REVscene Automotive Forum

Been reading some reviews from regular riders and the MV is not getting positive reviews for city riding.

Here's my review of the F3. Take it for what it's worth, just one opinion (although I'm always right if you ask me, obviously).

The F3 is a very important bike for MV Agusta as it's supposed to be their big seller, a well-priced contender in the Supersport class right off the bat and their first new bike since 2002. On paper, it all looks good. A 675 cc triple engine, around 140 horses, electronic aids, everything you need really. The bike itself looks even better, I would argue that it's the best looking bike MV has ever produced (and yes, that is saying something). Also, as has been said, the quality is much, much improved recently.

So, all good then? A competitor in with the Daytona 675 and, to perhaps a lesser degree, the Japanese 600s?

In a word.. ..no.

I was so stoked when I first read about the F3 I actually had one ordered. In the end, I let it go to the next guy in line. The reason? It's probably the biggest disappointment I've had on a bike in recent years (you know, besides my numerous failings and ****ups as a rider).

Let's start with the positives. It looks REALLY good. And it sounds REALLY good. And for an MV, it's quite cheap.

Moving on.

The negatives are, sadly, vastly larger in their numbers, but perhaps the biggest issue is that it's a moronic design. I don't mean the actual engineering itself, although the thing that's supposed to stop engine breaking that, essentially, just gives the bike gas, can make you need to buy new underwear. What I mean is this: It's designed to be something it cannot be. To say that it's hard would be an understatement. I'd say we're talking levels around Chuck Norris. Essentially, what MV have done, is to produce a race bike for the street. While that may sound cool, it's not. It's awful around town. It's good, but not great, in the twisties unless you're going really fast. Where it's best is at the track, but it's even harder and more hardcore than your normal track day bike. What's the main problem with that then? Well. Nobody is going to use it as a race bike. It's too exclusive and rare for there to be any spares available. It's too new for there to be any after market products to talk about. And, since it's MV, any parts that do exist could take up to around forever to get hold of. The same issues arise for people who don't race, but do normal track days. For the latter group, I'd probably add the bad fueling and throttle response to the growing list of reasons as to why there are better options out there. What remains, then, are normal, everyday riders. And for those, there are much, much better suited options out there. Most every supersport on the market, to be honest.

Summing up, it's a rare beauty that badly fails to hit its mark. It's a race bike that won't be raced, too hardcore and impractical for your average track day rider and too badly suited for the streets. If you want a refined 675 you can use on the road and track, get a Triumph 675R. If you want an inline four Supersport, get the new GSX-R 600. If you want a bike that'll look great standing in your garage, be fun at the track if you're a really fast rider and don't crash e-v-e-r, get the MV Agusta F3.

Oh, and just to give you another opinion (although it echoes mine), here's MCN's F3 vs 675R comparison: