Is there a way to combine the power of a 1000 cc bike with the handling and versatility of a 600? Well, in the case of MV Agusta->ke947, such a bike exists. It’s called the F3 and it’s got all the credentials you’d want in a three-cylinder sports bike->ke631.

I’m sometimes guilty of overstating some elements of the F3, but if you’re in my position, it’s hard not to. The bike really exceeds any kind of expectation you give it. It’s fast. It’s powerful. It handles well. But all these things might not even be the best part about the bike.

It’s also incredibly lightweight, weighing just 173 kg. That allows the F3 to boost of a power-to-weight ratio normally reserved for bikes with one liter of displacement tacked into them.

The F3 675 set the stage by combining all the elements of a tried-and-true sports bike that featured a steady diet of engine-chassis balance, a power unit packed with quintessential Italian technology and a chassis with class-leading performance on both road and track. In a lot of ways, the F3 800 took everything the 675 had and pushed it to a whole new level of power and performance.

Click past the jump to read more about the MV Agusta F3.

Design

The design of the MV Agusta F3 falls right in line with what you can expect from MV Agusta. The sleek and aggressive character of the sports bike is a treat to the eyes. Up front, you’ll see that the bike comes with an integrated fascia that carries the headlight and the windshield. A huge fairing hides the bike’s mechanical guts, creating a sportier look that really brings out the F3’s performance credentials. The red mechanical frame peaks out from inside, creating a fancy contrast from the usually monotonous color of the bike.

At the bike, you’ll see the absence of the rear fender. That’s a typical design of any sports bike, much more with MV Agustas. Standard procedure dictates that without the rear fender, the bike’s taillight now sits at the tip of the seat.

The last pertinent detail about the bike is the shapely fuel tank that creates a unique and comfortable seating position for the rider. If you’re riding a bike as powerful as the F3, you’re going to need to be as comfortable as you can get.

Design Specifications

Frame

For all of MV Agusta’s financial difficulties, one thing you can’t deny about the company is its attention to building bike frames that are some of the best in the industry. Such is the case with the F3, which features a frame made out of ALS tubular steel and a a mid-section consisting of cast aluminium side plates and a 23.7-inch extended swingarm that was designed and installed into the bike to create maximum traction.

The bike actually measures just 54.3 inches, which is pretty short for a bike this size. But what it lacks in length, it makes up for with a weight of just 173 kg. That not only makes the F3 nimble on the road, but combined with its 798 cc engine, this sports bike is capable of producing some scintillating speed runs.

Such performance capabilities needs a stout suspension set-up. MV Agusta dressed that by installing a sophisticated 1.7-inch Marzocchi front fork that comes with 4.9 inches of travel, an adjustable spring preload, and compression and rebound adjustment. At the back, there’s a Sachs mono shock that provides 4.85 inches of travel. A separate piggyback nitrogen reservoir was also added into the equation.

For its wheels, MV Agusta opted to give the F3 a set of Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa tires, measuring 120/70-ZR17 at the front and 180/55-ZR17 at the rear. The tires are complemented by a Brembo braking system with mono bloc front calipers.

Frame Specifications

Drivetrain

The MV Agusta F3 800 comes with a 798 cc three-cylinder inline engine that produces an impressive 148 horsepower at 13,000 rpm and 65 pound-feet of torque at 10,600 rpm. All that power is sent to the wheels through a cassette-type, six-speed transmission.

Remember when we told you how lightweight the F3 is? Well, that combination of weight and power shows itself with a power-to-weight ratio of 1.17 kg/hp, allowing the bike to come with an incredible top speed of 167 mph. MV Agusta didn’t say how long the bike can sprint from 0 to 60 mph, but considering that top speed, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if the F3 can hit that mark in under three seconds.

Like I said, this bike is insanely fast.

Design Specifications

Electronics

Like most of MV Agusta’s three-cylinders, the F3 features the company’s own Motor & Vehicle Integrated Control System (MVICS) platform that combines fully electronic control of throttle and throttle body with traction control.

The MVICS provides a multi-map approach, with three modes devised by MV Agusta technicians and a fourth that can be fully customised by riders, letting them tweak parameters as desired and get a solution that best suits their individual tastes.

Price

If you want the distinction of owning the MV Agusta F3, prepare to shell out a significant chunk of change to get one. Right now, MV Agusta has priced the bike at $15,798. That's a pretty steep price to pay, but if you can afford it, why not get in on it.

Quotes

“MV Agusta has announced more of its 2015 model lineup. In addition to the Brutale 800 RR and Brutale 800 Dragster RR introduced earlier, the Brutale 675, Brutale 800, F3 675, F3 800 and Brutale 800 Dragster all return for 2015. Updates include LED tail lights for all models, a more comfortable seat on the Brutale 800, and a further refined MVICS (Motor &Vehicle Integrated Control System) electronic management system. ABS is now standard on all the three-cylinder models.” ----- Sport Rider“The MV Agusta F3 800 received a model year update which sees the inclusion of a brand new red-silver dual tone livery. The motorcycle gets LED taillight for improved visibility. In terms of equipments, the F3 800 gains ABS as a standard fitment in addition to MVICS (Motor & Vehicle Integrated Control System) which not includes full ride-by-wire technology. The adjustable traction control system now offers 8-levels of settings. The 798 cc inline three-cylinder engine pushing out 148 PS (145.9 bhp) at 13,000 rpm and 88 Nm of torque at 10,600 rpm continues untouched. The transmission is a 6-speed unit.” ----- Motorcycle Feed