#F3800

The International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) has released provisional regulations for the revamped World Supersport championship, including new motorcycles being added to the series as “Supersport Next Generation” models.

In July, MV Agusta announced the Superveloce 800 Serie Oro was going to be made in extremely limited quantities – 300 units to be exact. Those units sold immediately. We can only imagine feedback for that gorgeous piece of motorcycle art went through the roof; enough so that MV Agusta announced at EICMA 2019 the mass production of the Superveloce 800, minus the Serie Oro accoutrement.

MV Agusta has unveiled many limited edition collaborative models recently of all kinds. It has produced the LH44 edition F4 designed in collaboration with F1 Champion, Lewis Hamilton as well as the Brutale 800RR Pirelli, a tip of the hat to the tire manufacturer following MV’s decision to use Pirelli as its sole tire supplier. MV Agusta has now released its 2018 F3 RC editions. 

Today MV Agusta announced its 2018 model updates with changes to meet the more stringent Euro 4 environmental certification. The Italian manufacturer has clearly invested a ton of time, effort, and capital into the changes since it claims a 50% reduction in exhaust gas emissions and a 48% reduction in noise compared to the Euro 3 regulations. MV claims that it maintains the performance-oriented character of the models despite the previously mentioned mandated reductions.

Remember when superbikes from the late-‘80s were 750s and were the baddest motorcycles on the track, the ones we paid our hard-earned money to go watch those gods we call professional roadracers toss around at the limits of adhesion – and sanity? We do, too. But since the superbike class has moved on into the realm of the literbike (and 1200cc for Twins), many riders (and manufacturers, sadly) have forgotten the breadth of performance available from sportbikes whose displacement falls between 600cc and 1000cc.

I have to admit, I approached the MV Agusta F3 800 with a bit of trepidation. Despite reading our European correspondent, Tor Sagen’s, mostly glowing review of the bike from its overseas debut at Misano, I’d just finished riding MV’s Brutale 800, featuring the same basic engine, last week with a less than enthusiastic opinion. Quite frankly, I was expecting the fully-clothed F3 800 would exhibit the same issues that turned me off on the Brutale. Unpredictable throttle response, two-stroke-like power delivery, and an attitude that demands the rider’s full attention 100% of the time were big turn-offs for me.

MV Agusta is on a bit of a roll, most recently with the introduction of the F3 800, a third variation of the company’s three-cylinder platform we reviewed recently. Production has quadrupled over the past four years, jumping from just 2,000 bikes up to 8,000 in 2012. And 2013 production is up 27% thus far.