Description
Additional photos of this MV Agusta F4 RC are available here for your perusal.
The MV Agusta Company began as an offshoot of the Agusta aviation company formed by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923. The Count died in 1927, leaving the company in the hands of his wife and sons, Domenico, Vincenzo, Mario and Corrado. Count Vincenzo Agusta together with his brother Domenico formed MV Agusta at the end of the Second World War as a means of saving the jobs of employees of the Agusta firm and also to fill the post-war need for cheap, efficient transportation. The brothers had a passion for mechanical workings and for motorcycle racing. Much like Enzo Ferrari, they produced and sold motorcycles almost exclusively to fund their racing efforts.
It’s one of the grand old nameplates in motorcycling, MV Agusta, steeped in racing tradition. From its inception to 1976, the company would win some 270 Grand Prix roadraces and take home 27 world titles. Some of the greatest talent ever to race on two wheels: John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read all rode Count Domenico Agusta’s wailing race-bikes.
Unfortunately, the company didn’t survive to the 1980s. But saving it from complete extinction came the Castiglioni brothers, owners of Cagiva, who had already saved Ducati from the throes of bankruptcy, and now they turned their attention to bringing MV back to life. And what a resurrection! Designed by Massimo Tamburini, father of the seminal Ducati 916, the 1999 MV Agusta F4 was a high-revving 750cc four-cylinder, painted red and silver just like the Count’s old racer winners, and with a trademark quad array of high-mounted exhaust tips. In 2005 an engineering redesign ushered in the F4 1000, giving the company an ultra-competitive player in the liter-class sport-bike wars.
While the F4 is special, this is the F4 RC (Reparto Corse), an upgraded version intended to be used as a basis for World Superbike competition. Just 250 were produced, and they were significantly changed from the standard F4 and the F4 RR in order to reduce weight by more than 15 pounds. All the engine covers are manufactured from magnesium, and titanium hardware is used throughout. The pistons, connecting rods and crankshaft have all been redesigned for lighter weight.
The radial-valve engine is hand-assembled, and features new intake and exhaust ports. Maximum power in stock trim is 205 horsepower at 13,450 rpm. The RC’s electronics package features MV’s MVICS 2.0 system and an Eldor ECU with ride-by-wire throttle. Throttle sensitivity, maximum torque, engine braking, engine response and the rev limiter can all be adjusted. The 8-level traction control system takes its cue from an inertial platform that has a lean angle sensor, three gyroscopes and three accelerometers, and also takes data from the bike’s ABS rings.
On the chassis side, dimensions are similar to the RR model, but the chromoly section of the RC’s frame is tig welded by hand and the swing-arm pivot is now adjustable. Suspension components include a TiN-coated Ohlins NIX 30 fork and an Ohlins TTX 36 shock (without the RR’s electronic adjustability), and the wheels are forged magnesium. Brembo M50 monoblock calipers work on 320mm discs, and ABS is provided by a Bosch 9-plus Race unit with rear wheel lift-up mitigation.
Carbon fiber is used for the side panels, lower fairing, fenders, chain guards, airbox lid and intake covers. All this, and more, swathed in the seductive streamlined carbon fiber fairing is one of the most powerful, fastest and hardest-hitting F4s ever. Built to race and weave around Superbike racetracks, igniting the dreams of even the most demanding enthusiasts.
The seller put a deposit on this F4 RC (VIN: ZCGMCFTW5FV006422) on November 4, 2016 – once it was delivered he immediately put it on non-operation status with the California DMV and put it on display in his collection where it has sat ever since.
The odometer shows just 6 miles.
The sale includes two keys, the code card, a sealed Welcome Kit, “Battery Scheme”, copy of the original PNO receipt, MV Corse stand, as well as what Sandro calls the “crate of goodness” that came with every RC. In the crate are MV-branded tire warmers, Termignoni exhaust, battery charger, keyless fuel cap, seat cowl, and more. Please note that the bike has been photographed with two different stands – this RC comes with the black stand with red wheels.
The RC is the pinnacle of MV’s technical capability for the street, and this is as minty of an example as you’ll find of this limited-production iconic motorbike.
