Meccanica Verghera Agusta was founded by Count Domenico Agusta in 1945 as a spin-off of Agusta, an Italian aircraft company that dated back to 1923. They did quite well in developing mass produced aircraft, but WW2 meant that they had to diversify to save employees' jobs and Count Domenico was astute enough to realise that post-war Italy would need a simple and cheap method of transport.
By 1943 he’d developed a 98cc single cylinder two-stroke mated up to a two-speed gearbox and, by using parts sourced via the black market, managed to register his first motorcycle in January 1945. This was then launched to the press in Milan in the following October and by 1946 went into mass production as the MV98. Agusta branched out into helicopter design in the 50s, with the motorcycle division going on to produce one of the world’s first production transverse four-cylinder motorcycle engines in the 70s.
Following the Count’s death in 1971, the company went through the doldrums and the company ceased trading in 1980. Happily, this iconic brand was revived under the leadership of the Castigilioni family, who had made their fortune in the industrial fittings industry and had bought the Aermacchi motorcycle factory in Varese in 1978, renaming it Cagiva. Cagiva soon became Italy’s premier brand producing 40,000 bikes a year. In 1992 they acquired the MV Agusta brand and set about reimagining the brand.
Designed by Massimo Tamburini, the head of the Cagiva Research Centre, the MV Agusta F4 was his follow-up project to his previous highly successful iconic Ducati 916 design and it kickstarted the revival of the MV Agusta brand being launched in 1998. The F4 ran from 1999 until 2018 and was MV’s flagship bike.
The engine is unusual in being designed with help from Ferrari engineers and is loosely based on the architecture of early 90s Formula 1 engines – it’s similar to half a V8. Cagiva did deviate from the design significantly but retained one key element – the unique radial valve design. These angle the valves around a domed cylinder head for better swirl and valve head cooling. Keen petrolheads will note that the F4 logo on the engine cover is in a Ferrari font.
The F4 RR 312 first appeared in 2009 and uses a 1,078cc engine that develops 190bhp at 12,200rpm with maximum torque developed at 8,200rpm. It’s mated to a slipper clutch and is famed for its acceleration, while the ‘312’ model designation relates to its 312kph top speed (194mph). It was available in three colours: white/black; black/anthracite; and the classic racing red/silver that adorned many of their race bikes.
First registered on the 25 March 2010 and bought brand new from Moto Forza Italia at Silverstone by the current owner. It’s first running in service was carried out by Moto Forza Italia in April 2010 at 712 miles and they also completed its second service at 2,192 miles in February 2011. Since then it has been serviced and maintained by the owner, who is a qualified engineer and runs a classic vehicle restoration and servicing business.
All fluids were changed in April 2013 at 5,064 miles, with a general service carried out in May 2015 at 5,795 miles. The bike was then garaged with its fuel tank drained and stored under a cover on a battery conditioner until May 2015 when it was serviced and equipped with a new radiator under warranty (the original having sprang a leak). To prevent the radiator leaking again it was fitted with an additional stainless steel radiator bracket – developed by the MV Owners Club - that reinforces the original MV design and prevents it from flexing.
The water pump has been upgraded using a genuine MV Agusta uprated model that they designed for later models of F4.
It had an additional oil service in August 2016 (with a genuine MV oil filter) at 5,916 miles, a general check over in April 2018 (at 6,042 miles) and a brake fluid and coolant change in August 2021 at 6,050 miles. The mileage is currently 6,055miles. It is always run on Mobil 1 10W/60 fully synthetic motorcycle oil.
The main seat and pillion seat have been upgraded by specialist trimmer Ade Critten – an Isle of Man trimmer who is well known in MV circles – with black leather and Alcantara suede with an embroidered MV logo on the main seat and red Alcantara on the pillion (from the factory MV supply the pillion trimmed in red vinyl that doesn’t match the pillion paintwork well and the owner couldn’t live with the mismatch).
