Varese firm unveils special limited-edition 800 triple with 160bhp and slick chassis
The rebuild of the MV Agusta firm continues apace, with new owner Pierer Mobility putting in the work to get the luxury brand back on track. And it’s launched another special edition supersports bike for 2025 at the Milan show – the MV Agusta F3 Competizione. It’s a massive overhaul of the firm’s three-cylinder supersports 800, with less weight, more power, and a sprinkling of saucy chassis kit, limited to just 300 bikes.
Agusta says the chassis is the biggest change over the base RR version, with full Öhlins suspension at both ends of the steel tubular trellis frame, which has aluminium swingarm pivot plates. The front fork is an NIX30 upside-down model with 43mm TiN-coated stanchions, fully adjustable for compression and rebound damping and spring preload, with both adjusters located at the top of the fork (the left leg works in compression, the right in rebound), allowing the rider to fine-tune the setup for both road and track riding.
Out back is an Öhlins TTX 36 shock absorber, featuring dual-tube technology and an external piggyback reservoir. It’s also fully adjustable (compression and rebound) via easy-to-use external adjusters and operates via the aluminium single-sided swingarm.
Completing the classy Öhlins spring/damper package is a 19-way adjustable steering damper, for top stability on both the road and the racetrack. The Öhlins suspension package reduces weight overall by 1kg compared to the standard F3 RR suspension.
Even saucier is the new carbon wheels, specifically developed for the F3 Competizione, which reduce unsprung mass and weight by a massive 3kg compared with standard aluminium rims. Agusta says the mods sharpen up the bike’s handling and agility, especially in quick direction changes, while also adding a touch of aesthetic prestige with their matte- finished exposed carbon, transforming them into functional works of art.
The new braking system features 320 mm diameter front discs and Brembo Stylema monobloc radial-mount calipers. The rear brake features a 220 mm diameter disc.
On the engine front, the 798cc 12-valve triple now makes 160bhp@13,500rpm when you fit the supplied titanium Akrapovic exhaust system specifically developed for the Competizione (claimed power is 147bhp in road trim). New titanium and carbon covers allow for a further 3 kg weight reduction, and the overall weight reduction on the bike is 14kg compared to the RR version, resulting in a power-to-weight ratio of 0.9 hp/kg. It weighs 185kg wet, again with the race pipe fitted.
A new 9-disk MV Agusta assist and slipper clutch offers better performance both on track and on the road, and it reduces the effort needed for the rider to pull the lever by 50%. This, combined with the MV Agusta Electronically Assisted Shift, for both upshifts and downshifts, translates to an even smoother and precise riding experience.
The F3 Competizione has had a light aerodynamic redesign too – it’s still clearly the old MV Agusta style, but some subtle aerofoils, made from forged carbon, can generate 8 kg of downforce at the front at 150mph. The aerodynamic package includes a smoked racing windscreen, carbon fibre fairing sides, and a front mudguard designed to optimize airflow for both brake cooling and engine temperature control. The firm says its goal was to maintain the excellent drag coefficient (Cx) of the F3 while counterbalancing the added drag from the aerodynamic features.
The last piece of the puzzle is a new electronics setup, with a next-generation ECU, integrated six-axis IMU and ride-by-wire throttle. There are four Riding Modes (Rain, Sport, Race, and Custom), managing numerous controls based on multiple parameters related to spatial position and engine operation, while traction control has 8 levels: 2 for Rain, 3 for Road, and 3 for Track.
The ride-by-wire throttle features a negative stroke for easier and more precise control, eliminating the on-off effect and allowing for the smooth disengagement of the standard Cruise Control. The dashboard is a 5.5” full-color TFT display, which links to the MV Ride app, allowing riders to record and share their routes, customize the bike’s setup from their smartphone, and activate turn-by-turn navigation.
The electronic package is completed by ABS with two operating modes (Sport and Race), featuring a cornering function for enhanced safety even when leaning. In Sport mode, ABS is active on both the front and rear wheels, with the cornering and Rear Wheel Lift-Up Mitigation (RLM) functions enabled.
In Race mode, ABS is active only on the front, cornering is disabled, and the RLM function is adjusted to be less intrusive. ABS can only be fully disabled when the bike is equipped with the dedicated Akrapovic exhaust mapping and is used solely on the track.
The F3 Competizione is also equipped with Launch Control, which, when paired with the Front Lift Control (FLC) system, enables 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in under 3 seconds. The FLC system manages the front wheel height during wheelies to provide maximum acceleration with maximum safety and precision.
There’s no price as yet for the F3 Competizione – but don’t expect it to be cheap! More info: www.mvagusta.com
DEDICATED KIT
The F3 Competizione, comes with a giant box of slick tricks for track use:
- Full Akrapovic titanium exhaust system (not homologated);
- Carbon fibre cover for the exhaust terminal;
- CNC-machined fuel cap;
- Lightweight fibreglass seat cover;
- Dedicated bike cover;
- Certificate of authenticity for each of the 300 units.