MV Agusta F4 Series

[ayuluv]

Originally posted by ROOKIE@Feb 23 2005, 04:34 PM

Jinhanz there's no need to be so sour about it i was merely saying it was cheap in comparison if you read it properly, any motor insurance in never cheap infact its a complete rip off but you must have it so they can charge wat they want, right???

As for the italian bike meeting on the 13th Mar i'll be there if i'm in Sg, might be away around that time, will let you know nearer the time. and ayuluv dont worry hun if the 1000 comes in its all yours, i'm a lover not a fighter

haha.... ok.. same same family manz.. hee...

do join us wor.. still wanna hear the sound of dat beastful ting.. its fierce lor...

[jinhanz]

hahahaha dun worry lahz u work hard for what u get just envy u hahahaha. nvm i will also work hard...

[mao]

Originally posted by ayuluv@Feb 24 2005, 12:30 AM

haha.... ok.. same same family manz.. hee...

do join us wor.. still wanna hear the sound of dat beastful ting.. its fierce lor...

looks like you are going to be th eonly one whoa has seen and heard most of the MVs in Singapore..

[Kr0n]

Hey ROOKIE, do you happen to have the contacts of the rest of the F4 riders in Singapore? I met one of them at the Ducati launch. FY plate F4. He wears a white Arai fullface. Damn nice guy. Hope he and his bike comes along as well!

[ayuluv]

Originally posted by Kr0n@Feb 24 2005, 01:48 PM

Hey ROOKIE, do you happen to have the contacts of the rest of the F4 riders in Singapore? I met one of them at the Ducati launch. FY plate F4. He wears a white Arai fullface. Damn nice guy. Hope he and his bike comes along as well!

hah...i saw him too...pretty slim n tall rite?? i req him to on the bike n lemme hear it roar... goddness..its powerful manz... frendly guy.. hehe...

 

but tink his one is a normal F4 1000 S... wif Agostini stickers on it... but a pity no Agostini parts... its really gd parts...

[ayuluv]

Originally posted by mao@Feb 24 2005, 01:31 PM

looks like you are going to be th eonly one whoa has seen and heard most of the MVs in Singapore..

eh bro..dun liddat wor..hehe.. i heard a few oni... includ urs lahz..

but they r powerful lor.. tink oni the kawa had a raw sound... besides the MV Agusta inlines 4s...

[mao]

Originally posted by ayuluv@Feb 24 2005, 08:08 PM

eh bro..dun liddat wor..hehe.. i heard a few oni... includ urs lahz..

but they r powerful lor.. tink oni the kawa had a raw sound... besides the MV Agusta inlines 4s...

jus kiddin my friend...just kiddin....

[ayuluv]

Originally posted by mao@Feb 24 2005, 10:08 PM

jus kiddin my friend...just kiddin....

haha.. no worries.. keke.. anywayz... its mv lehz...

[ayuluv]

Wow.. its been quiet here lehz...

lemme put up some sparks.. to hook ppl to dis artz... hee

 

MV Agusta F4S Movie

 

MV Agusta F4S Movie II

 

MV Agusta - Phillipe Island

 

MV Agusta F4S n F4 SPR

 

enjoyz.... ^^

[Tashi]

Originally posted by ayuluv@Mar 1 2005, 04:49 AM

Wow.. its been quiet here lehz...

lemme put up some sparks.. to hook ppl to dis artz... hee

 

MV Agusta F4S Movie

 

MV Agusta F4S Movie II

 

MV Agusta - Phillipe Island

 

MV Agusta F4S n F4 SPR

 

enjoyz.... ^^

Nice movies, any more?

 

A pic to share.

 

http://www.fastdates.com/PLN.NewBikes/MVAgusta/2005MVAgustaF4-1000/MV1000.014Robin530.jpg

[Sols]

VARESE, ITALY; NOVEMBER 30, 2004: MV Agusta and Proton closed their agreement to increase the Italian company's capital by Euro 70 million, entirely underwritten and paid in by the Malaysian group.

