Eicma 2012 live: news from the MV Agusta stand

What has always characterized Mv Agustas most is that mix of design, power and driving pleasure that makes them unique, unmistakable motorbikes. It is no coincidence that at the Milan EICMA 2012 show the latest creations from the Varese company were among the most admired.

The F4 1000 cc super sports bike fully reflects their "Motorcycle art", which in its three versions, basic, R and RR, represents a crescendo of technical equipment of absolute reference in the super sports bike sector. All three versions are equipped with the latest evolution of the exceptional "Corsa Corta" engine, capable of delivering 200,8 HP in the RR version, which boasts, among other things, titanium connecting rods and maximum rotation speed raised to 14.000 rpm, while in the basic and R version it stops at "only" 195 HP. Aesthetically we have different colors for each version, all very pleasant, and which adapt well to the nature of each of them: simple and elegant graphics for the basic F4, more sporty for the R and RR. Even the stylistically most valuable piece of this bike, the "organ pipe" exhaust, has been revised; it seemed impossible to make it even more fascinating but we must say that the result obtained is truly impressive, once again an authentic masterpiece of Made in Italy style. Now the shorter external terminals stop almost halfway down the tail, while the central ones extend right under the rear lights. In terms of chassis, the F4 range is equipped with another of the Varese company's trademarks: as per tradition, in fact, the front part is made of chrome-molybdenum steel tubes, while the rear part which houses the single-sided swingarm is made of light aluminum alloy plates. Going too far, we can say that bikes like this could easily be on the starting grid of the circuits or in an art museum.

For those who are torn between the power of a 1000 and the ease of riding of a 600, today's market offers a wide choice of motorcycles that fall halfway between the two "usual" ranges. Examples are the Kawasaki z800 (and the z750 before it), the Yamaha fz8, the Ducati 796 and many others. MV Agusta follows this market trend, while maintaining its own style. It does so with the new Brutale 800, equipped with a brand new three-cylinder in-line engine. In addition to representing an interesting alternative to the more usual two- and four-cylinder engines, this three-cylinder MV boasts a racing bike-like weight/power ratio: 125 HP for just 168 kg; furthermore, thanks to the full ride by wire and the counter-rotating crankshaft (a technical solution used in MotoGP), the new brutal 800 promises ease and riding pleasure never seen before. The line follows that of its bigger 1000 cc sister (also revised for 2013) while the exhaust system is taken from the little one from MV, the brutal 675.

If the aforementioned Brutale 800 fits into a section of the market that is more crowded than ever, with many valid alternatives, the same cannot be said of the brand new Rivale. A motorbike with a strong personality, with a very original line, deliberately risky and aggressive, certainly designed not to go unnoticed. The only thing it has in common with the other bikes from the Varese company is the engine, the same 800 cc three-cylinder we just talked about and its absolutely sporty nature; for the rest it is a completely different motorbike, which focuses on an innovative and eye-catching design. Without a doubt she is one of the queens of this Eicma 2012.

Marco Mauriello