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Worried about all the issues to look out for!

10K views 32 replies 14 participants last post by  111755 
#1 · (Edited)
Hey all, I am new to the forum and MV's and own a 2018 F4.
I have been doing a lot of reading on here over the past few days and am starting to feel that these bikes are a ticking time bomb! Rear hubs, electrical issues, fueling issue, exhaust valve issue, well nuts in air box... Arrrrrggggghhhhhh!

I am reaching out to all the MV old timers and asking if possible could you please make a list of all known common issues I should be aware of and or replacement parts, I have no problem with spending money to stop catastrophic failure and look after my own safety.

Maybe I have just scared myself silly with all the reading but now I am very cautious about actually riding this beautiful machine.....
 
#2 ·
Buy nothing. Ride the bike and enjoy it. :f4::f4::f4:

The issues you list must be taken in context and none of them apply to the 2018 bikes or the four cylinder bikes. :baddeal:

You must know WHAT you are reading......:banghead::banghead::banghead:

The forums are there for people who have problems....not the thousands and thousands who do not. :stir:

Perform your maintenance to the schedule and the bike will be a great joy for a hundred thousand miles or more. :shocker::nerd::smoking:
 
#4 · (Edited)
Buy nothing. Ride the bike and enjoy it. <img src="http://www.mvagusta.net/forum/images/smilies/f4.gif" border="0" alt="" title="F4" class="inlineimg" /><img src="http://www.mvagusta.net/forum/images/smilies/f4.gif" border="0" alt="" title="F4" class="inlineimg" /><img src="http://www.mvagusta.net/forum/images/smilies/f4.gif" border="0" alt="" title="F4" class="inlineimg" />
title="F4" class="inlineimg" />

The issues you list must be taken in context and none of them apply to the 2018 bikes or the four cylinder bikes. <img src="http://www.mvagusta.net/forum/images/smilies/baddeal.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Bad Deal" class="inlineimg" />

You must know WHAT you are reading......<img src="http://www.mvagusta.net/forum/images/smilies/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Bang Head" class="inlineimg" /><img src="http://www.mvagusta.net/forum/images/smilies/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Bang Head" class="inlineimg" /><img src="http://www.mvagusta.net/forum/images/smilies/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Bang Head" class="inlineimg" />

The forums are there for people who have problems....not the thousands and thousands who do not. <img src="http://www.mvagusta.net/forum/images/smilies/stir.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Stirring it up" class="inlineimg" />

Perform your maintenance to the schedule and the bike will be a great joy for a hundred thousand miles or more. <img src="http://www.mvagusta.net/forum/images/smilies/shocker.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Shocker" class="inlineimg" /><img src="http://www.mvagusta.net/forum/images/smilies/nerd.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Nerd" class="inlineimg" /><img src="http://www.mvagusta.net/forum/images/smilies/smoking.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Smoking" class="inlineimg" />
Lol, thanks mate.?

I wasn't sure as to which years were affected by these problems. I was looking in the 2010+ section, I am very strict with my maintenance and servicing schedules on all my bikes and cars. I have owned a couple of Ducatis. My 2000 748R was amazing but definitely needed more love than other bikes I've owned.

I am not new to the bike game, nor am I adverse to the special needs that Italian bikes need, the added charm of roadside mechanical engineering has taught me a few tricks and patience over the years.

I was more just trying to avoid the pitfalls of known common issues that can arise and also be avoided where possible.
Prevention is always better than cure, and I guess that's definitely one of the great things about forums we can all learn about the "bad things" without having to find out for ourselves.
I definitely agree that there is always way more negative feedback than good over the Web.

I appreciate your input and hopefully I don't have any problems with the above mentioned. Glad to have a place like this to be able to discuss my thoughts. ?
 
#6 · (Edited)
I agree. There are no moving parts in a pencil, but you still have to sharpen it once in awhile. And it's not nearly as fast. The worse thing you can do is to let it sit, like I do, and then the stuff breaks anyway, all by itself. Ride it and do the maintenance.
 
#3 ·
I've a 2015 F4 in the best colour available (White :grin2::grin2:)

As @silentservice703 says, those issues are not with the current generation. Don't get me wrong there can always be issues, as there are with all machines, but mine has in general been rock solid.