 

The outcome of the refinancing is that Proton holds 57.75-percent of MV Agusta while the Castiglioni family retains 37.35-percent, Mr Massimo Tamburini has 2-percent and Husqvarna AB holds 3-percent.

 

Mr Claudio Castiglioni is still company CEO with responsibilities in the marketing and research and development sectors, whereas Proton will appoint the managing director in the near future.

 

The other managers appointed by Proton have already been announced. Zaidi Bin Mohd Yusoff is production manager, and Johnson Liu Wen Jong is manager of the finance area.

 

Proton, listed on the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange, is one of Asia's leading car manufacturers. Owner of Lotus, the Group is pursuing an international market expansion strategy involving industrial partnerships with prestigious companies in the automotive industry, including Volkswagen. Their turnover last year was Euro 1.5 billion, with Euro 114.5 million in profits and a worldwide workforce of more than 9,000.

 

Wah proton owns MV now arh... how come MV still comes with CRC? haha... So we might be able to get our MVs from just across the causeway soon lah... haha... Cheaper and readily available parts! Woohoo!!

[Kr0n]

Haha hopefully. But I doubt it. You'd still have to pay the ridiculously high vehicle import tax, which is 130% if I'm not wrong, on top of other duties. CRC is supplying MV with technology. Proton is trying to pull another Lotus. Lol.

[Tashi]

MV Agusta Wira anyone?

[Tashi]

Twisting the Throttle

The stock F4-1000 has already been doing well in 5-bike shootouts in the European magazines against the current crop of 2004 Japanese 1000cc Superbikes, both in the handling and performance departments. What the Mamba Kit addresses is the F4s only significan fault, it's big pasta belly 423 lb dry weight. The Mamba kit with its lighter forged wheels and carbon fibre bodywork susposedly drops the bike down to the 399 lb. contender weight category where it should be, now giving it a marked advantage advsange when comparing it to the Japanese competition.

 

 

We also had the opportunity to get in about 30 minutes of saddle time on the special edition F4 1000 Ago which was graciously loaned to us by Italina sportbike owner and enthusiat Cammie Coe, who received the first Ago on the West Coast in November. In our minds the Ago's Red / Silver livery is the only correct color for the MV as it pays historical tribute the original colors of former World Champion Giacomo Agostini's winning MV in-line four grand prix racer from the late 1960's - early 1970's. The Ago gets much of the same carbon fibre bodywork found the Mamba kit, along with the lighter forged Marchesini wheels, and a slight power upgrade and weight reduction with the slip-on Race Silencer Kit at the rear and an EPROM chip upgrade. Priced at just $24,995 the Ago is a bargain compared to the pricier Mamba Kit without the Race Silercer Kit. Unfortuately, all Ago's were pretty much presold, with Cammie having ordered his almost 2 years earlier.

 

 

 

The F4 1000 Ago -talk about a Hollywood trophy wife, the looks alone are worth the price of admission. The red suede leather saddle could makle a girl cream in her jeans.

 

 

The F4 Mille (Mille means l000(cc) for those of you who don't know Italian) is a big, top heavy brute when it came to this girl pushing it around on the street for our photos, even in the 15-20 lb.lighter Mamba and Ago versions. Climbing on board is also a difficult proposition as this bike is extreamely tall, even more so than other current open class superbikes .It's akin to getting on a long suspenion dual purpose bike. Once in the saddle myfeet's reach to the ground with a 34' inseam was still on tip toes and the fear of dropping the Italian Stallion was always foremost in my mind.

 

 

Once rolling and under power the F4 Mille feels very similar to the iconic Italian bike handling of Tambourini's previous masterpiece, the Ducati 916 Superbike. In fact, it feels and handles very much like the 916 since the F4 was the first bike Tambourini designed after leaving Ducati. Unfortunately, he had to contend with stuffing a much larger, taller, and top heavy inline-four cylinder lump in a space previously occupied by a slender and lower V-twin. As a result the F 4 Mille feels much like a 916, but it is physically taller and much more top heavy with the upright 4 cylinders and their accompanying valve gear.

