MV Agusta F4RR Corsacorta Review

MV’s engineers thoroughly reworked the existing F4 engine to make it more powerful. In fact, according to MV, besides the cases, cylinder arrangement and a few minor parts, the new engine shares nothing in common with its predecessor. Bore has been increased to 79.0mm (from 76.0mm), while stroke is reduced to 50.9mm (from 55.0mm), creating a highly oversquare bore/stroke ratio, just 1mm down on bore from BMW’s fantastic S1000RR.The shorter crank throws also make for a slightly lighter crankshaft. Cylinder head configuration is all new but retains MV’s signature radial valves, which now are all titanium (only intake valves were before). They also increase in size – intakes now are 31.8mm diameter (from 30.0mm), exhausts 26.0mm (from 25.0mm).

Four 49mm throttle bodies feed the air/fuel mixture to the cylinders and utilize MV’s TSS variable-length intake tracts – similar to those seen on the Aprilia RSV4 Factory and Yamaha YZF-R6. The iconic 4-into-2-into-1-into-4 exhaust arrangement is kept, now with slightly larger tapered headers.

Forged aluminum wheels replace the old cast pieces and shave 2.2 lbs of unsprung weight. Radial-mounted, monobloc Brembo calipers are mated to a Brembo radial master cylinder.

MV’s rather bold to be proclaiming the RR as the most powerful literbike on the market. So of course we had to call its bluff. Our test bike spun the drum to the tune of 172.4 hp and 74.6 ft.-lb. of torque at 13,500 rpm and 9500 rpm, respectively. If you account for 15% drivetrain loss, then the MV comes through on its 201 (crank) horsepower claim. However, chain-driven motorcycles typically only lose 10-12% from the crank to the rear tire.

Here’s the kicker: the last time we put BMW’s S1000RR, the current power king, on the dyno during our 2012 European Literbike Shootout, it churned out, get this, 172.4 hp and 74.7 ft.-lbs.! Virtually identical numbers! The Beemer hit its horsepower peak 300 revs sooner than the Italian, but reached its torque peak 1200 revs later. As far as numbers are concerned, it’s only fair to give the MV Agusta F4RR joint status as king of the literbike power hill.The MV surely delivers if it’s horsepower you’re after, but so does S1000RR, and for a much cheaper price. True, the BMW isn’t nearly as exotic as the MV, coming up way short on visual impact by lacking the sex appeal of Italian styling, a trellis frame and Öhlins suspension bits.

However, the new HP4 version recently reviewed here ups BMW’s ante with a higher-spec S1000 that includes a semi-active Dynamic Damping Control suspension. Ducati’s Panigale S one-ups the MV’s Ohlins componentry with its semi-active system with electronic adjustability. The Duc lists for $22,995, vaulting up to $27,995 for the Tricolore version.

But who cares if there are better options? The prospective MV owner accepts these quirks going in. The F4RR Corsacorta excels at getting our hearts racing each time we look at it or ride it, and for that moment in time it can do no wrong. Stay tuned as we compare the RR to another Italian, the Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC.

MV Agusta F4RR Corsacorta Gallery