As with all bikes, get the manuals (available https://www.mvagusta.net/forum/20-maintenance-tech-issues-all-4-cyl-models/, check out the sticky's), familiarise your self with the in's and outs of the bike and finally don't skimp on oil changes. Oh and have a smug grin when you spot the common Red and Silver versions :wink2:
 
#5 ·
I've a 2015 F4 in the best colour available (White
)

As @silentservice703 says, those issues are not with the current generation. Don't get me wrong there can always be issues, as there are with all machines, but mine has in general been rock solid.

As with all bikes, get the manuals (available https://www.mvagusta.net/forum/20-maintenance-tech-issues-all-4-cyl-models/, check out the sticky's), familiarise your self with the in's and outs of the bike and finally don't skimp on oil changes. Oh and have a smug grin when you spot the common Red and Silver versions
Yes! Totally agree... White is the best..

Oil is always done every 5000km on my bikes and cars. No issues with that, glad to hear you haven't had any problems so far. It's eased my concerns somewhat.?
 
#7 ·
Also have 27.000 km here on a 2012 R, no issues at all.

Most of what you listed above were only reported here on the previous model.

Only thing from your list I have seen reports on the newer is the exhaust valve...

So I would just enjoy the bike [emoji2]


Enviado do meu iPhone usando Tapatalk
 
#10 · (Edited)
The absolute worst environment for a bike, or any mechanical thing for that matter, is one where the temperature and humidity vary widely. A bike in a cold garage that is suddenly exposed to warm air and higher humidity accumulates condensate both inside and out and this is responsible for a lot of damage and/or problems. Combine this with something that is not run or maintained/looked after and it quickly turns into an expensive disaster. I'm just exiting another miserable winter here in the NE US and I spend a lot of time protecting the stuff and is a significant reason I installed an insulated steel pole bldg having a heated concrete slab. Put the thermo on 55 and you can wear a T-shirt.

A bike that is ridden is doing what it is meant to do and, even though the miles accumulate, we can generally assume that such a machine is at least subject to some maintenance and a ground crew walk around before a ride, esp one of MV's caliber.
 
#12 ·
PS

As we are coming up to our winter, you will need to familairise yourself with the charger. There are two wee plugs under what passes for the passenger seat. One for a laptop, the other for the MV trickle charger. In winter, when not riding, leave it on or turn it on routinely.
 
#15 ·
Cheers mate, I have been using C-tek chargers for many years now. Definitely worth their weight in gold. I actually enjoy riding in the cooler months than I do in summer, so my bikes get more attention around now.

And yes, Italian bikes certainly do have a mind of there own. My Ducati seems to think it's funny to show the fuel light even when I know I have more than enough to get to my destination, but it still makes me question it every time! ??

I think because I have lusted after an F4 for so long, I was just freaking out with the multitude of "potential problems" that I got lost in the moment.

Thanks for the reply. ? ?
 
#13 ·
Hey all, I am new to the forum and MV's and own a 2018 F4.
I have been doing a lot of reading on hear over the past few days and am starting to feel that these bikes are a ticking time bomb! Rear hubs, electrical issues, fueling issue, exhaust valve issue, well nuts in air box... Arrrrrggggghhhhhh!

I am reaching out to all the MV old timers and asking if possible could you please make a list of all known common issues I should be aware of and or replacement parts, I have no issues with spend money to stop catastrophic failure and my own safety.

Maybe I have just scared myself silly with all the reading but now I am very cautious about actually riding this beautiful machine.....

Just ride the bloody thing. Fix it if it breaks, like any mechanical thing. Enjoy, don't stress!


Cheers


Deano
 
#14 ·
Hey all, I am new to the forum and MV's and own a 2018 F4.
I have been doing a lot of reading on hear over the past few days and am starting to feel that these bikes are a ticking time bomb! Rear hubs, electrical issues, fueling issue, exhaust valve issue, well nuts in air box... Arrrrrggggghhhhhh!

