MV Agusta F3 RC
We hit the canyons with a very desirable piece of Italian exotica
In the saddle of this very exclusive raceinspired MV Agusta
MV AgUstAs Are Like the UniCOrns Of the motorcycle world — mythical creatures that exist only in the dream realm, rarely spotted in the real world. Dreams, however, do occasionally come true and, at first sight of the MV Agusta f3 rC, i was actually pinching myself to make sure i was awake. this is the sportiest, lightest, fastest, and most exclusive version of MV Agusta’s venerable f3 800 and i’m going to be spending the day with it!
MV Agusta breathed new life into Massimo tamburini’s legendary f4 superbike design with the introduction of the smaller f3 back in 2010. instantly recognizable as an MV, the f3 is clothed in voluptuous plastics that flow from the unmistakable headlight and down around that potent threecylinder engine, with several sharp creases that slice their way towards the 16.5-litre tank and carry your gaze towards the sculpted tail section. nine years later, the design is still aweinspiring and, making it even more of a head-turner, this limited-edition rC variant gets the World superbike- and World supersport-inspired livery, sprinkled with the team’s technical sponsors’ logos. the bold 37 emblazoned on the front and the sides is a reminder of the marque’s 37 Constructor’s World Championship titles across all grand Prix classes from 1952 to 1973, with legends like John surtees, Mike hailwood, giacomo Agostini, and Phil read, among others, piloting the italian machines to victory.
in case you are wondering, rC stands for reparto Corse, italian for racing Department, and, to keep things exclusive, MV Agusta’s racing Department build a very small number of these race-inspired machines every year. the motorcycle you see splashed across these pages is one of only 400 units of the MV Agusta f3 rC that will roll out of the company’s schiranna factory this year. six of these bikes are earmarked for india, and we are riding serial number 46 of 400.
Considering that at rs 21.99 lakh (ex-showroom), the f3 rC costs a whole rs 4 lakh more than the already expensive standard f3, you would expect more than an exclusive serial number and race team livery and MV Agusta have you covered. Out of the box, the f3 rC is mechanically identical to the standard bike, but buyers also get the race kit — a bunch of bolt-on upgrades that turn the already sporty f3 into an ultra-focused track tool. these include a performance-tuned eCU to replace the standard unit, and an sC Project exhaust system that features titanium plumbing and a carbon-fibre end can. these two upgrades increase peak output to 153 hp at 13,250 rpm, an increase of six hp, and are only cleared for use on a closed course. Other bits from the race kit include competition-style billet aluminium levers that fold upwards, rather than break, in case you drop the bike, aggressively positioned rear-sets to unlock ludicrous lean angles, mirror block-off plates, a rear seat cowl, and a fender eliminator. the result is eight kilograms of weight loss, for a super-light 165-kilogram dry weight. Other extras include a bespoke
bike cover, paddock stand, and a certificate of authenticity for this numbered, limited-edition motorcycle.
this bike already had all the performance parts fitted when i went to pick her up, with the exception of the mirror block-off plates; clearly somebody at the dealership made the wise decision to retain the mirrors since rearwards vision is extremely important, especially on our unpredictable streets.
swinging a leg over this extremely pretty motorcycle and settling into the thin red and black seat, i am immediately conscious of the particularly aggressive, forward-biased riding position. the tiny rear-sets are extremely high and the bars, although not too far forward, are low enough to force you into a crouch that will be agonizing to your shoulders and wrists if your lower back and core aren’t up to the task of supporting your upper body weight.
turning the key in the ignition brings the trademark lopsided lcD to life, with a large central speed readout, bar-type displays for rpm and coolant temperature, as well as a clock and a gear indicator. You can also see the selected throttle map, as well as ABs and traction control levels but, in true MV Agusta fashion, a fuel-gauge has been left out. Prospective buyers might be miffed that they aren’t getting a full-colour tft, especially at this price point, but the lcD is clear, easy to read at a glance and i like that it doesn’t look like you have a large tablet bolted on above the triple clamp. i may be fine with the somewhat basic lcD display, but the dated switchgear looks positively tacky on a machine of this calibre, and it’s about time we see an upgrade here.
