MV Agusta F3 675

The new MV. A new work of art on wheels is arriving that will upset the balance of power. As with all MV’s this new model is synonymous with excellence, style and technology. The new F3 will apply these principles to a new market segment, the middle weight supersport category.

If the F4, considered the most beautiful motorcycle in the world, set the styling and performance standards by which all others are judged, the new F3 has completely exceeded all previous conceptions of what a supersport motorcycle should be, redefining an entirely new category. Light weight, power and electronics working in complete harmony on a new motorcycle that pushes the concept of supersport to the extreme.

Powerful, hyper-light and more compact than any other motorcycle in existence. The F3 sets the new standard by which all other supersport motorcycles will be judged and compared. A completely new project that was created by CRC, the research center that has continually designed and developed the motorcycles of dreams.

The styling is pure MV Agusta, as with its big sister the F4, but the F3 is even more unique. The new “middle weight” by MV follows the philosophy of all the MV Agusta works of art while pushing the limits of the supersport category with a maniacal attention to detail. The exhaust system has a triple pipe side exit muffler and is the perfect example of how design and function coincide perfectly. There is no doubt, the new F3 is a true MV Agusta

MV Agusta F3 Features

MV F3: Engine

The powerplant of the new F3, an inline 675cc three cylinder, plays homage to the most victorious motorcycle brand in the word. With this layout MV raced and won an unprecedented number of races and world championship titles. This iconic engine has now returned in the form of an avant- garde middle weight supersport with performance technical solutions based on the demands of Claudio Castiglioni who is convinced that this is the ideal architecture for a middle weight supersport. The engine is the most compact, incredible short and narrow engine ever seen in this category. The powerplant is incredibly modern in design, technologically advanced and capable of generating the most power ever seen in this category. One of the numerous technical features is the counter- rotating crankshaft, never before seen on a production supersport engine.

MV F3: Electronics

The most advanced electronic engine control system has been designed specifically for this extraordinary three cylinder. For the first time on an MV (and in the middle weight supersport category) there is Ride By Wire with multi-maps that optimize the power output in all riding conditions. The MV TC traction control has been incorporated into the engine control system raising the dynamic control to a new level on the F3.

MV F3: Chassis

As always, those who ride MV Agusta’s have become accustomed to having the very best components and the maximum performance from the chassis. The new F3 follows this tradition with a level of quality that exceeds most of the 1000cc superbikes on the market. As with all previous MV’s, the advanced frame design incorporates a mix of steel tubing and aluminum side plates that wrap around the ultra compact engine offering a level of compactness never before seen on a supersport motorcycle. The compact engine dimensions left the maximum liberty to design the most advanced chassis on the market with an exceptionally long single sided swingarm that guarantees traction and feedback to the rider. The components, as always, are of the highest quality. The Marzocchi front fork is completely adjustable as well as the Sachs rear shock. The front brake system consists of a Nissin radial master cylinder and Brembo radial calipers and discs. It is simply the best and the new standard by which all other middleweight supersport bikes will be judged.

 THREE CYLINDERS, MADE IN ITALY

The dominance of MV Agusta in the motorcycle Grand Prix’s is in part due to their most victorious engine design. Of the 37 world titles won by the bikes from Cascina Costa, 10 are attributed to the bikes with the inline three cylinder engines. MV Agusta was the first motorcycle manufacturer in the world to believe in this technical solution, a risk that paid off with countless victories. The three cylinder project began as a twin cam 350 followed by a 500cc version, these bikes were legendary for their power as well as their lighter weight and improved aerodynamics compared to the 4 cylinder competition.

The project was designed at the request of Count Agusta, developed on the race track by Giacomo Agostini and raced by the greatest champions of all time winning immediately. Initially the 350 twin cam, followed by the 500 twin cam, these motorcycles became the reference point for all of the other manufacturers as they offered unmatched performance allowing them to dominate the competition. This dominance was translated into 10 world championship titles, 9 Italian championships and 215 race wins. The MV three cylinder was a motorcycle unequaled by the competition by applying technology that was advanced for its time and destined to become the future for all high performance engines.

Even today, the classic three cylinder MV Agusta is an example for the rational application of technology and pure styling. A style so unique that it transcends to the soul of the MV’s of today. Having to choose which engine layout would power the new MV Agusta middle weight, Claudio Castiglioni chose the most rational configuration of the three cylinder. A choice that is technically advanced while at the same time respects the long history of MV Agusta and their countless successes with this engine layout. Today, as well as in the past, the F3 takes advantage of a very compact design, advanced technology and unparalleled power.

With the new F3, history and future are fused into a single entity giving form to the most beautiful and technologically advanced “600”, a motorcycle that clearly marks the beginning of a new era.