I am reaching out to all the MV old timers and asking if possible could you please make a list of all known common issues I should be aware of and or replacement parts, I have no issues with spend money to stop catastrophic failure and my own safety.

Maybe I have just scared myself silly with all the reading but now I am very cautious about actually riding this beautiful machine.....

Just ride the bloody thing. Fix it if it breaks, like any mechanical thing. Enjoy, don't stress!


Cheers


Deano
Lol.. Yeah true, I know it's my own fault for looking into the issues to far. My biggest concern was with the hub failure, but looks as though it shouldn't be a problem with this year model.

Thanks for the reply. ? ?
 
#16 ·
?

HAPPI;
'08 Brutale 910R......61,000km
Still on the original chain and sprockets
Mitch Hub
Valve cover may have been off before I bought it @7,000km hasn't been off since
Broke 2 toe pegs
Front wheel bearings died
Original battery lasted 8 years

On 2nd Gen bikes the cush drives eat the rubbers and will wobble if the sprocket nut isn't kept tight
I know there's a lock spring......remove it and check the tension of the sprocket nut anyway

On all MVs reduce the pinch bolt torque to 20Nm/15lbft
:grin2:
 
#18 ·
HAPPI;
'08 Brutale 910R......61,000km
Still on the original chain and sprockets
Mitch Hub
Valve cover may have been off before I bought it @7,000km hasn't been off since
Broke 2 toe pegs
Front wheel bearings died
Original battery lasted 8 years

On 2nd Gen bikes the cush drives eat the rubbers and will wobble if the sprocket nut isn't kept tight
I know there's a lock spring......remove it and check the tension of the sprocket nut anyway

On all MVs reduce the pinch bolt torque to 20Nm/15lbft
Thanks mate, I appreciate the advice. This is exactly what I was looking for. And I certainly will reduce the torque on those pesky pinch bolts. ? ??
 
#17 ·
Hello Happi,

No worries. Having ridden mainly Japanese machines so far and being lucky with all of them, I had the exact same concerns with MV.

Hence I did the same and read all articles about the different models and their issues. I think there are several factors contributing to the common perception of MV's reliability.

1. It is a special machine and needs special treatment, both from the rider and the servicing mechanic.

A lot of riders simply have no empathy for the mechanics (like gently riding the engine warm) and while a Japanese bike may be a bit more tolerant on abuse, the MV will not "accept" such mistreatment.

While according to my personal experience most MV dealers are really into their job, I have also come across a big multi brand dealer that was doong MV on the side. The guy tried to sell me a first year F3 as a 2015 model and was totally unaware of the changes that had been done on the bike. If one does not even know the product how can that person perform proper maintenance.

2. MV pushed the envelope quite hard on new models, but also continuously improved on their range. In consequence, early models (which are tested by the big motoring media) built a certain reputation, when testers thrash them in their procedures, which a normal enthusiast would never do to his/her bike.

3. Public relations work of MV. In Germany there are basically two long term tests available on the net: one of the first F4 1000S which went up in smoke after 12.000km or so and one of the TV800, that had an awful amount of flaws during the first 20.000km, but then was healed and endured without major issues. In comparison to other manfacturers MV seems to not consider bad media too relevant. If one reads long term reviews about other brands, it happens that their machines also blow up, but then very calmly another (updated) long term tester is issued and the tone of the final article has a small side note. Prominent example is BMW that had big problems with their first S1000RR. But whenever something occurred in press or customers, they often just replaced the original engine in order to not create any bad reputation. MV cannot do the same, but maybe they should throw some long termers of their latest creations on the market to demonstrate that a lot has been improved over the years.

4. The spare part logistics of MV contributes to the perception as well. While a Yamaha or whatever bigger brand machine that shows some error code is brought to the next franchise and can be fixed immediately or within days, an MV usually spends more time waiting on the spare. Hence little issues feel like showstoppers.

4. In a forum the threads often deal with problems.

Having said that my MY16 F4 which should be more or less technically identical to yours, has not shown any issues during the first 3.000km with me, nor during the first 5.000km with the first owner. According to my mechanic that I trust the latest four cylinder models are very reliable, given proper servicing.
 