 

 

This is despite the fact the new 1000cc engine design has been lightened internally considerbly with lighter pistons, camshafts and such compared to the initially designed F4 750 to modernize the engine and allow it to rev quicker and higher for even better performance than just a 250cc displacement increase. Hopefully the 750cc version will reap thesame lightening and performance gains of its new big brother in the near future.

 

 

The chassis geometry is quick, nimble and precise on the Mille just like Tambourini's 916, but you've got that taller height and all that weight to contend with. On tighter canyon roads like the switchbacks of Latigo or above the Rock Store on Mullholand, the bike is not fun. It is just too tall and bulky and it takes a lot of effort and concentration to manage all that weight and height. Just the week before we had taken a current '04 Honda CBR1000RR down the same roads and the Honda was much more noticeably smaller, lighter and easier to handle.

 

 

With those beautiful gold 6-piston Nissin brake calibers hanging off the front of the Ago's beefy Marzocchi 50mm forks I expected some pretty impressing stoping performace, but the brakes on our Ago were nearly unuseable. Each application of the front binders provided almost no stopping power whatsoever, and it would take nearly a full second of dragging the brakes to get them to heat up enough to finally bite, and which point they did do their job very well. Bike owner Cammie warned us of the problem before we took the bike out, and he said different compound pads were on their way from Italy to correct the problem. Typical exotic Italian superbike hassles from never having tested the brake pad compound compatability with the brake rotors used on the Ago. Unfortunately, I wasn't be able to stuff the Ago hard into any corners no knowing when the pads would finally bite.

 

 

Both ends of the Ago were extreamly stiff, which is close to how I like by own bike's suspension setup for better control, but with the Mille's mass it did need to be softer . At high speed the suspension felt much better, but it still needed to be dialed in for the street, which requires lots of time and patience and possibly a race track, all of which I didn't have for my ride.

 

 

Once the canyons opened up and I got into sweepers above 60 mph/100 kph the Mille feels much better. The top heavy feeling receeds and the bike's sheer bulk helps keep it more stable and secure, together with its very stiff suspension, both front and rear. The Mille above 80 mph now maneuvers more easily like a 600cc class sportbike, but you are still somewaht daunted by being positioned in the seat so so high above the ground. The F4 is very agressive and precise when it comes to picking lines and moving around in a corner, but it is handicaped by its sheer bulk and the rider's height perchedon top of it.

 

 

As the pavement opens up and it becomes time to start wicking the power on.... Whoa Daddy! Then you can really appreciate the Ago's big bike power as it explodes down the pavement. The remapped and repipped Ago we spent most of our time on was really scarry strong. Pulling like it was supercharged from about 4,000 rpm and really comming on tap at 7,000. The roads were to tight to get it much above 100 mph anywhere, and the power was just too strong too rev it out hard in any gear. The power is very linear and turbine smooth, but as it rushes above 8,000 you really do need to be on a race track as it becomes very intimidating, very fast.

 

 

In comparison to the old MV F4 750, the new 1000 not only has significantly more power, but 50% more torque which makes you very wary at first when it comes to feeding on the gas. But once use to it, the power is much more friendly and useable than the Open class Japanese bikes. The stock '04 Honda CBR1000RR which is the closest in performance, is just dead in the mid drange in comparison. While the R1 Yamaha doesn't start to come on strong until until about 7,000rpm. But that's not to say the Honda and the other jap bikes couldn't be dialed up as well with a full race pipe system and a computer remapp, and for a lot less money. Plus, the latest generationJapanese superbikes are much smaller, lighter bikse, better suited for all around sportbike riding.

 

 

The F4-1000's power deliver really impresses for its 164hp, and the lighter Mamaba chassis kit helps to make it shine. For MV customers wanting more power (I can't imagine why!) there will be the Tamburini version of the engine, available in the upcoming Tamburini and Corsa (track only, no lighting) special editions, which bump the power up to 176hp with patented variable length intake stacks and a race tuned exhasut system and matching ECU. Here you'll find an extra kick of top end power coming on around 9,500rpm and pulling you along strongly when the soft rev limiter kicks in at 13,000. I know I'm almost there, enjoying the rush, as the dash shifter light winks at me at 12,500.