there is a slight hesitation as you thumb the starter before the 798-cc, liquid-cooled triple comes to life with a menacing growl from that carbon-fibre race can. there is a fair bit of mechanical noise that can be heard through the exhaust note, and a quick blip of the throttle brings forth an angry symphony of pistons, valves and camshafts — much like what you would expect to
hear at a racetrack paddock. unfortunately, there was no racetrack within riding distance, and i had to settle for my favourite twisty road to have some fun with the f3 rc.
once on the move, i am immediately aware of how small the motorcycle under me feels, its light weight and short 1,380-mm wheelbase endowing it with extremely nimble handling characteristics. the ride-by-wire throttle is extremely predictable, smooth, and linear, with no surprises even in the most aggressive race map. What really impressed me was the spot-on fuelling and exceptionally linear power delivery through the rev-range, with no flat spots or sudden surges all the way up to the 13,500-rpm red-line.
the bike is also refreshingly easy to ride at low revs, with barely any hint of knocking even as low as 2,000 rpm; however, this is not how the f3 rc is meant to be ridden. Wind open the throttle anywhere above 6,000 rpm and the MV shoots forward with the front tyre barely skimming the road’s surface, as revs rise very fast and a hair-raising howl emanates from the sc Project race exhaust. the butter-smooth two-way quickshifter allows you to forego the clutch once on the move, and each upshift is accompanied by a single crisp pop that
makes the whole experience that much more relishable, while the auto blipper rev matches perfectly for effortless clutchless downshifts. Braking duties are managed by two 320-mm discs up front, gripped by a pair of four-piston Brembo monobloc calipers, while the 220-mm disc at the rear gets a two-piston Brembo caliper. needless to say, these anchors do a fantastic job of shedding speed and, with the threelevel ABs at its lowest setting, a two-finger squeeze is enough to effortlessly lift the rear wheel clear off the ground.
As with most italian motorcycles, the engine is suspended from a lightweight steel trellis frame, with an aluminium swing-arm and fully adjustable sachs monoshock at the rear, while a fully adjustable 43-mm Marzocchi usD fork does duty at the front. the factory suspension settings are quite firm and this, combined with the forward-biased riding position, allows the rider to feel every nuance of the road’s surface. the aggressive crouch stretches you over the tank with your head and upper body almost over the front wheel, keeping you in constant communication with the front end — just what you need when slaying apexes on a focused supersport machine. the suspension can be further optimized for hardcore track duty or dialled back for a more comfortable cruise when on the road but, with 125 mm of travel up front and 123 mm at the rear, don’t expect this bike to ever provide a cushy ride.
What the MV Agusta f3 rc is built for is attacking corners, and it does so like a precision instrument. it turns in aggressively and accurately, is stable and poised mid-corner, and the excellent throttle feel and fuelling allowed me to confidently get back on the power early to catapult out of curves with the untamed cacophony from the titanium and carbon exhaust ringing in my ears.
the sticky Pirelli Diablo rosso corsa tyres do a fine job even when pushed to the edge and, apart from a couple of wriggles when exiting corners extremely hard, they gave me no cause for worry.
the MV Agusta f3 rc is a proper italian thoroughbred and brings with it loads of capability and excitement. it needs a competent rider to get the best out of it, and it will punish mistakes severely. on the electronics front, it is not as advanced as some of the other premium bikes on the market and makes do without an inertial measurement unit (iMu), meaning that the ABs and eight-level traction control are not lean-sensitive, and it doesn’t even get leD lighting or a steering damper — a useful safety feature on a lightweight, wheelie-friendly bike. All this apart, few other motorcycles can awaken this much emotion right from the moment you lay eyes on them; ride it on the road and you will be questioned at every stop, take it to a track-day and you will have seasoned riders fawning over it, complimenting every aspect of your italian supermodel.
the f3 rc bubbles with character, is highly exclusive, and is sharp enough to decimate a racetrack with the right rider on board. if you want to own a pedigree-rich piece of italian exotica, this lightweight, fast, and nimble motorcycle has the power to make your dreams come true.
The F3 RC bubbles with character, is highly exclusive, and is sharp enough to decimate a racetrack with the right rider on board