MV Agusta F3 evolves

Development of the MV Agusta F3 is gaining pace ahead of its September production deadline, with sales of the 675cc triple expected to begin in Europe from October or November.

The three-cylinder 'hypersport' model is being pounded on the race track and the road, day in and day out, by MV Agusta's test riders and, according to a recent press statement, the new bike is shaping up very nicely indeed.

"It is becoming ever more evident that this new model from MV will become the reference by which all other middle-weight hypersport motorcycles will be judged," claims MV Agusta, adding that the F3 motorcycle "...has already exceeded the high expectations of the development team with regards to power and handling."

While MV Agusta is still keeping tight-lipped about specific power outputs, it has let slip a new nugget of information that should keep Italian sports bike fans happy, revealing that the engine has eclipsed the 135hp (99kW) mark and revs more than 15,000rpm.

The MV Agusta F3's closest competitor, the Triumph Daytona 675, outputs around 126hp (93kW) and 72Nm, so already the MV is ahead of its rival. There's a chance the Italian bike could push 140hp (103kW).

The Castiglioni's are clearly very happy with the development of their new model, stating that "The dynamic performance of the engine has had a direct positive impact on the motorcycle as it combines the perfect combination of over-rev typically found on four cylinder engines with the increased torque offered by a three cylinder engine configuration."

MV Agusta has also revealed that the F3 will be packing a counter-rotating crankshaft, "a defining feature that separates the F3 from the competition" and "guarantees superior handling that cannot be matched by motorcycles with a conventional engine architecture."

We'll hold our judgement on 'guaranteed superior handling' until we ride the bike, which probably won't arrive in Australia until early 2012 at this stage. But it sounds as though it'll be worth the wait.

Other morsels of information that have been revealed after the latest round of road and track testing include an advanced electronics suite, which will comprise ride-by-wire electronic throttle and, well, not much else at this stage.

We were hoping for a full range of traction control options, but such features are likely to make their debut on the next generation F4, the range-topping sports bike in the MV Agusta range.

The switch for the F3's production will flicked in September and you bet your bottom dollar the new MV Agusta sports bike will make its debut at the 2011 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan in November.

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