MV Agusta F3 800 ridden!

MV Agusta’s brand new £11,499 F3 800 is currently being put through its paces at Misano in Italy by MCN Senior Road Tester Michael Neeves. Here are his first impressions:
 
“The new machine is basically the same as the F3 675, but has a longer stroke engine, a claimed145bhp at the crank and tweaked suspension damping and spring rates.
 
“I’ve done a few sessions now and the F3 800 keeps all the good bits of the F3 675. The handling is superb and the steering super-sharp. We’re on race compound Super Corsa SC1s so it’s possible to push really hard in the turns and carry lots of corner speed. The brakes, slipper clutch and traction control all work superbly well, too
 
“The extra capacity fills the hole in the 675’s midrange, so it’s easy to carry momentum and it’ll make for a better road bike, too.
 
“The ride by wire throttle response is improved, but the throttle tube itself is too light and has almost no resistance, so you feel a bit remote from what’s going on. But if this was your bike you’d soon get used to it.
 
“The harder you ride this bike, the further you realise you are from its limit. It’s a serious bit of kit, huge fun, fast, easy to ride and could quite easily be the spiritual successor to the legendary Suzuki GSX-R750, which is praise indeed.”
 
Read the full review and see the video soon in MCN.