The MV Agusta F3 - What Makes It Tick
The MV Agusta F3 675 is an important model to MV Agusta. You see, the latest 675cc three-cylinder is the epitome of what the late Claudio Castiglioni visioned as the perfect middle class sportsbike.The three 50mm Mikuni throttle bodies each carry twin injectors, and are controlled via a full ride-by-wire system offering a choice of three preset maps – Sport, Normal and Rain – as well as a fourth Custom map which the rider can tune personally. There's an eight-level traction control program included as standard.
The DOHC 12-valve three-cylinder engine weights just 54kg - that is 3kg lighter than the three-cylinder engine of the Triumph Daytona 675. It's also 80mm narrower, than the Triumph engine. With its slant-block cylinders inclined forward at 35 degrees – much steeper than the more upright Triumph engine – the new MV August F3 675 measures 79x45.9mm against its British rival's much longer-stroke 74x52.3mm format.
A 128 horsepower output at 14,400rpm at the crank compares to a quoted 124 horsepower at 12,600rpm for the Triumph, whose maximum torque of 72Nm at 11,700rpm does fractionally better than the MV Agusta F3 675 claimed 71Nm at 10,600rpm. The redline for the MV Agusta is at 15,000rpm in the standard street package.
The exquisite-looking wet-sump engine uses gravity diecast crankcases within which the 120-degree plain-bearing crankshaft runs backwards – a first in volume production streetbike technology, and a feature which the late Claudio Castiglioni insisted on after watching Valentino Rossi's factory Yamaha inline four win successive MotoGP world titles with a similar engine format. Reversing the direction of the engine drives the Borg Warner silent camchain running up the left side of the engine, as well as the small primary gear on the right, and accepting the drive off the starter motor, while also driving the tacho.
It's a significant step for MV Agusta to have deserted Magneti Marelli as its electronics partner for the F3 675, in favor of Eldor, a leading force in the automotive electronics sector based at Como close to the MV Augsta factory at Varese.
The standard MV Agusta F3 675 uses MV's favored blend of suspension suppliers, with 43mm Marzocchi front forks set at a 24.5 degree head angle with 99mm trail and 125mm of wheel travel, matched to a Sachs piggyback rear shock controlled by a progressive rate link and giving 124mm of travel. Each of these is fully adjustable, and with the opportunity to alter ride height at the rear via the shock link.The brakes are twin 320mm Brembo discs up front which are gripped by four-piston two-pad radial Brembo calipers via a Nissin radial master cylinder, with a 220mm rear disc and two-pot Brembo caliper at the rear.
The MV August F3 675 comes with a claimed dry weight of 173kg, split 50.5/49.% dry, or 53/47% fully fueled with a virtual 75kg rider aboard. That's aided by the distribution of the 17-liter fuel load partly under the seat, thanks to a hidden extension to the shaped petrol tank.
Get the MV Agusta F3 675's fast-revving short-stroke three-cylinder engine revving to 7,000rpm, and it really takes off, building power and torque with the revs all the way to where the small red shifter light on the dash flashes just before the soft-action 15,000rpm rev limiter, kicks in. This really an amazing machine.
