MV Agusta F4 series
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| MV Agusta F4 1000 R | |
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| Manufacturer | MV Agusta |
|---|---|
| Production | 2006-present |
| Class | Super bike |
| Engine | liquid cooled inline four cylinder, 4 stroke, dohc, 16 radial valves, bore 76.0 mm (2.99 in) x stroke 55 mm (2.2 in), capacity 998 cc (60.8 in³), max. power 128 kW (174 hp) @ 11,900 rpm, max. torque 111 N·m (11.3 kgf·m, 82 lbf·ft) @ 10,000 rpm, 46 mm sequential timed electronic multipoint injection, compression ratio 13:1, |
| Transmission | multi-disc wet clutch, 6 speed cassette gearbox |
| Suspension | front: carbon-nitride coated 50 mm upside down fork, 129 mm (5.07 in) wheel travel, rear: single sided swingarm, single shock absorber, 120 mm (4.72 in) wheel travel |
| Brakes | front: double floating disc with 320 mm (12.6 in) diameter and radial-type monobloc calipers with 4 pistons, rear: single disc with 210 mm (8.27 in) diameter and a brake caliper with 4 pistons |
| Related | MV Agusta Brutale |
| Similar | Aprilia RSV1000R BMW S1000RR Buell 1125R Ducati 1098 Honda CBR1000RR Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R KTM 1190 RC8 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, large front forks (49 or 50 mm diameter) 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 is a liquid cooled inline four cylinder (4 stroke) with two overhead camshafts (DOHC), 16 radial valves, electronic multipoint injection, induction discharge electronic ignition and following capacity variants: 749.5, 998 and 1,078 cc. The 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 F4 Tamburini, F4 Veltro, and F4 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. "TSS" is able to lower peak torque from the 10,000 rpm to 9,000 rpm while maintaining maximum power. This system debuted on the F4 Tamburini and was lauded by 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' (Italian for gold).
[edit] F4 750 S
The mass production model, the F4 750 S (S = "Strada"), was released in 1999, and was essentially the same bike as the F4 750 Oro but with aluminium pieces in place of magnesium. Both of these bikes produced 126 hp (94 kW) 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 suspension. MSRP $18,895.
The F4 750 also comes in a 1+1 (Biposto) model, which has a pillion for a passenger.
[edit] F4 750 S Neiman Marcus Edition
Introduced in 2000 as a 2001 model. Available only in the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog, "silver book". Virtually identical to the F4 750 S except for a special brass plate with the Neiman Marcus logo stamped on the triple clamp, carbon fiber front fender, Carbon Fiber upper and lower chain guards, Carbon Fiber panels for the Air-Box, Carbon Fiber ignition cover and Carbon Fiber Air Induction Ducts. There were only 10 available through the Christmas Book and with each purchase, Neiman Marcus included VIP tickets to the International Superbike Classic at Laguna Seca Raceway followed by one day of California Superbike School conducted by Keith Code. MSRP $22,000.
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 Instituto Ayrton Senna, a charity founded by Ayrton Senna to aid the children and young people of Brazil, the Senna was a limited production run of 300 bikes like the Oro. The Senna shared the 136 hp (101 kW) 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. MSRP $24,995.
[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 (109 kW) engine, (13,900 rpm redline, polished ports, HC pistons...), matte grey race livery, some carbon fiber bodywork (front fender, chain guards, air ducts covers...) and a Marzzochi 50mm fork. The F4 750 SR was released after the SPR, and used the same engine in an F4S (Showa fork, no carbon parts...). Both the SPR and SR were limited production runs of 300 bikes.
[edit] F4 1000
[edit] F4 AGO
Like the F4 750 and the Oro, the new F4 1000 product line began with a special edition F4 1000 called the F4 AGO in 2005. The F4 AGO came with a special graphics prominently displaying the number "1" in a yellow oval in reference to MV Agusta's racing heritage and driver Giacomo Agostini. 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 (122 kW) engine. The F4 1000 S comes equipped with a 50 mm Marzocchi front upside down fork and Sachs rear suspension. A 1+1 version adds a pillion for a passenger.
[edit] F4 Tamburini
The F4 Tamburini is a special edition of the F4 1000 S and was released in 2005. The F4 Tamburini is equipped with a 174 horsepower (128 kW) engine. Only 300 were produced. This bike is named after its designer Massimo Tamburini. 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.
[edit] F4 1000 R
The second mass produced F4 1000, the F4 1000 R, was released in 2006 and came with a 174 horsepower (128 kW) engine. The F4 1000 R also has upgraded Brembo Monobloc radial brakes, forged black Brembo wheels, a carbon-nitride coated Marzocchi upside down fork and an upgraded Sachs rear shock absorber (compression & rebound damping adjustable in high & low speed range). The F4 1000 R engine does not utilize the TSS system. A 1+1 (Biposto) version is available that adds a pillion for a passenger. In August of 2006 an F4 1000 R was used to set a record for the fastest production class 1000 cc motorcycle of 185.882 mph (299.148 km/h) at Bonneville Salt Flats.[1]
[edit] F4 1000 Senna
The F4 1000 Senna is a special edition of the F4 1000 R released in 2006. It is similar to the 2002 F4 750 Senna in spirit, but has some changes to the paint scheme and an alcantara seat. This model comes with the 174 horsepower (128 kW) engine and has also the upgraded Brembo Monobloc radial brakes, forged silver Brembo wheels, a 50 mm titanium-nitride coated Marzocchi upside down fork and a lightweight Sachs racing rear suspension (in high & low speed range adjustable rebound and compression damping). Only 300 were produced.
