By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport
MV Agusta F4 1000 R (MY2007) vs F4 1000 (MY2010-RR)
MV Agusta F4 1000 R vs 2011 MV Agusta F4 1000: which one to buy for the riding you do.
Turn the MV Agusta F4 1000 R into a bend and you'll feel the front tell you through the bars exactly where it's gripping. The 2011 MV Agusta F4 1000 needs a firmer push on the bars and doesn't hurry into the turn. Once it's leaned over, it holds that line without a twitch.
So which one do you buy?
The 2011 F4 1000 has the edge if…
Racetrack use
Small edge: 2011 F4 1000
Lap after lap, the 2011 F4 1000 noses ahead. Put it down to more suspension adjustment. Your own riding will make a bigger difference than this gap.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: 2011 F4 1000
On a twisty road, the 2011 F4 1000 edges ahead. Credit better suspension. Not by enough to settle it alone.
What makes each one tick
F4 1000 R
Up top, the F4 1000 R's radial-valve four pulls without letup, and there's no other four that sounds quite like it. Below that rush, the fueling's jerky and slow traffic takes careful clutch work. A mid-corner bump soaks into supple suspension. The steel trellis frame keeps reporting what the tires feel.
2011 F4 1000
Near the top of the rev range, the 2011 F4 1000's four gets ferocious. The high pegs and low clip-ons don't leave a tall rider much room, and street miles get uncomfortable. Pinned near redline, the throttle answers with a rush that's like no other superbike's. The quad exhausts howl with it.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The F4 1000 R has the lower seat: 31.9 in (810 mm) vs 32.7 in (830 mm).
- The 2011 F4 1000 makes more peak power: 200 hp (147 kW) vs 174 hp (128 kW).
- The F4 1000 R has the larger fuel tank: 5.5 US gal (21 L) vs 4.5 US gal (17 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both miss here
Hours in the saddle won't flatter either of these. They're happier on shorter runs.
Don't look for a gap on commuting and running costs: there isn't one. Go by how each one fits you.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
F4 1000 R
What owners say
Strengths
- Breathtaking Tamburini styling
- Exhilarating inline-four engine
- Superb handling and chassis feedback
Trade-offs
- Abrupt low-RPM throttle response
2011 F4 1000
What owners say
Strengths
- Exotic Italian design and exclusivity
- Thrilling, high-revving inline-four engine
- Stable and precise handling
Trade-offs
- Heavy weight for its class
- Spotty reliability and expensive maintenance
Known problems to check before you buy
F4 1000 R
- Jerky low-speed fuelling Throttle response is abrupt and inconsistent up to 4000 rpm, causing snatchy on/off transitions. Can be mitigated with a custom ECU remap.
- Overheating risk Engine temperature rises quickly when stationary or in slow traffic; the stock plastic fan blades can fail, increasing risk.
2011 F4 1000
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Dry weight
- 423 lb (192 kg)
- Displacement
- 998 cc
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Fuel economy
- 33 mpg (US) / 7.1 L/100 km
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 320 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 190/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| F4 1000 R | 2011 F4 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.9 in (810 mm) | 32.7 in (830 mm) |
| F4 1000 R | 2011 F4 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 174 hp (128 kW) | 200 hp (147 kW) |
| Peak power at | 11,900 rpm | 13,400 rpm |
| Torque | 82 lb-ft (111 Nm) | 84 lb-ft (114 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 10,000 rpm | 9,200 rpm |
| F4 1000 R | 2011 F4 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 US gal (21 L) | 4.5 US gal (17 L) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| F4 1000 R | 2011 F4 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Not offered | Option |
| Traction Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Ride Modes | Not offered | Standard |
| Slipper Clutch | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
