MV F3: Why you will want one

MV AGUSTA has revealed all the details of its new 675cc F3 triple and it's specifications live up to every last inch of those stunning looks. For a bike that costs no more than a Triumph Daytona 675R (and in Italy, it's as cheap as the basic Daytona!) it looks unbeatable.

So, what do you need to know. First up there's that engine. It might be a 675cc triple like the Daytona's, but it's got a reverse-rotating crankshaft (like several MotoGP bikes and, erm, the Foggy FP1), an idea that some suggest improves handling. Power is at Triumph levels with 126bhp, but on the MV it's tamed by a sophisticated traction control system, MVICS, that uses fly-by-wire for the throttle, with tunable and pre-selectable maps – eight in total - plus launch control and anti-wheelie as well as a quick shift. As well as engine and wheel-speed sensors there's a lean angle detector so the system knows everything except what you had for breakfast.

Obviously, it's still hard to overcome those old prejudices against Italian electronics, so the idea of such a techno-fest from MV might worry some, but Ducati has already proved that the idea that Italians can't do wiring just isn't true any more.

All that tech is wrapped in a typically MV-style chassis, with Marzocchi forks, a Sachs shock, the usual Brembo brakes and a dry weight of just 173kg.

So, a unique engine, unbeatable electronics, gorgeous looks and a price tag that competes with mass-made Japanese bikes of similar performance. Lets hope the MV factory can cope with the demand.