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The new F4 super sports car family from MV Agusta

Driving report MV Agusta F4 / 4 RR

More models, more power, more handiness, more electronics. MV wants to make the now three-member F4 family even more powerful. Two of them were ready for initial contact.

In the pit lane of Valencia, six brand new F4 and F4 RR (the F4 R was not available) are groaning and pawing with an unmistakable MV sound after the fire-free signal from the pit lane exit. New F4? At first glance, there are hardly any differences to the previous F4. The LED daytime running lights that adorn the larger air intake openings under the headlights, of course. A little fine-tuning on the exhaust and color scheme, sure. But there are actually serious innovations under the pretty dress.

MV is sending three different versions of the top athlete to the start: the F4 and F4 R with 195 hp and the top model F4 RR with 201 hp. What they all have in common is the short-stroke Corsa Corte engine with a bore / stroke ratio of 79 / 50.9 mm (which means that all MV models now have 79 mm bore), which was previously only available on the RR.

UTo make it more thermally stable, its oil circuit was revised and the oil pressure increased by 0.8 bar. Which is mainly intended to serve as life insurance for the main and connecting rod bearings. The biggest innovation, however, is the electronics. The F4s were the last MV models in which the throttle valves were still controlled by the throttle cable. Now the electronics take over this task. With the ride-by-wire, the F4 family also got a new eight-stage traction control with a tilt sensor. In less than a tenth of a second, the electronics can even close fully opened throttle valves and intervene in the power output in a flash.

The new F4 super sports car family from MV Agusta

Driving report MV Agusta F4 / 4 RR

MV Agusta

The RR is in its element on the racetrack, but in everyday life you should also be well served with the basic F4.

The F4 now carries the ten-spoke cast wheels that also adorn the great Brutale. And they save around half a kilogram in weight. Inspired in this way, the MV turns noticeably more willing into the curve. The F4 RR is even more curvy. Their forged wheels further reduce the gyroscopic forces and allow them to dive into the bends with even more commitment and, from the apex of the bend, to keep the tight line more casually. The precision with which she hurries through corners is superb. In addition to the light wheels, it should also benefit from the pivot point three millimeters higher and the lighter crankshaft. Its six percent lower moment of inertia should allow the RR, together with titanium connecting rods, to rev up more lively. And arm them for the possible maximum speeds of 14,000 / min (F4 / F4 R: 13,700 / min).

Both engine variants grab bitingly from the apex of the curve, turning incredibly vehemently upwards. From 10,000 rpm, when the revised variable intake system clears the short airways and the engine is fed by the second injection nozzle enthroned above the funnels, a second fire rushes through the combustion chambers. While the F4 slows down a little from 12,500 rpm, the RR rages with unbridled force up to the limiter. The automatic gearshift ensures crisp gear changes. It even allows downshifts without the clutch. However, this function has not yet been developed ready for series production and is to be retrofitted later via software update free of charge.

The MV can brake like the devil, even if there were occasional slight vibrations in the forehand. The F4 equipped with a Nissin brake pump and “normal” Brembo monoblock calipers does not have to hide from the radial pump and the M50 Brembo monoblocks known from the Ducati Panigale.

MV Agusta

Setup menu for the electronically adjustable Ohlins suspension elements and the steering damper on the RR.

And at least on the relatively new, smooth asphalt of Valencia, the high-quality, well-made F4 with its conventional suspension elements, Marzocchi fork with quick-release axle lock and Sachs shock absorber compared to the RR with the electronically adjustable one already known from the Ducati Panigale Ohlins spring goods have no significant disadvantage. Especially since the chassis had to be redesigned because of the wider throttle units. The development left the geometry unchanged, but slightly reduced the torsional stiffness. Which makes the MV seem stable but no longer as stiff, but improves the feeling for the bike. What about the ride-by-wire tuning? Despite all the criticism that MV has so far received from the three-cylinder models, the F4s look more mature in this regard. Of course, they are not yet perfect. The four-cylinder reacts almost brutally directly to the slightest movement of the throttle grip and sometimes snaps forward with violent, short use of power. So that when braking, if the right wrist unconsciously made a small jerk, the pilot instead of the engine brake reaped surprising thrust. Extremely clean and very concentrated handling of the gas is required. That should defuse MV. The traction control, we drove to the sharpest level one after a short time, works effectively, but sometimes with different intensity depending on the driving situation. But always on the safe side. The competition is currently doing it even better. Nevertheless, the F4 is more dynamic, fitter and provocative as ever. Country road enthusiasts should hardly miss anything with the basic F4. On the race track, the F4 RR moves closer to the competition.

Technical specifications

MV Agusta

The adjustable notches are only available on the RR. The automatic switching device, according to MV, the smallest on the market, all F4s.

F4 Agusta F4 / F4 R / F4 RR

engine
Water-cooled four-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, two overhead, chain-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder, bucket tappets, wet sump lubrication, injection, Ø 49 mm, regulated catalytic converter, 350 W alternator, 12 V / 9 Ah battery, hydraulically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch (anti Hopping), six-speed gearbox, O -ring chain, secondary ratio 41:15.

Bore x stroke 79.0 x 50.9 mm
Displacement 998 cm³
Compression ratio 13.4: 1
rated capacity
F4 / F4 R: 143.5 kW (195 hp) at 13,400 rpm
F4 RR: 147.7 kW (201 hp) at 13,600 rpm
Max. Torque  111 Nm at 9600 rpm

landing gear
Steel tubular frame, load-bearing motor, upside-down fork, Ø 50 mm (F4 RR: Ø 43 mm), adjustable spring base, rebound and compression damping, single-sided swing arm made of aluminum, central spring strut with lever system, adjustable spring base, rebound and compression damping, double disc brake front, Ø 320 mm, four-piston fixed calipers, rear disc brake, Ø 210 mm, four-piston fixed calipers, traction control.
Cast aluminum wheels 3.50 x 17; 6.00 x 17
Tires 120/70 ZR 17; 200/55 ZR 17

Dimensions + weights
Wheelbase 1430 mm, steering head angle 66.0 degrees, caster 100 mm, spring travel f / r 120/120 mm, dry weight 191 kg (F4 RR: 190 kg), tank capacity 17.0 liters.

Two year guarantee
Colors F4 / F4 R: white, red / silver
F4 RR: white / black, red / white
Price F4 / F4 R / F4 RR: 16 990/18 990/23 990 euros
Additional costs 250 euros

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