24th June 2016

In 1998, the market had nearly consigned the MV-Augusta brand to oblivion. But then the F4 series came along. It literally changed the company’s fortunes, saving it from an ignoble end.

The F4 RR is the latest in this series of illustrious bikes from the Italian bike maker. Like a majority of super bikes these days, the F4 RR is also equipped with many electronic controls.

The F4 RR is packed with electronics

The F4 RR is equipped with an ELDOR electronic package which includes Ride-by-Wire and four engine maps. The four engine maps are throttle sensitive, maximum torque, engine braking and engine response. Each map has three settings- Normal, Rain, and Sport.

So in many ways, the F4 RR has the spirit of a dirt bike but bound in the body of a super bike. Other electronic parts include an eight level traction control, electronically assisted shift, electronically controlled Öhlins suspensions and ABS.

The engine is all-new design

The F4 RR sports a hemi 4 cylinder engine. Only some super bikes in production have this type of engine. The F4 RR’s four cylinder 998cc engine is equipped with titanium connection rods and billet pistons, giving a short throw of just 50.09 mm.

The company claims that each engine component is selected and measured individually to ensure the bike delivers maximum performance. The engine gives the bike a horsepower of 200 bhp and peak rev limit of 14000 rpm which is incredible considering this a production bike.

No complaints about the detailing

MV-Augusta has worked hard on the bike’s detailing. The bike’s frame is the same as that on the old F4 but tweaked a bit to reduce its weight. The company has made extensive use of chrome molybdenum alloy here.

The cheek-plates in the rear are crafted from cast aluminium. A single side swing-arm is moulded onto this structure. The tailpipe exhaust has been merged into the bike’s sub frame. There is no rear fender on the bike; that function is performed by the tail pipe.

The F4 RR is probably the closest thing to a racing super bike for everyday use. Everything in the bike is geared towards performance, which gives the bike an incredible speed of 185 mph.

The braking system is fitting for a super bike of this stature

Super bikes need stronger-than-average brakes. And the brakes on the F4 RR don’t disappoint. The front braking system consists of two disc brakes, with steel rotors and Brembo brake calipers to boot. The rear disc brake is complemented with a Nissin caliper.

The braking system is augmented with Bosch ABS and rear-wheel-lift-up mitigation, which helps you to cope with aggressive downshifts.

Final words on the MV-Augusta F4 RR

There is no doubt the MV-Augusta F4 RR is an incredible bike. The bike has the typical charm of European super bikes but it delivers in electronics and performance also. Note that the MV-Augusta F4 RR is not a beginner’s bike. But if you still game for it, go ahead. The steep price may put some people off from buying this bike.