The raison d’être at MV Agusta should be abundantly clear by now, as the Italian company has added yet another “more affordable” model to its otherwise exclusive motorcycle line. After creating lower barriers to ownership in the Brutale line with the Brutale 920 and Brutale R 1090, we now see the F4 line getting the same treatment with the release of the MV Agusta F4R Corsa Corta. Dropping an “R” off the MV Agusta F4RR, the MV Agusta F4R is a lower-spec version of its 197hp counterpart (other publications will differ on this horsepower value, we’re sticking to the power fiure listed in kilowatts by MV).
Though featuring the F4RR’s shorter-stroke Corsa Corta motor, the MV Agusta F4R makes only 191hp (6hp less than the F4RR), due to a revised engine map and the lack of hand-ported cylinder heads. Still with plenty of power on-tap, not to mention 84 lbs•ft of torque, & full titanium cylinder valves, the 2012 MV Agusta F4R with its 423 lbs dry weight should make the spec sheet warriors happy. Other changes include lower-spec suspension, a MAG-welded frame, a revised traction control system, and a €18,800 price tag.
Replacing the Öhlins forks and shock from the F4RR, the MV Agusta F4R features fully-adjustable 50mm Marzocchi forks, and fully-adjustable Sachs rear shock. While the F4R keeps the monoblock Brembo calipers of the F4RR, the Brembo radial master cylinder has been replaced with a Nissin unit that has an integrated fluid reservoir. Similarly, the Öhlins steering damper from the F4RRR has been swapped for another maker’s unit on the F4R.
To further reduce costs, MV has even made changes to the F4R’s chassis, and has employed a MAG-welded chromoly steel tubular trellis frame (the F4RR uses a TIG-welded frame construction technique). The chassis also includes an aluminum single-sided swingarm, which the Italian company boasts weighs a paltry 11 lbs. On the electronics side of things, MV Agusta says it has improved upon its traction control system with a new algorithm, and the MV Agusta F4R will have two rider-selectable TC maps available to the rider via handlebar controls.
Pricing in Italy is set at €18,800 including VAT, though international pricing has not yet been set. We’d expect to see the 2012 MV Agusta F4R hit US soil with a $19,000 price tag, which should unsurprisingly put it right in competition with the base model Ducati 1199 Panigale. Let us know in the comments how the MV Agusta F4R tickles your fancy. Would you buy one instead of a Panigale?
Source: MV Agusta
Comments