2008–2009 · Supersport · Buyer's Guide
194 mph, No Apologies
This is the F4 at its most extreme. A liquid-cooled 1078 cc inline-four makes 190 hp at 12,200 rpm and 91 lb-ft at 8,200 rpm. It pulls hard from the midrange and keeps howling all the way to a top speed of 194 mph (312 km/h). It sits in a steel trellis frame under one of the most elegant bodies ever put on a sportbike. The chassis is stiff and stays planted at triple-digit speeds. It has fully adjustable suspension at both ends, a steering damper and a slipper clutch. What you won't find are electronics: no ABS, no traction control, no ride modes, no IMU. Every input is yours.
Push it hard on a fast road or a track and it pays you back with stability and huge lean clearance. The sound alone justifies a lot. It's for the experienced rider who wants an MV in its purest analog form and accepts what comes with it. By today's supersport standards, the lack of an IMU and any rider aids is a real limitation, and nothing catches you if you get it wrong. Ownership needs attention too. Make sure the cam sprocket bolts were secured with thread locker, and swap the aging plastic fuel fittings. Ignore the rear hub torque value on the swingarm decal, because it's wrong. You buy this bike with your heart and keep it healthy with your head.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 190 hp (140 kW) @ 12,200 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 91 lb-ft (124 Nm) @ 8,200 rpm |
| Displacement | 1078 cc |
| Engine | Inline-four |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 190/55-17 |
| Seat height | 31.9 in (810 mm) |
| Wet weight | 434 lb (197 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 gal (21 L) |
| Top speed | 194 mph (312 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 31 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Drivetrain
Over the years I've pieced together how owners feel about this F4 from paddock conversations, club nights, long chats with people who own one, and the messages riders send me directly. The pattern is consistent. Owners love the way it's built and the way it stops. Most of the grumbling is about low-speed manners and a reliability record they describe as mixed.
Owners keep coming back to the craftsmanship. They talk about premium components and careful build quality, and about a bike they're happy to stand and look at in the garage. The brakes get almost as much praise. Riders describe huge stopping power with progressive feel, so they can brake late and stay in control. Several also say the chassis gives them the confidence to commit in fast sweepers.
A recurring complaint is fueling that turns jerky at low rpm, which owners say makes slow-speed riding hard work. The reliability picture is mixed. Some owners report niggling electrical problems and engine faults. Many others say their bikes have been reliable as long as the maintenance was kept up.
Cam drive sprocket bolts can loosen
Lack of thread locker on cam sprocket bolts from the factory can cause bolts to back out, leading to valve/piston contact and severe engine damage. More common if valve cover has been removed without re-applying thread locker.
Plastic fuel fittings embrittle with age
The plastic quick‑connect fuel line fittings become brittle over time, risking fuel leaks. Replacement with metal CPC fittings is a common upgrade.
Rear hub bearing damage from over-tightening
A factory decal on the swingarm gives an incorrect torque value for the rear hub pinch bolt. Over-tightening can collapse the hub bearing, requiring replacement.
Overheating and melted cooling fans
The engine runs hot in slow traffic, and the plastic cooling fans can distort or melt if the radiator fan operates for extended periods. An extra radiator bracket helps.
Where this MV Agusta F4 1078 RR312 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the F4 1078 RR312 is actually built for.
On a closed circuit its stability, lean clearance and top-end pull make sense. Just know there's no traction control or ABS, so your braking points and throttle discipline have to be spot-on.
Made for Barber Motorsports Park · WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca · Circuit of the Americas
The fast, open canyon roads suit its stability and that howl off the walls. The LA traffic at either end won't be kind, because the heat, the clutch and the riding position add up.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
It has the lean clearance, but it's a stiff, focused machine that wants speed more than tight, repetitive switchbacks. The long ride out there will test your wrists and your patience.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
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