MV Agusta People

"Katsumoto" (katsumoto)
03/04/2019 at 21:45 • Filed to: None

I’ve got my eye on a beautiful 12 F4 R and I need to know about them.

I know I should stick to the Japanese bikes and the odd Americans, but those Italian curves caught my eye.

Anyone know anything about them? Reliability, common issues, stuff to look out for? I’ll be up in Detroit tomorrow for work, but coincidentally nearby the dealer who has it.

I haven’t spoke to the dealer, but I’m hoping cash helps the talking. I won’t be playing that card until later. It’s at Ducati Detroit, it’s a 2012 MV Agusta F4R.

From the MV forums, they’re just as reliable as any other bike, but require service regularly to keep them going.
I’ve always had a thing for MVs, I just finally get to go see one in person.

I’m just going to look, talk to the dealer, maybe even go back home and decide, then go back up and buy. I’m up that way a couple times a month, so it’s not like I HAVE to buy. I really don’t need another bike in the garage, but it’s cheaper than crack.

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DISCUSSION (16)

bob and john > Katsumoto
03/04/2019 at 22:01

the biggest issue with MV’s was simple the LACK of them. no dealers, hardly any bikes...up here, a triumph 675 was 16k out the door. the SAME MV agusat F3 675 was almost 26. 10k more. and NO dealer support.

finding parts and someone to work on them is a PITA. its not an only bike, that is for certian.

camarov6rs > bob and john
03/04/2019 at 22:05

Completely agree. If you want different go British if you want exotic go Italian!

Katsumoto > bob and john
03/04/2019 at 22:06

The working on them, I got that covered. I asked my preferred shop about it today, and they said they’ll work on it, They’d love too. They have the tools to, just haven’t ever used them.
My only problem with them is aftermarket parts. Pretty much just like my Buell. Only a few companies make parts, and I might as well stand on the corner to be able to afford them.

Yea MVs aren’t cheap. But the used market, hits them HARD. I’ve always had this thing for odd bikes. The ones that most people don’t see.
I mean I own a Buell 1125R. Fuck even Harley people think it’s a Jap bike.
I’m the only one in my area on that specific bike. I’m not the only Buell though.

bob and john > Katsumoto
03/04/2019 at 22:21

even buells are easy to find parts for compared to MV’s

Just be warned. its nice to see more of them, but as you said, used market fucked them sideways

Katsumoto > bob and john
03/04/2019 at 22:26

Yea easy to find parts for a Buell. It’s St Paul Harley/Buell or ebay. Really easy to find parts when you got 2 options.

Im going to leave my money at home, so I don’t make any rash decisions.
Going to look at it, ask around on the MV forums, really see what people say, take it with a grain of salt, and think if I want a weird bike or would I rather get a GSXR/R1/CBR.

It’s always been a dream bike of mine even before I started riding. It’s just I have a chance to get the bike I’ve always lusted after. It’s even in the color combo I want.

Going to go do some research by rewatching 44teeth’s budget bike battle Italia. Baron Von Grumble had one so I’m going really really pay attention to his bike and see what happens to it.

bob and john > Katsumoto
03/04/2019 at 23:25

keep in mind they are also in a place that has a little more infrastructure for them...

I like the bike, and a F3 800 RC is a dream bike of mine. but thats a 30K bike here, and frankly, OUCH.

Katsumoto > bob and john
03/05/2019 at 08:54

Yea, a couple hours and ill be up there and done with my work. Then I’ll be looking at her.

Yea but 44teeth bought it as a budget bike to ride a long distance. Gotta finish the series again to see how that MV did. I know Europe has the dealers and shit for them.

I suppose I could just get a Duc but the MVs are the Lambo to Duc’s Ferrari.
I’ve had a Duc before. I loved the bike but I just got tired of taking it an hour away to the dealer for service. Well I say the dealer, but it was actually a dealer that just sold “European” bikes. I had to take it there, because no one locally would touch it for anything beyond an oil change. It’s part of the reason I sold it. I was up at the dealer for service, someone asked me about selling it, I went there for service, walked out with cash, plus he paid for the service.

I suppose I need to dig into MV’s recommended service schedule for that bike and see what’s coming up, what it will need probably within the next year of me riding it. I put 6k on my Buell this past season, so I figure I’d probably do the same or close to it with the MV.

When I finally get to Detroit to do the work I need to, I’ll look at MV’s service schedule and get an idea of what all it’ll cost to own. Cuz I’m not going to pay 10k for a bike, then in the next year put 10-12k in it just because I rode it.

nermal > Katsumoto
03/05/2019 at 09:17

Parts and service availability will be the biggest issue. Add to that the fact that the company has been sold to a new owner every other year for the past decade. The bikes sure are pretty though.

Find out the service schedule for the bike to see what major maintenance is required. Check on known issues as well.

It depends on what you plan to use the bike for. Parking it and staring at it? Going to a bike show every once in a while? It will be great for that.

The actual riding experience on the street will be just as bad as any other liter bike, the MV just looks cooler . It will also be great for picking up dudes (if you’re into that). If you’re planning to track / race it, pretty much every other option in its class will be better.

Katsumoto > nermal
03/05/2019 at 09:36

Service and parts are covered. I googled around and started finding a couple sites for parts. I typically get ahold of a part number and go from there.