A STORY CALLED MV AGUSTA.

Varese, 17th September 2010 – After years of continuous design and development along with ongoing research to create the most beautiful and technologically advanced 600cc bike of the world, the first pictures of the “real” MV AGUSTA F3 are revealed.

About MV Agusta:
Founded in Italy in 1945, MV Agusta has created some of the most exquisite, sought-after motorcycles in the world, renowned for their attention to detail, superior craftsmanship, and provocative design. MV Agusta boasts an unprecedented 75 Championship titles securing its place in the annals of motorsport legend.

MV AGUSTA F3: THE STAR OF THE SHOW

The 60th International Motorcycle Exposition, the most important motorcycle show in the world, has come to a close and all votes have been counted for the traditional "Most Beautiful Bike" Award. The clear winner is the MV Agusta F3.

Varese, 8 November 2010 – All of the votes have been cast. MV Agusta with the new F3 has earned the title “Most Beautiful Bike of the Show”. The election was organized by the magazine Motociclismo, the most important and informed motorcycle magazine in Italy. The new MV Agusta F3 dominated the vote tally during the entire period of the show capturing a total of 38.5% of over 12,000 votes cast. Behind the F3, with 20.6% of the votes, was the Ducati Diavel and occupying the third place on the podium was the Kawasaki ZX-10R with 8.5% of the votes.

The award ceremony was held during the conclusion of the Show at the Motociclismo stand with Giovanni Castiglioni, the Managing Director of MV Agusta, Corrado Capelli, the President of Confindustria ANCMA and EICMA along with Piero Bacchetti, the President of Edisport Editorial all in attendance. The award ceremony was the final act of an intense week of expositions and events which saw more than 500,000 visitors flock to the conference halls at the Fiera di Milano in Milan, Italy.

The F3, a true work of art on two wheels, literally dominated the scene with the attendants waiting in line for a view of the new masterpiece. The latest creation by MV Agusta has redefined motorcycle style and performance. Light weight, powerful and with the latest electronic controls all working together in harmony has come to redefine perfection. The new F3 has taken the concept of supersport to the extreme and has become the new reference point for all others to follow.

The unmistakable lines of the new MV Agusta, as with its big brother the F4, are unique and continue to stand out in the crowd. The new middleweight MV builds upon the already consolidated concepts continually applied on all MV Agusta motorcycles and pushes the limits even further with an attention to detail never before seen on a superbike. The tripple side exit exhaust system is only a single example of the unique application of form and function on this new masterpiece.

For the historical manufacturer from Italy, this is a further recognition of the immense amount of energy and resources that MV Agusta is dedicating to the constant development of their new products. The F3, at its first public debut, has been confirmed as the most desired motorcycle by all of the motorcyclists in the world.

About MV Agusta:
Founded in Italy in 1945, MV Agusta has created some of the most exquisite, sought-after motorcycles in the world, renowned for their attention to detail, superior craftsmanship, and provocative design. MV Agusta boasts an unprecedented 75 Championship titles securing its place in the annals of motorsport legend.

Review

My journey back to Paul Ricard this past February for the press launch of the new MV Agusta F3 675 was special. This enchanting high-speed circuit is perched above the French Riviera in the arid mountains of Southern France. When I was in my early 20s, Paul Ricard was a place of “firsts”: my first race on European soil; my first team endurance race; my first time speeding at 180 mph through dense campfire smoke in the black of night; and my first 130-plus-mph crash. It took half of a French fire brigade to knock down the flames and bring the melted bike to its final resting place.

In stark contrast to the ambitious youngster who arrived here 13 years ago, I am sitting calmly in the media center enjoying an espresso that’s as smooth as the lines on the beautiful MV Agusta resting on the stand before me. With the pressure of professional racing behind me, my job today is to simply enjoy this little firecracker for all she is worth.

Incredibly, just four engineers are behind the new F3. Technical Director Marco Cassinelli, who was recruited from Lamborghini, tells me this small group is very efficient, that it directs all of its energy toward what it believes to be the future of the brand. Upholding MV Agusta’s heritage of beauty and performance is critical, says Cassinelli, but attracting mainstream consumers is also important.

While the engineers dive proudly into the many features incorporated into the electronic dash, my jet-lagged attention span goes no deeper than the panel’s elegant exterior. The display is spartan, its clean, simple design unencumbered by gadgetry. In fact, it’s more like the simple analog clocks on older racebikes than the bulky dashes that are so common today. Same goes for the rest of the bike; there are no flashy badges or logos, just the raw beauty of metal and performance.

I glance around the briefing room and am distracted by a tiny engine that looks like it belongs in a dirtbike. That little thing is the F3’s powerplant? While one of the engineers talks about fuel maps and torque curves, I sneak over for a better look at this compact engine. Yep, it would fit easily in my gearbag.

I’m still in a bit of a haze when I suit up and climb aboard the 675 for my first track session. My senses are confused straight away. The F3 is far too narrow to be an inline-Four, yet it feels curiously similar to a Yamaha YZF-R6. Pressing the Start button evokes different emotions; this Triple is grumbly like a Twin, but it’s too highly strung to be one. I accelerate down pit lane with the front wheel hovering above the pavement. This little torque monster revs out!

Reacquainting myself with Paul Ricard is anti-climactic. The lean 675 quickly finds its way from apex to apex with ease. Balanced ergonomics and a low seating position promote aggressive riding while keeping weight transfer to a minimum. The throaty exhaust note is solid gold, and the F3 seems to beg for more throttle, inviting its most remarkable feature, the engine, to come alive.

Capitalizing on six perfectly spaced transmission ratios and an excellent, full-throttle EAS (Electronic Assisted Shift) auto-shift feature, I busily hustle from first through sixth down the long front straight. The six-injector, 12-valve, dohc, 79.0 x 45.9mm motor is phenomenal, with a wide range of power and the ability to overrev. Strong torque is delivered linearly and right on time in relation to throttle position, with the potent power curve giving an extra pull on the bars between 10,000 and 14,000 rpm. MV claims 126 horsepower at 14,400 rpm and 52 foot-pounds of torque at 10,600 rpm. Redline is 15,000 rpm.

Now that I am fully awake, I’m ready for a second explanation about the many electronic functions. Engineer Mauro Marelli begins by saying the system is new from the ground up. It starts with a ride-by-wire throttle using a standard open-and-close potentiometer. This is augmented by a “safety closing” default to eliminate any surprises.

Moving on, Marelli says a new ECU was designed specifically for the traction control, torque maps and quick-shift functions on the F3. I watch as he scrolls through the well-lit display. The F3 boasts four map settings. The first three—Rain, Normaland Sport—are self-explanatory and preset for user ease. The fourth mode is called “Corono,” which allows on-the-fly customization using thumb switches located, MotoGP-style, adjacent to the left handgrip. Within Corono are five different parameters ranging from eight levels of traction control to torque delivery. Leaving no request unsatisfied, there is even an adjustable highway speed limiter to keep you out of trouble with Smokey. Okay, there are enough options to hang myself. Impressive.

Just how much do I trust the 675’s electronics? Getting to full throttle early on cold tires is never a good idea; but it’s my only opportunity to test the rain mapping, and, thus far, the engineers have not steered me wrong, so I’m willing to roll the dice. Riding out of the pit box, I scroll through to level eight on the TC selector, which is intended for wet conditions. At the apex of hairpin Turn 1, I aggressively pin the throttle in first gear. The familiar safety-net sound of the engine misfiring to limit wheel slip is music to my ears. As the tires reach optimum temperature, I methodically work my way from level eight down to zero. Each selection performs as it was designed, allowing for more wheel slip in a consistent progression. Although the traction control is well-sorted, the engine delivers such steady Twin-like torque delivery that TC is rarely in demand.

Speed is crucial in the evaluation of chassis. Lapping the track at a pretty good clip, I find it difficult to point out any major faults. Even in street trim on one ofEurope’s fastest circuits, the 675 with its hybrid aluminum/steel frame rolling on a 54.2-inch wheelbase carves up the track. Racing speeds, however, ask a lot of the stock suspension. The fully adjustable Sachs shock holds up remarkably well, but the 43mm Marzocchi fork is a little soft at maximum load, diving quickly under hard braking, making the rear end loose on entry and creating some pumping mid-corner. But that I find myself evaluating the F3 as if it were a racebike is the biggest compliment I could pay a stock motorcycle. The 320mm Brembo front brakes are exceptional, as well, offering phenomenal stopping power and feel.

Sitting directly behind the F3’s greatest strength lurks its biggest weakness: the transmission. Though solid in feel, the cassette-type gearbox is fickle; having to take a second stab at third and fourth gears gives away the generous gift that the potent engine delivers on corner exits. EAS helps, but considering the many other great choices in this displacement category, the F3 needs to be a complete package.

Can a small European brand like MV Agusta keep up with the big boys in development costs and still deliver an affordable product? Contrary to the popular notion that you buy a racy Italian motorcycle with your heart, the 675 F3 has an attractive price tag: $13,498. Couple that with incredible performance and elegant looks, and you have an amazing machine. Hopefully, MV Agusta will be able to maintain its newfound momentum.

Source Cycle World