MV Agusta F4-1000

Call me Earl.

You may have noticed a gratuitous tag to the June KR ‘Quick Spin’ on the Honda Hornet? The one where I talked about the ‘Karma’ of saying good things about motorcycles and how that had led me to be astride the shiny new Hornet?

OK maybe not, but the last line was a tongue in cheek reference to MVAgust F4 1000’s and Xena the Warrior Princess - and that as if by mentioning them kindly the favour would be returned...

Bugger me, the phone rings;‘Dave?’
‘Yo,’
‘Sarge.’
‘Zuuuppp Sarge?’ (I speak his native tongue)
‘Hey man, we’ve got the MVAgusta demo in store - How would you like to take for a few days and do your thing?’
‘Mate, let me think about it, I’ll be there in 3 minutes.’

MVAgusta purports their range as ‘Motorcycle Art’ and to look at the grace and line and style of the MV it’s hard to argue.

It is indeed a visually stunning motorcycle; the combination of red (or blue) and silver grey bodywork enhances its somewhat organic (no straight lines in nature) curves.

The stunning lines are achieved with sweeps and curves that are almost at odds with the ‘stealth bomber’ lines and angles currently popular amongst many manufacturers new models.

To quote from the MV Press release:
“A design and technology specimen in constant evolution reaching, with the new F4 1000S, its synthesis in performance and emotional limits.
The star of this new race is the new propeller able to express the domineering 166 horse power strength. A strength that permits the F4 1000S to cleave the air reaching a speed that opens doors to a new legend: that of the most beautiful and fastest motorcycle in the world.’

I think that may lose a little in translation – but worth a glimpse into the Italian Psyche and the philosophy of the designers.

I was more wont to describe it as a two-wheeled Ferrari for the analogy with the free revving Italian four-wheeler is not that big a leap. Both stunning looking, fast thoroughbreds that rev forever.

And whilst there will always be someone to claim that a (insert example here) is faster, I’d be pretty confident in saying it’s the most potent weapon this old stager has thrown a leg over. The Ed was bound for Pukekohe to make a full assessment after I had this street run.

Day-yam it’s quick. The Speedo is calibrated to 17,000rpm – and you only need the first 5,000 to ride it fast. Nail it on the on ramp or the open road and you are at the speed limit a moment after hooking second gear – and it just keeps revving and revving and pulling smoothly right up to where I was too busy watching the world slide by at an amazing rate and screaming inside my helmet ‘wooohooooooooooooooooo!, ‘Bloody hell’ and other expletives and I coped with the shoot-you-out-of-a-cannon like acceleration that seems to go forever.

This is not only a motorcycle for the well heeled at around $39,000 – it is also one for the strong willed. A certain amount of personal restraint is necessary to resist the temptation to engage the hyper drive.

It’s an intoxicating and exhilarating surge, but one that will have Mr Plod away with your license by the first part of 2nd gear if used injudiciously. But that is not to say that the machine can’t be ridden enjoyably at lower speeds – even for a bimble around town.

It needs a bit of a rev every now and then to ‘clear it’s throat’ but it handled Auckland traffic without complaint – some engine heat was evident in the cockpit at 10kph through Newmarket, but around town the only fight I had was with ‘temptation’.

On the open road the manners could only be described as impeccable. Solid, neutral steering with great feel and feedback.

The boys at Colemans had loaded up the preload in anticipation of my Gorilla like proportions and the ride was firm but not uncomfortable. Which is also how I found the ride. I’m way too big for the bike – looked quite comical and had my legs folded up to max, but an average sized pilot will find the ergonomic a ‘middle europeran’ style crouch – The bars are low and the seat is high and the position is far closer to racing than street riding, but with the surge of acceleration and the way the bike tips in – it all seems quite appropriate.

When I told the co-pilot of the way the series of events that were unfolding – she said ‘They’ve been trying to get me in a Xena costume for years darlin’, but nobody has come up with a decent reason yet. Do you think you’ve found one?’
Looks like ‘Karma’ might even do the business there, too.

So…did I tell you how much I enjoy the way those Super Motard guys ride?

First Published in KIWIRIDER 2006