Also supplied with the bike is an original MV soft indoor bike cover, an original MV Agusta rear wheel paddock stand, a Sealey front wheel paddock stand and a Ctek XS800 battery conditioner. Thanks to this conditioner, the original Yuasa battery is still going strong.
The bike has been used to visit many of the UK’s race circuits to view the racing (it has never been on track) including the British GP at Silverstone and Goodwood Revival, with the bulk of the mileage having been weekend pottering about. The owner has avoided riding in the rain wherever possible.
The original owner is offering it for sale as his family has a new baby and they’re in the process of buying a new house which doesn’t have a garage. Much as he enjoys riding it and simply looking at it – it’s time for it to go to someone who will use it more.
The two original keys are supplied with the original MV Agusta fold-out wallet which contains a red leather key pouch, the owner’s manual, a quick manual and a product CD. The Moto Forza Italia wallet, complete with a fully-stamped up service manual is also supplied, together with all the old MoT certificates. The correct MV paint code is also supplied for the silver paintwork (the owner sourced this when painting the inner section of the fairing).
This MV Agusta is in remarkable condition having clearly been pampered by it’s only owner. The only evidence of wear is a minor boot scuff mark on the righthand footpeg plate, while the owner comments that the rear tyre could do with being replaced in the next few thousand miles. The paintwork on the fairing, fuel tank and rear mudguard is unmarked and the owner has even gone to the extent of spraying the inside of the lower section of fairing, which doesn’t usually come painted from the factory.
Underneath the side fairings, the engine, gearbox and cooling system appear free from leaks and in uncorroded and clean condition. The original frame stickers and date code stickers appear in place on the frame and underside of the seat and fairing panels, while the grips show minimal wear.
Brand names abound on the components, with Brembo front and rear calipers, Marzocchi front forks, a Sachs rear damper, adjustable CRC steering damper and forged Marchesini wheels wrapped in Pirelli Diablo tyres (the front dated week 10 of 2015, the rear dated week 46 of 2011).
The original tool set is still in place under the seat and contains a set of allen keys, plastic clips, fuses and spanners all wrapped up in a neat nylon roll. It doesn’t appear to have seen much use if any. The motorcycle will also come with the private numberplate CA10 MVA, which many Italian riders comment on: see you later - ‘Ciao’!
With regular servicing and fluid changes, this F4 seems to be mechanically in fine fettle – the coolant and brake fluid have only covered five miles! The engine roared to life instantly and sounded fantastic through the quad tailpipes, while the owner reports that the gearbox shifts seamlessly and the brake pads and discs are original. They’re clamped by beefy Brembo monobloc calipers.
The front tyre was renewed in 2015 and appears in good condition, while the rear tyre is dates to 2011 and would benefit from being renewed (though it is still MoT legal).
This isn’t a built to a budget bike, it’s much more akin to an artwork. At the time it was one of the most expensive superbikes around and there’s a premium feel to every aspect of its design. From the smallest bracket under the seat to the forged alloy wheels, there’s real design flair and love coursing through every element of this bike and the attention to detail is superb. The closer you look, the more carefully engineered intricacies you see: this is a real biker’s bike.
With just over 6,000 miles on the clock, full documentation from new and a clearly fastidious owner, this is a real opportunity to acquire a piece of biking history in the classic MV red and silver race colours.
The highlight has to be the incredible F4 engine, with its radial valves and that unique note from the quadruple exhaust stack that jut aggressively out of the rear mudguard. This was the last hurrah of the mighty 1078cc Ferrari-designed engine before the model was fitted with a smaller capacity sub-1,000cc engine to meet World Superbike racing homologation rules. The 1000cc F4 also came with the rather nannying additions of ABS and traction control, making this full-fat 1078cc F4 the last of the pure analogue MV Agusta superbikes with the monster engine.
Without doubt one of the most stylish ways to ride to the TT, or visit Goodwood Revival, with an epic Italian soundtrack to match.
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2010 MV Agusta F4
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