 

 

And how does the 2005 MV Mille, and in particualar the Ago we spent the most time on, compare to its main Italian rivals the new 2005 Ducati 999 base, S and R models? For design, looks, finish quality and exclusitivity the MV Agusta is the hands down winner. If I owned one I'd park it inside my living room and get off on it twice a day.

 

 

But sportbikes are for riding, and beauty for a superbike needs to be more than skin deep. The new Ducati 999s may be crude and raw in comparision, but the Ducati remains in another class by itself when it comes to riding. Nothing compares to the Ducati Testastretta engine's strong, user friendly power. The 999 V-twin power is there instantly at any RPM, easy to contol and ready to pull you through any corner and catapult you onto the next straight. The Mille needs time to spool-up before it scares you with its sheer power. Handling wise, the Ducati remains unmatched as the most functional, confidence inspiring superbike ever built. A bike which you feel directly part of and which anticipates every move for you, whether you are thinking of it or not.

 

 

Pierre Treblanch at Ducati had the advantage of taking Tambourini's landmark 916 design (on which the F4 was cast) and Terblanch improved on it further my lowering the seat height for better rider control, comfort and agility, and he increasing the swingarm length for improved stability. While the F4 required Tambourini to comproimise on his masterpiece in order to fit in the bulkier, taller MV engine. Compared to the Ducati, or the new crop of Japanese downsized lightweight superbikes, the F4 Mille's design is 2 generations behind.

 

 

That said, the MV Agusta is one of the most beautiful superbike creations on earth. If your a lover, not a fighter, like a lot of exotic bike collectors are, the F4 Mille and its limited edition versions like the Mamba, Ago and future editions will be the showpeice of your collection.

[Lass]

Originally posted by ayuluv@Mar 1 2005, 04:49 AM

Wow.. its been quiet here lehz...

lemme put up some sparks.. to hook ppl to dis artz... hee

 

MV Agusta F4S Movie

 

MV Agusta F4S Movie II

 

MV Agusta - Phillipe Island

 

MV Agusta F4S n F4 SPR

 

enjoyz.... ^^

nice to hv met u keke, u r truly a fan of MV

[ayuluv]

Originally posted by Lass@Mar 12 2005, 02:09 PM

nice to hv met u keke, u r truly a fan of MV

haha... hey. thnx for the guys for supportin dis thread...

i noe its not everyone cup of tea...

but i like it alotz...

 

hey ger.. nice mitin u too.. haha... workin towards ur dreamz...

 

hope i will b the next owner... hehe....

 

gd info n pics... heheh....

[Lass]

Originally posted by ayuluv@Mar 12 2005, 06:59 PM

haha... hey. thnx for the guys for supportin dis thread...

i noe its not everyone cup of tea...

but i like it alotz...

 

hey ger.. nice mitin u too.. haha... workin towards ur dreamz...

 

hope i will b the next owner... hehe....

 

gd info n pics... heheh....

to each his preference

 

if u ever own one of these babies, u gotta take me for ride! if not at least let me drool over the bike

[ayuluv]

Originally posted by Lass@Mar 13 2005, 04:50 PM

to each his preference

 

if u ever own one of these babies, u gotta take me for ride! if not at least let me drool over the bike

sure~!...no prob.. juz oni if got ppl dare to let me pillion..haha...

