The MV Agusta F4 is an inline four-cylinder sport bike made by MV Agusta from 1999 until 2018. It was the motorcycle that launched the resurrection of the brand in 1998. The F4 was created by motorcycle designer Massimo Tamburini at CRC (Cagiva Research Center), following his work on the Ducati 916. The F4 has a single-sided swingarm, large diameter () front forks and traditional MV Agusta red and silver livery. The F4 engine is also one of the few production superbikes to have a hemi-spherical cylinder head chamber design with 4 valves per cylinder.

Engine The F4 engine is a liquid cooled inline four cylinder four-stroke set across the frame with two overhead camshafts (DOHC), 16 'radial' valves, electronic multipoint fuel injection, and induction discharge electronic ignition having engine displacements of , , and . The engine was derived from the 1990–1992 Ferrari Formula One engine. Early in the design process Ferrari engineers assisted in the development of the engine. MV (Cagiva at the time) quickly deviated from the Ferrari design, but they kept one important feature, the radial valves. The F4 engine is unique in the sense that it is the only recently produced radial-valved multicylinder motorcycle engine.

Torque Shift System The F4 Tamburini, F4 Veltro, and F4 CC models are equipped with variable length intake ducts known as the "TSS" system. The "TSS" system is designed to increase torque in the low to midrange, while still allowing for maximum horsepower at the top of the rev range (usually two mutually exclusive properties of an engine). The "TSS" system has two positions, it is not able to vary the height of the intake ducts continuously. "TSS" is able to lower peak torque from the 10000 rpm to 9000 rpm while maintaining maximum power. This system debuted on the F4 Tamburini and was lauded by independent motorcycling publications such as Australian Motorcycle News.

F4 750 The 750 cc F4 went into production 1999 and continued, through various models, until 2004 when it was discontinued in favour of the newly introduced 1,000 cc models.

F4 750 Serie Oro

The first model of the rebirth of MV Agusta was the F4 750 Serie Oro, first revealed at the 1997 Milan EICMA Motorcycle show. The first production models were released to the public in May 1999. Production was limited to 300 examples, all of which were pre-sold. Many parts such as the swinging arm, frame side plates and wheels were made from magnesium. These magnesium parts were anodized gold for consistency with the name 'Oro' (Italian for gold). All painted parts, such as fairings, seat cover, front mudguard, fuel tank and air box are made of carbon fibre. Using these materials the weight was kept under (later beaten by the F4 Veltro). The Showa fork specially made for MV Agusta has fast-detach axle clamps. The six piston (front) and 4 piston (rear) brake calipers are made by Nissin. The exclusive model came with a Certificate of Authenticity and a 24-carat gold badge with the serial number on. Amongst the original owners were MV World Champion Giacomo Agostini and King Juan Carlos of Spain.

F4 750 S

The mass production model, the F4 750 S (for Strada), released in October 1999. It was essentially the same bike as the F4 750 Oro but with aluminium components in place of magnesium and ABS parts instead of carbon fibre. These changes add approximately 20 pounds to the weight of the bike. The bike has a trellis frame made of steel tubing and aluminium castings. Front forks are upside-down 49 mm from Showa, and a fully adjustable Sachs shock absorber controls the single-sided swinging arm.

Sharing the same engine as the Oro, the engine produced at 12,500 rpm. This, combined with a wet weight of , gave the bike a top speed and a standing quarter-mile of 11.09 sec at 128 mph.

The F4 750 was a single-seater (monoposto) and in 2000, the F4 750 S 1+1 (Biposto) model was introduced, which has provisions for a pillion passenger.

F4 750 S Neiman Marcus Edition The F4 750 S Neiman Marcus Edition produced for American luxury department stores chain Neiman Marcus. It was only available only from the Neiman Marcus 2000 Christmas catalog silver book ("gifts for guys"). Virtually identical to the F4 750 S except for a special brass plate with the Neiman Marcus logo stamped on the triple clamp. There were only 10 available through the Christmas Book and with each purchase, Neiman Marcus included VIP tickets to the International Superbike Classic at Laguna Seca Raceway followed by one day of California Superbike School conducted by Keith Code.

F4 750 S Evo 02 In 2002, the F4 750 S Evo 02 model was released. This model had an upgraded engine (originally intended for a SPR version that was cancelled) with reworked combustion chamber, valves and springs. New Mahle forged pistons were used in an updated block. These modification increased power by at 10,500 rpm.

F4 750 Senna

The F4 750 Senna was also released in 2002. MV CEO, Claudio Castiglioni, was a close personal friend of Ayrton Senna and introduced this special to help the Instituto Ayrton Senna, a charity founded by Senna to aid the children and young people of Brazil. Production was limited to 300 machines.

The Senna used the 136 bhp from the Evo 02 model. The cylinder heads were carefully selected to provide closer tolerances, and combined with a modified eprom, allowed the red-line to be raised to 13,900 rpm. Much of the bodywork replaced with carbon fibre items, the suspension was upgraded and distinctive wheels were fitted. The bike was finished in black with red highlighting and had a silver numbered plaque.

F4 750 S Evo 03

In 2003, the F4 750 S Evo 03 was released, which was mostly a cosmetic upgrade.

F4 750 SPR

The F4 750 SPR was released in 2003 and was intended to be the final evolution on the F4 750 platform, mainly aimed at track use. The engine was uprated from the 750 Senna with higher compression pistons, redesigned inlet and exhaust post, refrofiled combustion chamber and hand polished inlet port. Additionally, the camshaft, tappets and valve springs were also changed. These modifications allowed the SPR to produce at 13,000 rpm ( with the optional race exhaust and chip). The clutch was uprated and a close ratio gearbox fitted.

