MV Agusta has enjoyed
enormous success after launching its first new triple, the F3 675. Not it ups
the ante with the new F3 800. Welcome the super Triple with 148 horsepower and
the chassis of a 600.
The new 798cc Triple
makes all the right noises and on full song it’s nothing short of full racing
where the soundtrack is concerned. The new version of the 800 produces a
claimed 148 horsepower at 13,000 rpm and 88 Nm at 10,600 rpm. To achieve this
impressive figure MV Agusta have added a new piston with longer stroke, new
counter-rotating crankshaft and new fuel injection with 15% more flow.
Compression is also up to 13.3:1 from 13.0:1.
MV showed us a graph
comparing the 675 to the 800, giving evidence of a 30-horsepower boost in the
6000 to 12,000-rpm range. Out on the circuit this midrange boost is felt
particularly in the corner exits where the F3 800 accelerates more like a
literbike than a tuned 675. It’s that great old concept of taking the best of
both worlds to create a proper riders machine. MV Agusta has taken out pretty
much the same effect per cylinder in the F3 800 as in the 200hp F4 RR but in a
lighter more responsive chassis.
The Marzocchi 43mm USD
fork and Sachs rear shock is the standard quality MV Agusta sportbike setup,
and the F3 800 gets these items tweaked for the extra performance of the 800
engine. The F3 800 really isn’t wheelie prone, and with such a short wheelbase,
this speaks well of the chassis. It’s easy enough to provoke one but they don’t
come naturally when circulating at speed. With Brembo Monobloc brakes (F3 675
doesn’t have these) and only 173 claimed kilos (381 lbs, dry) to stop, braking
gets physical. Perfect conditions at Misano coupled with very grippy Pirelli
Diablo Supercorsa tyres (120/70-17 and 180/55-17) enables very late braking.
Stopping power on the F3 800 is as good as it gets.
The MV Agusta F3 800 is
priced competitively. The version I tested with EAS is priced at £13,990 in
Italy, which is only £1,800 more than the 675. It’s definitely worth the
premium because the F3 800 can play with the big boys.
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