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That’s Amoré
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MV Agusta F4 1000 R
Jeff Buchanan
11/01/2006
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Motorcycles are visceral things. They ignite the same kind of
irrational passions that fuel amorous feelings between two people. They fill the
devout enthusiasts with irrepressible euphoria, inspiring them to almost
ridiculous impulsiveness. How fitting that Italy, a country renowned for its
amoré—almost an official national treasure—would also be the romantic epicenter
of motorcycling, producing some of the world’s most alluring examples of
two-wheel lust.
 RIDING STYLE
Helmet: AGV TiTech
Leathers: MotoGP 1-Piece
Kangaroo Hide Compression Suit
Gloves: MotoGP Nitrous
Boots: Sidi
Vertigo Corsa. (Click image to enlarge)
If ever there was an Italian motorcycle manufacturer that
could be found guilty of willful temptation through the proffering of sheer
beauty, it is MV Agusta. The company has a prolific history of decimating the
learned restraints of maturity by building stellar machines, capable of driving
Homo sapiens back to our most basic, primal impulses. This is no false
predilection. The motorcycles are legendary for being as technically
well-endowed as they are aesthetically pleasing. Propagating the aforementioned,
unabashed theory of a tangible connection between technology and emotion is MV
Agusta’s new F4 1000 R.
The machine was recently revealed at the Santamonica
Autodrome circuit in Misano, Italy, the famous paved playground situated on the
Adriatic Coast, virtually in the company’s backyard. When the F4 1000 R was
rolled out in its striking black livery, it induced a quiet moment of awe among
the gathered. The dynamic flow of the bodywork and stylish Brembo Y-spoke
wheels, together with the titanium finish of the classic, staggered organ-pipe
exhaust—an established piety of F4 design—served to imbue the machine with an
aesthetic of speed. (Click images to enlarge)
A storm was brewing in the mountains of nearby San
Marino, threatening rain. The approaching crack of thunder underscored five of
the regal MV Agustas harmoniously coming to life in pit row. We took to the
track under a surreal backdrop of darkening skies and lightning strikes—a
metaphor for the powerfully electric ride ahead.
Unraveling the Santamonica
circuit, dipping the MV through corners and chasing its spirited brethren down
the straights, it became blatantly apparent this is the arena the machine was
intended for. The F4 1000 R is a surprisingly intuitive motorcycle,
immediately translating the rider’s wishes and intent to the pavement.
 The
bike is sculpted to put the rider into a deceptively comfortable sport riding
tuck; its aggressiveness is appropriate for a machine descending from MV’s
prodigious racing lineage. The situation of the footpegs, in relation to the
drop of the handlebars, drapes the rider’s body over the fuel tank, tucked in
behind the windscreen. Arms fall naturally onto the grips. The position of the
legs, in relation to the tank/seat juncture, allows effortless side-to-side body
transitions, without unsettling the machine at speed. (Click image to enlarge)
The 998cc, 4-cylinder,
liquid-cooled, 16-valve engine has undergone the most significant reworking
since its introduction in 2003. Engineers concentrated on changes to the head
and valve design to increase flow and aid heat dissipation without affecting the
established mid-range power. New forged pistons with graphite-coated skirts
raise overall horsepower. A new aluminum clutch bell housing and larger
two-plate clutch strengthen the transmission and help push that power to the
rear wheel.
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