The bike had uprated suspension, 50mm Marzocchi Titanium nitride coated forks were used at the front and a race quality Sachs shock absorber on the rear. Much of the bodywork was in carbon fibre. The bike was finished in black with polished aluminium wheels. This was a limited-edition model with only 300 units made.

F4 750 SR A limited-edition F4 AGO had been planned based on the SPR, but a change in plan saw the AGO use the new 1,000 cc engine. To use the 750 SPR engines that were intended to go into the AGO, the SPR engines were put into 750S chassis and the model designated the F4 750 SR. Gold exhausts similar to the Serie Oro were added, and white faced instruments which displays Agostini's signature in red, as later used on the AGO model, were added. The machine was painted in the traditional MV livery of red and silver. This 2004 limited-edition model was the last F4 750 to go into production, which was limited to 300 units.

F4 SP-01 Viper The F4 SP-01 Viper was a limited-edition upgrade kit that could be fitted to the F4 750S, produced by MV's Reparto Corse department. The kit could also be fitted to the F4 1000S. The kit consisted of carbon fibre bodywork, a titanium treated windshield, magnesium wheels, embroidered Alcantara seat and side mirrors. The kit was finished in silver and blue and came with an 18 carat gold plaque engraved with the number of the kit and a certificate of authenticity signed by designer Massimo Tamburini. The upgrade was limited to 50 units.

F4 1000 The F4 engine was originally designed to meet the then 750 cc limit of the Superbike World Championship, although an experimental 898 cc version was produced in 1998. With the sports bike market moving towards 1,000 cc machines, the motore grosso (big engine) project was revived by MV's head of engine development, Andrea Goggi, in 2001. MV had previously been approached by Steven Casaer of Maxim Experience team, to enter an MV in the FIM Endurance World Championship. An agreement was reached for the team to enter the 2001 & 2002 WEC, using the motore grosso. Various engines of 898, 952 and 998 cc were used. With the experience and development from the partnership with the Maxim Team, MV entered Andrea Mazzali in the Italian Superbike Championship on a 1,000 cc machine, which was code-named the F5, for further development and testing. (Rule changes to the Superbike Championship allowed 4 cylinder machines for 2003)

The 1,000 engine was first used in production machine in 2005 with the introduction of the F4 1000 AGO.

F4 1000 AGO

Like the F4 750 and the Oro, the new F4 1000 product line began with a special edition F4 1000 called the F4 1000 AGO in 2005. The machine was a tribute to multiple champion, Giacomo Agostini, who had won most of his championships on an MV. It premiered the new 998cc engine, which produced 166 HP (122 kW) at 11,750 rpm and had a red-line at 12,700 rpm. The frame was derived from the 750 cc item, 49 mm titanium nitride coated Showa front fork were used and a Sachs Racing shock absorber controlled the rear. Brakes were the same as used on the Oro, Nissin 6 pot calipers and discs with a gold flange. Wheels were a new design from Marchesini, forged in aluminium alloy.

Finished in classic MV Agusta red and silver, the single-seater bike came with special graphics prominently displaying the number "1" in a yellow oval in reference to MV Agusta's racing heritage and rider Agostini. The seat was finished in red Alcantara, with an F4 logo embroidered on it. The instruments had white faces with blue markings, and the rev-counter featured Agostini's signature. Production was limited to 300 bikes.

F4 1000 S

The first mass-produced F4 1000, the F4 1000 S, was released in 2005 and came with the same 166 bhp engine of the AGO model. Compared to the previous 750 cc models, the 1000 S was fitted with 50 mm Marzocchi front upside-down fork and Sachs rear shock absorber with hydraulic control of spring pre-load. The screen had been re-profiled and adjustable footrests fitted. The machine was available in red/silver, silver/yellow, Silver/Blue and Matte Black. Top Speed was and a standing quarter mile in 11.4 seconds.

The 1000 S was a single-seater, but was available as the F4 1000 S 1+1 version with provision for a pillion a passenger.

F4 Tamburini

The F4 Tamburini was a special edition of the F4 1000 S released in 2005. It was the first F4 to be equipped with the Torque Shift System (TSS), which varies the length of the intake trumpets with speed in order to provide optimum torque at low and high engine speeds. Engine output was a claimed at 11,750 rpm and claimed top speed was . All the bodywork was carbon fibre except for the fuel tank. Only 300 were produced. The bike is named after its designer Massimo Tamburini.

F4 1000 Mamba First shown at the 2003 Milan EICMA Motorcycle show, the F4 1000 Mamba was a collection of three kits to upgrade the F4 1000 S. The livery was red and black (and clear coated carbon fibre on the limited edition kits). The colours were inspired by the black mamba snake. The three versions were:

Standard Kit Basic Kit Full Option Kit Unlimited production Production limited to 300 units Production limited to 300 units Plastic bodywork in red/black Black painted metal fuel tank Black Alcantara seat Carbon fibre bodywork in clear/red/black Black painted metal fuel tank Black Alcantara seat Engraved plaque with the number of the bike Carbon fibre bodywork in clear/red/black Carbon fibre air ducts, wiring covers, air-box panels, chain & footrest guards Black painted metal fuel tank Black Alcantara seat Silver Marchesini ten-spoke forged aluminium