Service schedule is pretty heavy. It’s coming up on it’s 3800 mile service, which is just an oil change, which has been done already. It’s hard to understand the chart, because it’s got EVERY sub model of the F4 1000 on it. Then different symbols for specific groups of submodels. But it looks like most of it’s service is just check this or that until roughly 7500. Then it’s a valve check/adjustment, timing chain check/substitution, along with the guide, this and that. I’m guessing it’s only required to sub it if wear or a problem is arising.

I really plan to street ride it and meet dudes. I don’t live close enough to a track to wanna go often. I’ll probably take it to bike night, I really haven’t been to a bike show. Although I’m sure theres some around me. So yea, just street ride it, typical bike night and confuse the Harley people. Pretty much what i’m already doing with my Buell, except it’ll be a pretty hunk of plastic and metal known as MV.

I called my preferred shop about it, which can work on them. They’re looking into it to give me an idea of what the upcoming service(s) will cost.
I already have someone whose interested in my Buell, he’s only told me 1000 times he’d buy it if I sold it and even offered a fair price.
Sadly, it’s only a third of what this MV would cost. But it’s again, a fair price for it.

Oh god, I’m talking myself into it. Fucking hell. I knew if I said I’d go look at it, I’d somehow talk myself into it. Fuck me. Come on mechanic tell me a ridiculous price for work so I just look at it and walk away.

nermal > Katsumoto
03/05/2019 at 10:18

I caught the Italian bike bug as well, but ended up with an Aprilia. Great bike, dealer network is rubbish though.

You should check out a new Shiver. It will get mostly the same reaction from HD types, but be much, much better riding. Plus cheaper up front.

WiscoProud > Katsumoto
03/05/2019 at 12:21

No idea, but i’ve always found them stunningly beautiful ever since they were revived in the late 90s.

Katsumoto > nermal
03/05/2019 at 12:55

Ive had the Italian bug. I had a 1199 Panigale for a while. I eventually sold it. Between taking it to the dealer an hour away for service and idiots who couldn’t stop finger fucking it I got tired of it.

Now I’ve done looked at the MV. It’s in great shape and according to the dealer the crack by the headlight is a common issue. But I was welcome to start it and they even offered to put it on a roller in the back so I could go thru the gears.

I love it but the same reasons I got rid of my Panigale are probably going to happen to this bike. People can’t just look at something. They gotta touch it and finger fuck everything. Which is only going to get me in trouble.

I take my bike to too many places where I can’t even keep an eye on it 24/7. It’s pretty but I’ll stick to a regular bike. One people wont wanna touch or try to sit on.

If I ever caught someone sitting on it without asking I’d be in Jail. It’s a beautiful machine but I think I’m going to pass on it.

Ill just go buy a gsxr or something. At least no one will finger fuck it.

I noticed too much shit changed on my bike and I'd even stand near it and watch people touch shit. I'd have to ride it back home and just not ride it. Wasn't no point in having something I'm not riding especially a Panigale.

bob and john > Katsumoto
03/05/2019 at 22:25

good idea. I think the MV is a LITTLE easier to work on yourself as compared to t he ducati, if for nothing else that it doesnt have that stupid desmo valve system .

Katsumoto > bob and john
03/06/2019 at 10:32

I looked at the bike but ultimately decided to pass. For the same reasons I got rid of my Duc, are probably the same things going to happen again.
People wouldn’t stop touching the Duc. Fingerprints everywhere on it, buttons changed settings, actually sitting on it “for the gram”. At least with service on the MV it would be 15 mins away, not an hour like the Duc was.
Occasionally a friend with a S1000R would tag along cuz the same dealer that serviced my Duc was the one for his BMW. So he got a free ride up there for his bike and a free ride back.

I loved the bike, I wanted it, but other people touching it and sitting on it would only get me in trouble since no one can not touch something. Then I’d be taking it back home to not ride so no one would touch it. Then there’s no point.
I’m looking at this 1 mil edition GSXR. Really nothing special beyond the color scheme and the 1 out of 1985 produced. It’s just a 13 GSXR with a special paint job and color scheme.

I’ve always gave my gsxr buddies shit, but at least no one touches there bikes because theres only 200 million of them. At least with it, I can ride it, enjoy it, have fun, be able to do alot of shit to it and have almost anyone work on it. Plus Brock’s Performance is 10 mins away, and he’s the GSXR god as we all joke about. (inside joke with friends)

If brock breathed on your bike 20 hp, got a sticker, 5, he sat on it, 100. Just jokes since everyone around me has a “stock to brock” gsxr.

bob and john > Katsumoto
03/06/2019 at 10:50

is people sitting on your bike really that big of an issue in the states? I’ve never had that happen here in canada

Katsumoto > bob and john
03/06/2019 at 12:27

My Buell was outside my garage, right before I took off on a ride, nature called. Came back out to kids running away, and it laying on it’s side.

My Ducati, I was at the race track watching a buddy run his drag bike. Walked to the bathroom, which is close to where they let bikes park, people taking turns getting pics “for the gram” acting like they owned it.
Went inside a restaurant, by the time I got seated and looked at my bike, someone was sitting on it.

It happens quite a bit, either they don’t respect people’s shit. Or they act like it’s theirs so they can show off on whatever app.
I could put my jacket across the seat, it would be on the ground next to the bike from people sitting on it. I could have a small sticker that said don’t sit on it, people still would.

So at least around me, some people have no respect for other peoples shit. At bike nights, or bike heavy events, no one would sit on it. Maybe because it’s all bikers and they’d respect someone’s bike.