Beschreibung:

It was every motorcycle enthusiast’s fervent hope that, having bought the rights to arguably the most famous and charismatic name in motorcycle racing history, Cagiva would not let the MV marque remain dormant for long. MV became part of the Cagiva group in 1991 and sure enough, before the decade’s end its unmistakable emblem was once again adorning the flanks one of the world’s most fabulous motorcycles - the F4. Introduced to the public at the 1998 Milan Show, the F4 has already become part of MV legend. In a publicity masterstroke, the factory announced that, most unusually, production would commence with a limited edition run of just 300 very special F4s - the ‘Serie Oro’ (Gold Series). Production, at the leisurely rate of just three machines per day, commenced late in 1999 at MV’s new factory at Cassinetta di Biandronno, Varese. Designed by Massimo Tamburini, creator of the Ducati 916, the F4 employs a tubular-steel trellis frame, broadly similar to the Ducati’s, beneath which hangs the water-cooled double-overhead-camshaft 16-valve engine. The latter was designed by Ferrari and is unique among modern multi-cylinder motorcycle engines in so far as each cylinder’s four valves are disposed radially, rather than as opposed pairs. Equipped with a state-of-the-art Weber-Marelli engine management system, this lightweight and compact power unit produces 126bhp. A cassette-type six-speed gearbox enables ratio changes to be made without splitting the engine. Recording his impressions of the F4 Oro for Bike magazine, Alan Dowds wrote, ‘“Deceptively quick” is a real biking cliché, but it’s true here. The Weber-Marelli fuel injection worked perfectly, delivering seamless drive from low down the rev range up to the wailing 14,500 redline. The combination of weight distribution, sharp steering angle (easily adjustable, should you feel the need) and committed riding position means that hanging off and chucking the F4 into bends is a joy.’ And the brakes? ‘These are the brakes of the future and every bike should have them.’ Phil Read and Giacomo Agostini, both of them past World Champions for MV, starred at the F4’s UK launch at Mallory Park in 1999. The following day Phil told Cagiva President, Claudio Castiglioni that MV had produced ‘the best handling and most beautiful sports bike in the world’ but nevertheless made a couple of criticisms: the handlebars trapped the rider’s thumbs at full lock and the F4 didn’t sound like ‘the Ferrari of motorcycles’. At the Varese factory the following year, MV designer Massimo Tamburini handed Phil the keys of this F4, which bears a special presentation plate commemorating the occasion, fixed to the top yoke. However, as Phil recalls, the ’bars still trapped the rider’s thumbs on full lock and the bike still didn’t have the exciting exhaust note it deserved! After some months of working with professionals, Phil fitted carbon-fibre thumb recesses; a rear wheel hugger to keep dirt off the engine; a sports exhaust system with carbon-fibre end-can and a new ECU chip from Superchips. The soft front fork springs were changed to harder multi-rate ones, an Öhlins rear damper installed and Dymag carbon-fibre wheels fitted to make the F4 handle more like a 250. On a subsequent return trip to the factory, Phil’s F4 was upgraded to the latest specification, receiving new cams and pushers, twin radiators and a new wiring harness, while the gear shifter cam plate was replaced. Phil advises us that owners of standard F4s who have track tested his very special F4 cannot believe how good and light it feels, while all are excited by its wonderful sound. This unique machine is offered with dynamometer test sheet and Swansea V5 registration document.