MV Agusta F4 1000 R 312 2009 — Specifications

312 km/h. The figure sits on the spec sheet like a provocation, a raised finger to the road safety establishment. With the 2009 MV Agusta F4 1000 R 312, the Varese firm doesn't merely slap a new sticker on its superb Italian machine. It lays claim to the title of the world's fastest production motorcycle. The Hayabusa can shelve its arguments, and so can the Ninja ZX-14. The throne has changed nationality.

Where Japanese manufacturers apply a well-oiled industrial approach — a facelift every two years, an all-new model every four — MV Agusta plays a different tune. The F4 1000 has existed for years and never stops reinventing itself through subtle refinements, iteration after iteration. The R 312 version pushes this logic to its final limits. Beneath the fairings, the 998 cc inline four-cylinder produces 183 horsepower at 12,400 rpm and 112.8 Nm of torque at 10,000 rpm. The gains over the standard R come from meticulous intake work: lengthened ducts, port sections widened from 46 to 48 mm, revised camshafts, and titanium intake valves. The latest-generation Magneti Marelli injection system orchestrates it all, and the beauty remains Euro 3 compliant. With a 13:1 compression ratio and a bore/stroke of 76 x 55 mm, this engine is a concentrated piece of race technology adapted for the road.

The chassis stays true to the house philosophy: uncompromising, premium-grade hardware. The chrome-molybdenum steel trellis frame houses a 50 mm Marzocchi inverted fork with 129 mm of travel, while the rear monoshock provides 120 mm of travel. Braking duties fall to two radially mounted 320 mm discs with four-piston calipers up front, complemented by a 210 mm disc and its four-piston caliper at the rear. Brembo components, forged aluminum wheels. This is far from an aftermarket accessories catalog — everything is fitted as standard. At 192 kg dry, the machine stays within its class norms, and the 21-liter tank promises respectable range for a sportbike of this caliber.

Among the notable additions on this 312 version, an EBS traction control system secures the most brutal accelerations. The seat, perched at 810 mm, remains accessible to average-sized riders. The rubber in 120/70-17 at the front and 190/55-17 at the rear are standard hypersport dimensions. On the styling front, MV offers three liveries, including a pearlescent white on a dark base that gives the machine the look of a rolling concept bike.

The price, however, is a reminder that Italian passion comes at a cost. At 21,990 euros, the MV Agusta F4 1000 R 312 sits firmly above the Japanese sportbikes that deliver comparable performance for several thousand euros less. But comparing this machine to a CBR or an R1 purely on price-to-performance grounds is missing the point entirely. The F4 is aimed at demanding enthusiasts — those who want to ride a piece of mechanical craftsmanship and are willing to pay the premium for exclusivity, artisanal expertise, and that particular thrill only a thoroughbred Italian can deliver. This is not a bike for beginners, nor for the daily commute. It is an object of desire that must be earned, on the open road as much as on the track.