by Mark
MV Agusta have always made unbelievably good looking motorcycles with few exceptions but this, the new F4 RR is just something else altogether.
MV claim it is the most advanced and powerful superbike in the world with the most sophisticated chassis design joined with the new MV short stroke engine.
That’s not a claim to make lightly and yet you expect it to be the truth from MV.
The engine is a short-stroke radial valve four-cylinder engine producing 201 hp making the F4 RR the most powerful superbike ever built, according to MV at least.
The list of ‘newness’ is as long as your arm and includes increased bore diameter, new primary drive, new cylinder head, new large-diameter titanium intake and exhaust valves, new lightweight forged pistons in “aerospace RR alloy”, new 4-2-1-4 exhaust and much more.
The engine is at the heart of this motorcycle though and it is all new with just the engine case castings, the arrangement of cylinders and a few other elements being brought over from the previous F4.
It has been completely redesigned with a single goal in mind: maximum performance.
All new thermodynamics, a new crankshaft that has a reduced value of inertia and new bore and stroke dimensions with an extremely over-square relationship that can reach rpm’s worthy of a true racing motorcycle. The piston diameter has been increased from 76 to 79 mm while the stroke is reduced from 55 mm to 50.9 mm. With these dimensions the rpm limit has been raised to 13,700 rpm while at the same time reducing the linear velocity of the piston (from 24.7 m/s to 22.9 m/s) and thus also improving reliability.
For the first time on an MV mass production engine, all the valves are made of titanium allowing them to reduce mass whilst increasing diameter.
The intake is controlled by four 49 mm throttle bodies with the unique TSS system of variable length intake tracts.
As with previous F4’s, this new engine features a rapidly removable cassette gearbox and the clutch employs a mechanical slipper system to assure proper control even under the most extreme braking conditions. The electronic engine management has been further refined compared to that of the previous F4. The traction control follows new operating modes as well as two maps for the engine, and everything is now easily managed through the new controls that have been placed on the left handlebar.
The frame and swingarm are from the previous F4 which isn’t a bad thing and to optimize performance and adapt the F4 RR to all race tracks and conditions, the MV Agusta F4 RR allows a virtually infinite combination of adjustments. Multi-adjustable suspension, essential for a racing motorcycle, has been combined with the adjustable steering head angle (with interchangeable eccentrics) and the height of the swing arm pivot and rear axle by means of calibrated inserts.
The Öhlins NIX upside-down front fork has 43 mm diameter inner tube and a titanium nitride coating to improve the smoothness and precision. This particular fork dimension has been designed to achieve the perfect balance of agility without sacrificing the stability of an MV.
The front wheel axle carriers are machined from billet aluminum and the front forks offer precise external adjustment of spring preload as well as compression and rebound damping. The Öhlins Racing TTX 36 rear shock is externally adjustable in spring preload, compression, rebound and length allowing you to vary the ride height of the rear of the bike to match the different driving styles and different circuits. In addition, the MV Agusta F4 RR also offers the possibility of adjusting the height of the swing arm pivot point by means of calibrated inserts.
The new wheels on the MV Agusta F4 RR allow a weight saving of 1 kg compared to the standard F4 cast versions.
To stop this motorcycle some hefty brakes are required so step forward Brembo with monobloc callipers now paired with Brembo radial master cylinders.
Every detail has been considered to increase performance and functionality, reduce weight and increase the product quality fit and finish.
The F4 RR debuts new adjustable light weight rear sets to match the ergonomics of the bike to the needs of the pilot.
A new aerodynamic flap has been added under the lower triple clap to convey additional air to the radiator optimizing the aerodynamics and cooling of the engine’s record power.
You can see our supersize image gallery of this stunning bike over on our Facebook page. There’s also a teaser video available here.
