in 2004 and was intended to be the final evolution on the F4 750 platform. It had an improved 146 hp engine, 13,900 RPM redline, matte gray race livery, some carbon fiber bodywork and a Marzzochi fork. The F4 750 SR was released after the SPR, and used the same engine. Both the SPR and SR were limited production runs of 300 bikes. MSRP $22,695.
[edit] F4 1000
[edit] F4 1000 AGO
Like the F4 750 and the Oro, the new F4 1000 product line began with a special edition F4 1000 called the AGO in 2005. The AGO came with a special graphics prominently displaying the number "1" in a yellow oval in reference to MV Agusta's racing heritage. Only 300 bikes were produced.
[edit] F4 1000 S
The first mass produced F4 1000, the F4 1000 S, was released in 2005 and came with a 166 horsepower engine. The F4 1000 S comes equipped with a 50mm Mazrocchi front fork and Sachs rear end. A 1+1 version is available that adds a pillion for a passenger. MSRP $21,795.
[edit] F4 1000 Tamburini
The F4 1000 Tamburini is a special edition of the F4 1000 S and was released in 2005. The Tamburini is equipped with a 173 horsepower engine. Only 300 were produced. This bike, named after its designer, is considered by many to be the most beauftiful of all the F4's, although this is subject to debate. The Tamburini was the first F4 to be equipped with the TSS (Torque Shift System), which varies the length of the intake trumpets with speed in order to provide torque at low speed and power at high speed. MSRP $42,695.
[edit] F4 1000 Senna
The F4 1000 Senna is a special edition of the F4 1000R released in 2006. It is similar to the 2002 F4 750 Senna in spirit, but has some graphical changes. Only 300 were produced. MSRP $29,995.
[edit] F4 1000 Veltro
The F4 1000 Veltro comes in two models, the F4 1000 Veltro Strada (road) and F4 1000 Veltro Pista (race). 99 examples of the Strada were produced, as well as 23 examples of the Pista. The Pista does not come with headlights, as is standard for a race bike. The Veltro models also come with the TSS system as originally found on the Tamburini. These are considered by many to be the most race-oriented F4's available.
The Veltro Strada is equipped with a full complement of carbon fiber (fairings, tail, airbox, mud guards, fenders, air ducts, heat shield) and magnesium frame plates.
In addition to the parts found on the Veltro Strada, the Veltro Pista is equipped with a lightened frame, oversized radiator, carbon fiber fuel tank, and a magnesium triple clamp and swingarm.
[edit] F4 1000 R
The second mass produced F4 1000, the F4 1000 R, was released in 2006 and came with a 174 horsepower engine. The F4 1000 R also has upgraded brembo radial brakes. The F4 1000R engine does not utilize the TSS system. A 1+1 version is available that adds a pillion for a passenger. MSRP $22,995.
[edit] F4 1000 R312
This is a new model F4 scheduled for release in 2007. It is identical to the F4 1000R except for a a slightly more powerful engine (+9 hp for 183 hp or 136 kW total). R312 is a reference to the bikes claimed top speed of 312 km/h (194 mph) making it the fastest production bike at the time.
[edit] F4 1080 CC
The F4 1080 CC, named after Claudio Castiglioni, the Managing Director of MV Agusta, was released in late 2006. The F4 1080 CC is rumored to have 200+ crank horsepower, and has a price tag of 100,000 euros. The engine is said to be a new engine from the ground up and not a rework of the F4 1000 R engine, but this is questionable. It is one of the most exclusive motorcycles in the world.
[edit] F4 in popular culture
- An F4 750 SPR is ridden by Will Smith in the film I, Robot (2004).
- An F4 750 is ridden by Angelina Jolie in the film Gone In 60 Seconds (2000).
- The F4 appears in a New York Lottery commercial about a fictitious millionaire's version of a warehouse clearance store (containing helicopters, private jets, etc.). In one scene dozens of F4s are shown stacked three high on shelves while a man pushes a red/silver F4 on a cart. The F4s on the shelves have green/silver, blue/silver, and yellow/silver paint schemes, none of which actually exist. In a later scene, the same man is pushing the red/silver F4 past the checkout.
- An F4 1000 Tamburini is featured in the video game Test Drive Unlimited.
[edit] Comparison of F4 models
| Displacement | Horsepower @ RPM | Torque @ RPM | Redline (RPM) | Dry Weight (lb) | # Produced | MSRP ($USD) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serie Oro | 1998 | 749cc | 126 @ 12,200 | 7.3 kgf·m @ 9,000 | 13,300 | 396.8 | 300 | |
| Strada | 1999 | 749cc | 126 @ 12,200 | 7.3 kgf·m @ 9,000 | 13,300 | 421.1 | $18,895 | |
| EVO 02 | 2002 | 749cc | 137 @ 12,600 | 8.3 kgf·m @ 10,500 | 13,300 | 421.1 | $18,895 | |
| Senna | 2002 | 749cc | 137 @ 12,600 | 8.3 kgf·m @ 10,500 | 13,900 | 414.5 | 300 | |
| SPR | 2003 | 749cc | 146 @ 13,000 | 8.2 kgf·m @ 11,000 | 13,900 | 413.6 | 300 | $22,695 |
| AGO | 2005 | 998cc | 166 @ 11,750 | 11.1 kgf·m @ 10,200 | 12,700 | 418.8 | 300 | |
| S | 2005 | 998cc | 166 @ 11,750 | 11.1 kgf·m @ 10,200 | 12,700 | 423.3 | $21,795 | |
| Tamburini | 2005 | 998cc | 173 @ 11,750 | 11.5 kgf·m @ 9,200 | 12,850 | 412.3 | 300 | $42,695 |
| Senna | 2006 | 998cc | 174 @ 11,900 | 11.3 kgf·m @ 10,000 | 13,000 | 418.8 | 300 | $29,995 |
| Veltro Strada | 2006 | 998cc | 177 @ 12,000 | 11.9 kgf·m @ 9,000 | 13,000 | 374.8 | 99 | |
| Veltro Pista | 2006 | 998cc | 185 @ 12,100 | 12.3 kgf·m @ 9,000 | 13,000 | 350.5 | 23 | |
| R | 2006 | 998cc | 174 @ 11,900 | 11.3 kgf·m @ 10,000 | 13,000 | 423.3 | $22,995 | |
| R312 | 2007 | 998cc | 183 @ 12,440 | $24,995 | ||||
| CC | 2006 | 1078cc | 200 @ 12,200 | 12.75 kgf·m @ 9,000 | 13,000 | 412.6 | 100 | $120,000 |
