MV Agusta F4 1000R

[Hudson]

George, I think maybe you and Pops should swing by tomorrow.

 

[ahchiu]

This is one drop dead sexy bike, I had to take a personal moment when I saw it.

 

[Hudson]

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

After the unfortunate demise of the 312R, I went back and made an offer for the 1000R. Functionally it is the same as the 312R, but with different internals on the motor. Otherwise, a carbon copy. The new one has a mere 1350 miles and is mint. A deal was struck, hands were shaken, money exchanged, and wheels loaded.

The 312R is absolutely rebuildable. The frame was ground down a bit on the right side, but not dented or bent. The rest of the plastics (nose, rear, mirrors) suffered predictable rash. The forks look fine, though the bottom features some nice rash.

To get it ship shape as a track bike, the 312R needs:

1. New front rim/tire
2. Right side fairing
3. windshield (cracked)
4. front brake lever
5. rear brake pedal

The question is really what to do with it. I can keep it as a parts bike, as nearly everything is transferable. Or I can add those 5 items, and now I've got a track bike/beater that I needn't worry about crashing.

I had a crazy thought to build it back as a Brutale style naked bike (effectively, a naked flat bar version of the F4) - a true canyon hooligan, with a more upright bar, and leaving the side fairings off, but fitting some sliders, or adding cheap track fairings with a matte-black finish. But the main obstacle seems to be locating a triple clamp, plus new cables, that would accommodate a wider flat bar like the Brutale has.

 

[Auburn]

I vote for a track bike...although I have ulterior motive of taking you up on the test ride on the track

 

[Hudson]

Help me build her back, and you have all the free access you want, my brother.

 

[Auburn]

Deal !!!

 

[HotRodZilla]

Well, that explains why Auburn called me looking for a 3/8 ratchet and asked me to recite the "righty tighty, lefty loosey" mantra to him.

 

[gixxerjasen]

Well, this thread took a nasty turn in a hurry.

 

[Hudson]

So while I've been healing up the past week, I decided to get busy rebuilding the wrecked 312R, as well as performing a "tank-ectomy" on the 1000R. Luckily, these bikes are nearly identical except for some internal mechanical bits in the engine. The 312R had titanium valves, different cam, ECU, and made another 9 horses, whereas the standard 1000R made do with steel valves and 175 horses. The 312R makes its extra power up high, whereas the 1000R has a bit more low end grunt. Both of these engines will easily eclipse my skills.

Here's the damage count for the 312R:

Ground the frame down on the side, plus a slight dent,

Rear brake pedal and peg gave their best:

Plastic cowl, bar end, and brake lever said goodbye.

But other than the fairing damage and front wheel, the 312R made it out better than you'd expect out of a 60mph 150 ft slide. In fact, beyond the damaged bits above, and some scrapes on the nose, mirror, and rear cowl, that was essentially it. So of course I bought the bad girl back from insurance, especially since the tank was in mint condition, and the price was right.

Here she sits, waiting for a new set of wheels, brake lever and peg bits, and some plastic. I pulled her clean tank off:

And replaced it with the slightly dimpled tank from the 1000R. This will complete the 312R's "bruiser look":

Meanwhile, the 1000R is all smiles cause she'd got her beauty mark removed and is otherwise mint.

So far, not a bad outcome, but let's see how the rebuild progresses. Both bikes fired up with ease, but gotta see whether the 312R's marks are more than skin deep. Ebay and the helpful blokes at MVAgusta.net helped me source the wheels, brake levers, pedals and such, and now just got my eye out for some plastic bits

 

[wingshot]

Awesome. Still desire to meet the Italian ladies in the near future. Need grunt help for track day, please call.

 

[Hudson]

How much fun to take the PNW crew to Pacific Raceways for day, eh?

 

[Auburn]

Or the Ridge...

 

[Hudson]

Never ridden the Ridge. I did read where this bike seems to like faster straights and sweepers rather than tighter corners, compared to its lighter Japanese rivals. Of course, that's with riders who actually know what they are doing and can use the bike to its full potential (certainly you, definitely not me).

I've driven the Ridge in Porsche 911s and Panameras, and Pacific Raceways in a variety of cars, but never on bikes. The Ridge track struck me as much tighter than SIR, which has that really nice long straightway plus the faster back stretch.

 

[Hudson]

Guess who just scored a mint condition, unblemished, red-powder-coated frame for an MV Agusta F4, for super cheap on ebay! The 312R comes back to life in all her full glory.

 

[Uncle Hud]

She's ... ummm ... well ... beautiful. Gorgeous. And so very Italian. She's definitely moto-porn.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Guess who just scored a mint condition, unblemished, red-powder-coated frame for an MV Agusta F4, for super cheap on ebay! The 312R comes back to life in all her full glory.

Congrats Hudson! Unlike our FJR parts-swapping exploits, I'm betting this one will take longer than a weekend.

--G

 

[Happytrails63]

If I had the money I'd buy one and set it in my living room.