#19 ·
Hey mate, glad to hear someone else had the same concerns as myself, I absolutely love this bike and have wanted one for many years now. I held back on my purchase due to already having 2 Ducatis I'm my garage. I sold my 748R recently and the time just seemed right, it's good to know that you and many more are having trouble free ownership. Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it. ? ?
 
#20 · (Edited)
Dont look to much into the "bad stories". And definitely dont listing to the comments on any social media platform without those trolls providing proof.

Sure, ofcourse there are people who have had the worse luck and bought a lemon. And those folk out there are so mad they just start brand bashing bequase they can.
Someone has a "exhaust valve error" on the dash and asks for help. A dissatisfied former MV owner would come along: "yeah F MV's they're pure sh!t, nothing but issues" blabla we've seen them all.

And instead of actually providing the information the guy needs he also now might start to doubt his purchase. Which is stupid cause a simple plug n play into computer and a self relearn update will fix it. Or a healtech plug.

You can read 100 great reviews on the internet. It never takes such an impact like 1 bad review does.
 
#21 ·
Thanks mate, very true about the negative comments. I was more worried about the hub failure. Something like that has the potential to cause permanent injury or even death, and having a potential ticking time bomb underneath makes riding a little on the anxious side. Otherwise I love the bike so far..
 
#22 · (Edited)
Almost all the issues you find on this forum are related to previous generations (or part revisions). Just take some time to get used to the bike and give it some time to earn your trust. Find an experienced bike shop and stick to the maintenance plan and you have nothing to worry about.
 
#29 ·
@HAPPI
I was just googling around on the interwebs and found this article and thought of this topic: https://translate.google.com/transl...o/objetivo-100000km-mv-agusta- f4r-corsacorta
Its originally in spanish and translated it into english. If it doesnt work google: MV Agusta 100.000km. Take a look.[/Q

Wow! Very impressed. That guy has covered a lot of km on all of his bikes. Just out of interest, what does he mean by "transmission kit"?
 
#26 ·
@HAPPI

I see you are in Sydney. Home of the best MV Agusta dealer in Parramatta.

I've just completed 40 000 km on my 2015 Brutale 800rr. If i had listened to all the negative comments i would have missed out on one of the best experiences ever.

please see my comments on the last 36k km that i made on another forum

https://netrider.net.au/threads/mv-agusta-brutale-800rr.211493/page-27#post-3456224

As stated - stick to the service schedule and nothing will go wrong. I have had two sprag clutches replaced - both under warranty - in the last 40k and both times i have never been stranded since the symptoms start early and gives you plenty of time to react or seek dealer advice.
 
#28 ·
@HAPPI

I see you are in Sydney. Home of the best MV Agusta dealer in Parramatta.

I've just completed 40 000 km on my 2015 Brutale 800rr. If i had listened to all the negative comments i would have missed out on one of the best

experiences ever.

please see my comments on the last 36k km that i made on another forum

https://netrider.net.au/threads/mv-agusta-brutale-800rr.211493/page-27#post-3456224

As stated - stick to the service schedule and nothing will go wrong. I have had two sprag clutches replaced - both under warranty - in the last 40k and both times i have never been stranded since the symptoms start early and gives you plenty of time to react or seek dealer advice.
Hey mate, thanks for the reply.

I am not happy with the results I have had with the dealer in Parramatta. Two very basic mechanical tasks were done incorrectly. And I am not the only one who this has happened to. All good though, I don't want to take my grievances out on a public forum. Just very disappointed unfortunately, none the less the bike will always be serviced on time and correctly and I look forward to many happy kilometres of twisties! ?
 
#31 ·
I think he means clutch plates. I also did 100011 km on a Ducati 996, so Italians can go the distance <img src="http://www.mvagusta.net/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Smile" class="inlineimg" />
Ahhhh ok cool, that makes sense.
I have a Ducati 848EVO that I used as my daily ride. I put 23,000km on it in one year (current is 36,000km) and haven't had one single issue at all. It's actually the only bike I have owned so far that hasn't had any problems at all. But yet everyone told me they were "unreliable"....lol..

Meanwhile my mates BMW S1000RR is on to it's second motor! ? ?
 
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