MV Agusta F3 800 Preview
In efforts to build the optimal bike that bridges the 600cc supersport and the 1000cc superbike classes, MV Agusta developed something new – the F3 800.
The 798cc, inline three-cylinder was designed to feature the torque of a V-Twin and the high-revving performance of an inline four. The engine produces 148 horsepower at 13,000 rpm (rev limiter set at 13,500 rpm), which is 20 more than its younger sibling, the F3 675, and 65 ft.lbs. of torque at 10,600 rpm.
But this bike was breed for performance, and weights the same as the F3 675 – 381 lbs.
To increase the F3 800 engine’s cc, MV Agusta kept the 675’s 79.0mm bore diameter, but increased the stroke from 45.9 mm to 54.3mm, which results in the displacement increase from 675cc to 798 cc.
The F3 800 features a double-overhead cam with four titanium valves per cylinder to benefit the high RPM performance. The fuel injectors are also new which guarantee a higher flow rate and increased power compared to those of the F3 675.
The three-cylinder engine is the pinnacle of motorcycle engineering: it’s extremely light and compact (weighing just 114.6 lbs.) and uses a “closed-deck” shell mold cast crankcase with integrated cylinders.
The water and oil circuits are integrated into the actual crankcase castings and their respective pumps are located inside the engine with obvious advantages in terms of styling as well as compactness.
Among the innovations on this three-cylinder MV Agusta F3 800 is the counter-rotating crankshaft, a technical solution that prior to the F3 675 was only available on MotoGP motorcycles. The objective? To reduce the rotational inertia effect during quick directional changes and to improve the vehicle balance with the resulting ease of handling of the F3.
The considerably higher performance is reflected, for the same bike mass, in an increased power-to-weight ratio (2.57 lbs./HP) compared to the F3 675. And that’s not all; the response to acceleration under all conditions as well as the smoothness of the power delivery at mid range rpm are remarkably improved.
These two crucial factors immensely increase the pleasure of riding on the road and decreasing lap times on the track. The 148 HP power output translates into a top speed of around 167 mph coupled with a modification to the final drive ratio which has been increased from 16/43 to 17/39.
Lastly, the mechanical slipper clutch system designed and developed by MV Agusta allows the best performance to be achieved even under hard braking.
MV Agusta F3 800 Electronics:
The three-cylinder MV Agusta project has brought the most advanced electronics ever seen to the middleweight category. The MVICS (Motor & Vehicle Integrated Control System) platform combines total electronic control of the throttle and throttle body with traction control.
The Full Ride By Wire is to all intents and purposes the technological basis of the MVICS platform: the system makes it possible for the ideal throttle body aperture to be defined at any moment in time, so it is not dependent on the angular rotation of the twist grip.
There are in fact no mechanical constraints between throttle and butterfly: the injection mapping and ignition are what defines the optimum fuel-air mix to give the best performance at all times and under all load conditions.
The MVICS offers a multimap approach, with three maps devised by MV Agusta technicians and one that can be fully customized by the rider, who mixes the parameters available to obtain the closest solution to his needs. Traction control is by now a vital prerequisite: it uses the same operating criteria as the much admired system employed on the F3 675, with 8 different levels that are easily selected using the handlebar controls and the compact, fully digital, dashboard.
MV Agusta F3 800 Chassis
The excellent handling of the F3 675 are present on the MV Agusta F3 800. Beginning with the wheelbase of a mere 54.3 inches (1,380mm) which is a record achievement that acts as the basis of the exceptional ease of handling of this revolutionary three-cylinder.
The frame is the result of a clever combination of a main structure in ALS tubular steel and a middle section comprised of a pair of cast aluminum side plates, as well as the extended swingarm (576.5 mm) which has been designed to provide maximum traction.
The sophisticated Marzocchi front forks with 43 mm diameter legs and 125 mm of stroke offers adjustable spring preload and both compression as well as rebound adjustment.
The fork and shock valving is dedicated in order to take full advantage of the higher performance 800cc engine. The Sachs mono-shock absorber with a travel of 4.84 inches) 123 mm has a separate piggy- back nitrogen reservoir and is fully adjustable for spring preload, compression and rebound.
The brake system has been upgraded as well utilizing Brembo monobloc (M4.34a) front calipers to guarantee unrivaled braking performance even under the most severe conditions, especially at the track.
There is no change in the diameter of the two front discs (320 mm) and the rear brake system remains a two-piston caliper mated to a single 220 mm diameter disc. The tires fitted as standard are Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa; 120/70-ZR17 on the front and 180/55-ZR17 rear.
MV Agusta F3 800 Highlights:
- Three-cylinder inline, 798 cc engine
- Bore 79.0 mm, stroke 54.3 mm (+8.4 mm more than the F3 675)
- Max. power 148 HP at 13,000 rpm (+20 HP more than the F3 675)
- Max. torque 88Nm at 10,600 rpm
- 13,500 rpm limiter
- Slipper clutch
- Dry weight: 381 lbs. (same as the F3 675)
- Power-to-weight ratio: 2.57 kg/HP (-13.5% less than the F3 675, with a ratio of 2.97 kg/HP)
- New front brake set up with Brembo monobloc calipers
- Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa Tires
Color Options/MSRP (Euro Shown; US Prices Not yet Released):
- Pearl white/black / 13.99O€
- Red/silver / 13.99O€
- Matt metallic black / 13.99O€