[ROOKIE]

hi guys just back from UK after 3 week trip to see family and friends. unfortunately missed the italian bike meet up, did anyone go and was it a good meet. well first day back and its pissing it down so no riding today. bike started first time and still shining as i covered her up before leaving. bought some nice clothing on mail order while back in UK 2 caps one black and one red with MV logo's and sponsor names and some leather gloves also with the MV logo. anyone interested go to http://www.moto-mv.com for a web page full of MV accessories parts and clothing. they are based in Devon UK and the guy's name is mark bridges. he said he's been to singapore and met some riders on italian bikes , maybe it was one of you guys. he's a nice guy and helpful. not sure if they ship to Sg but worth asking. anyway if anymore meets coming up please let me know, cheers

[mao]

Originally posted by ROOKIE@Mar 19 2005, 05:02 PM

hi guys just back from UK after 3 week trip to see family and friends. unfortunately missed the italian bike meet up, did anyone go and was it a good meet. well first day back and its pissing it down so no riding today. bike started first time and still shining as i covered her up before leaving. bought some nice clothing on mail order while back in UK 2 caps one black and one red with MV logo's and sponsor names and some leather gloves also with the MV logo. anyone interested go to http://www.moto-mv.com for a web page full of MV accessories parts and clothing. they are based in Devon UK and the guy's name is mark bridges. he said he's been to singapore and met some riders on italian bikes , maybe it was one of you guys. he's a nice guy and helpful. not sure if they ship to Sg but worth asking. anyway if anymore meets coming up please let me know, cheers

yes they do ship to sin. bought some stuff from them before as well.

[Lass]

Originally posted by ayuluv@Mar 14 2005, 09:58 PM

sure~!...no prob.. juz oni if got ppl dare to let me pillion..haha...

if u got the bike, just let me sit and it and pose for pic, i oso happy haha

[ayuluv]

Originally posted by Lass@Mar 19 2005, 08:51 PM

if u got the bike, just let me sit and it and pose for pic, i oso happy haha

haha.. daijobu manz...

[ayuluv]

Originally posted by ROOKIE@Mar 19 2005, 05:02 PM

hi guys just back from UK after 3 week trip to see family and friends. unfortunately missed the italian bike meet up, did anyone go and was it a good meet. well first day back and its pissing it down so no riding today. bike started first time and still shining as i covered her up before leaving. bought some nice clothing on mail order while back in UK 2 caps one black and one red with MV logo's and sponsor names and some leather gloves also with the MV logo. anyone interested go to http://www.moto-mv.com for a web page full of MV accessories parts and clothing. they are based in Devon UK and the guy's name is mark bridges. he said he's been to singapore and met some riders on italian bikes , maybe it was one of you guys. he's a nice guy and helpful. not sure if they ship to Sg but worth asking. anyway if anymore meets coming up please let me know, cheers

hmm.. its a nice site... i came across b4.. juz dat no pt gettin.. since i do not own one

yet.. hehe.. still jealousin of the babe u got manz...

enjoyz...

[ROOKIE]

Originally posted by ayuluv@Mar 20 2005, 12:46 PM

hmm.. its a nice site... i came across b4.. juz dat no pt gettin.. since i do not own one

yet.. hehe.. still jealousin of the babe u got manz...

enjoyz...

first day back on the MV for 3 weeks and to my horror its running terrible. went out and its mis-firing sounds like only running on 3 cylinders, engine keeps cutting out when come to stop and doesn't pick up on acceleration, i think vespa would be quicker than my MV at the moment!!! anyway taking it back to excel tomorrow and get them to look at it. dont think its anything too drastic as it was running fine before i left for UK 3 weeks ago. i even filled up with fresh fuel but there is still something wrong, either fuel problem or spark plug problem i think. hopefully will be fixed tomorrow, sounds like a ducati at the moment rather than a F4

[ayuluv]

Originally posted by ROOKIE@Mar 22 2005, 04:13 AM

first day back on the MV for 3 weeks and to my horror its running terrible. went out and its mis-firing sounds like only running on 3 cylinders, engine keeps cutting out when come to stop and doesn't pick up on acceleration, i think vespa would be quicker than my MV at the moment!!! anyway taking it back to excel tomorrow and get them to look at it. dont think its anything too drastic as it was running fine before i left for UK 3 weeks ago. i even filled up with fresh fuel but there is still something wrong, either fuel problem or spark plug problem i think. hopefully will be fixed tomorrow, sounds like a ducati at the moment rather than a F4

hmm.. it sound like the way i saw it last time after u bought it... seems to b one cylinder down ... not really sure wat happenz.. mayb spark plug fouled???