[edit] F4 Veltro
The F4 Veltro comes in two models, the F4 Veltro Strada (road) and F4 Veltro Pista (race). Ninety-nine examples of the Strada were produced, as well as 23 examples of the Pista. As is standard for a race modified motorcycle, the Pista is not equipped with headlights. The Veltro models engines feature the TSS system originally found on the F4 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 R 312
This is a new model F4 scheduled for release in 2007. It is identical to the F4 1000 R except for a a slightly more powerful engine (+9 hp for 183 hp (136 kW) or 134 kW total, 115 N·m torque) with 30 mm titanium intake valves, modified camshafts and 48 mm throttle bodies. F4 R 312 name is a reference to the bikes claimed top speed of 312 km/h (194 mph) making it the fastest production bike at the time. In August of 2007, the 312R set the new Land Speed Record at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah for the fastest Production Motorcycle in the world, averaging 311.53 km/h, over the long course, which is 7 miles (11.3 km) long. The top speed achieved during the run was over 314 km/h, which was achieved at mile marker number 4. The speed record is determined by averaging the speed of the entire length of the course.
[edit] F4 CC
The F4 CC, named after Claudio Castiglioni, the Managing Director of MV Agusta, was released in late 2006. The F4 CC has 147 kW (200 crank horsepower) and has a price tag of 100,000 €. The engine is a 1,078 cc big bore edition with valves, crank and piston rods made from titanium based on the F4 1000 R engine combined with the TSS (Torque Shift System). It is one of the most exclusive motorcycles in the world (100 examples).
[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 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 along with an appearance in Polyphony Digital's Tourist Trophy.
[edit] Comparison of F4 models
| Displacement | Power1 @ RPM |
Torque² @ RPM |
Redline (RPM) |
Dry Weight (lb) |
# Produced | MSRP ($USD) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F4 750 | |||||||||
| Oro | 1998 | 749 cc | 126 PS (93 kW) @12,200 | 72 N·m @9,000 | 13,300 | 396.8 | 300 | ||
| S | 1999 | 749 cc | 126 PS (93 kW) @12,200 | 72 N·m @9,000 | 13,300 | 421.1 | $18,895 | ||
| S (EVO 02) | 2002 | 749 cc | 137 PS (101 kW) @12,600 | 81 N·m @10,500 | 13,300 | 421.1 | $18,895 | ||
| Senna | 2002 | 749 cc | 137 PS (101 kW) @12,600 | 81 N·m @10,500 | 13,900 | 414.5 | 300 | $24,995 | |
| SPR | 2004 | 749 cc | 146 PS (107 kW) @13,000 | 80 N·m @11,000 | 13,900 | 413.6 | 300 | $22,695 | |
| F4 1000 | |||||||||
| AGO | 2005 | 998 cc | 166 PS (122 kW) @11,750 | 109 N·m @10,200 | 12,700 | 418.8 | 300 | ||
| S | 2005 | 998 cc | 166 PS (122 kW) @11,750 | 109 N·m @10,200 | 12,700 | 423.3 | $21,795 | ||
| Tamburini | 2005 | 998 cc | 173 PS (127 kW) @11,750 | 113 N·m @9,200 | 12,850 | 412.3 | 300 | $42,695 | |
| Senna | 2006 | 998 cc | 174 PS (128 kW) @11,900 | 111 N·m @10,000 | 13,000 | 418.8 | 300 | $29,995 | |
| Veltro Strada | 2006 | 998 cc | 177 PS (130 kW) @12,000 | 117 N·m @9,000 | 13,000 | 374.8 | 99 | ||
| Veltro Pista | 2006 | 998 cc | 185 PS (136 kW) @12,100 | 121 N·m @9,000 | 13,000 | 350.5 | 23 | ||
| R | 2006 | 998 cc | 174 PS (128 kW) @11,900 | 111 N·m @10,000 | 13,000 | 423.3 | $22,995 | ||
| R 312 | 2007 | 998 cc | 183 PS (134 kW) @12,400 | 115 N·m @10,000 | 13,000 | 423.3 | $24,995 | ||
| CC | 2006 | 1078 cc | 200 PS (147 kW) @12,200 | 125 N·m @9,000 | 13,000 | 412.6 | 100 | $120,000 | |
| RR 312 | 2008 | 1078 cc | 190 PS (140 kW) @12,200 | 124 N·m @8,200 | 13,000 | 423.3 | $40,000 | ||
- Notes
[edit] References
- ^ “MV Agusta Sets Bonneville Land Speed Record”, Motorcyclist Magazine Online, <http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/newsandupdates/122_0608_2007_mv_agusta_f41000r_bonneville/index.html>
[edit] External links
- MV Agusta Motorcycles official site
