P24
IN
THE
WIND
MV AGUSTA GOES 800
M
V Agusta says its new F3
800 combines "the exhilaration of a 1000cc Superbike
with the handling of a 600cc Supersport; the torque of a V-twin
with the rev limit of a four-cylinder…"
Of course, MV is equally as
proud that the new motorcycle is
"Made In Italy."
The new F3 features MV's
three-cylinder powerplant –
stroked from 675cc to bring it
to 798cc. The result is a package that MV says produces
148 horsepower and 88 Nm of
torque. It also weighs just 380
pounds (the same as the MV F3
675), giving it a power-to-weight
ratio that should allow it to compete with 1000cc Superbikes,
MV says.
The bore diameter remains
unaltered at 79.0 mm from its F3
675 sibling, but the stroke has
been increased from 45.9 mm
to 54.3 mm, giving it the bigger
displacement of 798cc. And as
a result a bump in horsepower
to 148 (20 more than the 675) at
13,000 rpm (the rev-limiter kicks
in at 13,500 rpm); the 800 makes
its max torque at 10,600 rpm.
The fuel injectors are also
new, helping with the power
increase over the 675. The
lightweight engine (it weighs
114 pounds) uses a counterrotating crankshaft – like the
675. It also gets a slipper clutch.
MV claims a top speed of 167
mph for the new 800.
Since it's an MV, it gets all the
electronics you can imagine:
traction control and full ride by
wire technology.
The ride-by-wire system offers
three maps devised by MV Agusta technicians and one that can
be fully customized by the rider.
The traction control is the same
as the 675 – with eight different
levels that are selected via controls on the handlebars.
The wheelbase on the 800
is 54.3 inches and that's with a
longish swingarm.
The 800 gets a 43mm Marzocchi fork that's fully adjustable
in both preload, compression
and rebound; the fork and shock
valving has been changed from
the 675's to handle the bike's extra power.
The rear shock is a Sachs piggyback unit that's also full adjustable.
The new MV gets Brembo
monobloc front brakes – an upgrade from the two-piece Brembos that come standard from the
F3 675 (320mm up front and
220mm on the rear). It will come
fitted with Pirelli Diablo Rosso
Corsa rubber.
The bike will be available in
three-color combinations: Pearl
white/black; red/silver; matt metallic black.
The F3 800 carries a price tag
of 13,990 Euro ($18,280).
