Deciding between F3 and F4

14544 Views 37 Replies 18 Participants Last post by StevieChowie, Feb 24, 2014

StevieChowie

Discussion Starter · Feb 12, 2014

Hi all, this would be my first post in this forum. I had been lurking around this forum to learn more about the bikes for a few months now. So far I had narrowed down my options to MY13F3 800 and MY13F4R model. I had been to my local dealer but sadly they do no have demo bikes available.

So far I had managed to sit on the F3 and I would say the bike is kind of small for my 1.85m/60kg frame. I also managed to sit on the MY12 F4 and the fit is better for my frame although it's more aggressive.

I will using the bike as an occasional weekend getaway bike and occasional commute to work of around 15-30mins in moderate to congested city condition so the strain on my back will be minimal. I would also like to stretch her legs during quarterly track days. Sadly, my sunny island do not have any canyons to toss her around.

My biggest concern would be the F4 will be too powerful for city commute and the F3 will be too restrictive during track days as my elbows are touching when in full tuck position and the seat is pretty tight leaving little space to move to the back. But both are such beauties :mouthwate

Any advices from season riders here? And nope, my shallow pockets don't allow for both. Haha

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Maximum Velocity

· #2 · Feb 12, 2014

Welcome to the forum Stevie!

Its a bit difficult choice as they are both good bikes. I would think it comes down to character and horsepower. If you like 4 cilinders and lots of power the F4 is the one. If you have a weak spot for 3 cilinders and don't need that much power it is the F3. Personally I would always choose the F4 as I am afraid that I would miss the excessive power with the F3... And I am a real 4 cilinder adept.

StevieChowie

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 12, 2014

Exactly, there is always this nagging voice for more HP though I most prob won't utilize it 100% of the time. Just feel good to know that it's available whenever I want to. I haven't had any experience with triples but my previous bike is an il4 gsxr400r. Most of the time I'll be within the speed limit and usage will be low. Worried that the she will be left high and dry~ And it's bad enough that I can't even test ride a single one to feel the engine character. MV should work on the demo bike program eh

VaporMV

· #4 · Feb 12, 2014

I have had a few complaints from people saying the rider space on the F3 is cramped. If you are going to do a good amount of track days I would say you will probably be better off with the F4.

StevieChowie

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 13, 2014

On normal riding posture it's pretty comfy but when I wanna move back for tuck position there is barely any space to move. Would like to check with you guys over the fueling at low rpm for the F3 and F4, is it smooth at <6000rpm? I test rode a 899 and she is quite stuttering at low rpm, gonna keep it high. That could easily cost me my license though, haha. I won't be doing a lot of track days maybe a couple of days a year but F3 I believe would be more than enough on the track with my only gripe is her limited space compared to F4.

wnehme

· #6 · Feb 13, 2014

F4 R all day buddy. You will get over the F3 and wished you bought the F4 cause you want more power. If your saying it now your definatley say it later. And besides if the F4 fits you better than the F3 then theres no choice really.

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StevieChowie

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 13, 2014

Yeah wnehme, you hit the nail with that. Guess there's always rain mode for the traffic. Just found a sub dealer with a leftover 2012 F4R going cheap. Gonna go down and request for a 13

Donsy

· #8 · Feb 13, 2014

2

Think carefully

Don't be fooled by the hp figures mate, it's much more rewarding to being able to ride a bike close to your limit, than riding a bike over your limit and picking up the pieces.
Very few guys can use a F3 800 to it's full potential on the road, never mind a 1000, so the limiting factor is not hp....

Size, I'm 1.87 and in these pics - 100kg, that F3 is comfy as a couch, okay, the new F4's are more roomed than my old beast, but you get what I mean.

The F3 and F4 is so much different, you need to try and ride both before you buy.

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wnehme

· #9 · Feb 13, 2014

Donsy said:
Don't be fooled by the hp figures mate, it's much more rewarding to being able to ride a bike close to your limit, than riding a bike over your limit and picking up the pieces.

Very few guys can use a F3 800 to it's full potential on the road, never mind a 1000, so the limiting factor is not hp....

Size, I'm 1.87 and in these pics - 100kg, that F3 is comfy as a couch, okay, the new F4's are more roomed than my old beast, but you get what I mean.

The F3 and F4 is so much different, you need to try and ride both before you buy.

What would you rather have donsy. F3 or F4 on the track?

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Donsy

· #10 · Feb 13, 2014

wnehme said:
What would you rather have donsy. F3 or F4 on the track?

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Close call Sam, if I was doing track days only, F3 800 every time, even though I'm too bloody tall. Racing, obviously the F4RR.
On the road, B3 800 or Rivale.

StevieChowie

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 13, 2014

My dealer do not have demo bikes for test. Only showroom models for you to sit on and take pictures. Donsy, as most time I will spend it on city road, F3 or F4 would be better in terms of pickup, power delivery and comfort(despite comfort is not in a spprts bike dictionary)??

Doubt I'll even be able to harness 80% of either bikes power also

StevieChowie

Discussion Starter · #12 · Feb 13, 2014

The local dealer program is very limited in terms of sales support and in Singapore, the price of an F3 is USD$28k and F4R is USD$33k excluding insurance. Don't want to drop this kind of dough and find out the bike is not suitable for me. MV ownership is also low and I could not find anyone who has actual experience with one to find out more. Would really appreciate if you can share riding experience of both bikes to help me with my choice. Most forum threads are on track and canyons reviews which my country lacks in as it is a city state. My main concern will be ridability and feel rather than pure numbers.

nk140

· #13 · Feb 13, 2014

StevieChowie said:
The local dealer program is very limited in terms of sales support and in Singapore, the price of an F3 is USD$28k and F4R is USD$33k excluding insurance. Don't want to drop this kind of dough and find out the bike is not suitable for me. MV ownership is also low and I could not find anyone who has actual experience with one to find out more. Would really appreciate if you can share riding experience of both bikes to help me with my choice. Most forum threads are on track and canyons reviews which my country lacks in as it is a city state. My main concern will be ridability and feel rather than pure numbers.

I have been to Singapore and wouldn't recommend any Sportbike for that city/country. I would look into a Brutale for city riding.

StevieChowie

Discussion Starter · #14 · Feb 13, 2014

Yeah but the bug is biting. Hard haha

nk140

· #15 · Feb 13, 2014

I would go with the F4, but you can't go wrong with either.

HeyZeus

· #16 · Feb 13, 2014

Go with the F3 800. It has more power then 98% of the people on this board or elsewhere can safely use. The F3 800 is no slouch. You will not feel you need more power. This illusion that you need a liter bike is nuts. On the street you really can't use 200 hp 99.9% of the time. Even the 148hp is excessive but manageable. We are spoiled these days with how much power our bikes have.

nk140

· #17 · Feb 13, 2014

HeyZeus said:
Go with the F3 800. It has more power then 98% of the people on this board or elsewhere can safely use. The F3 800 is no slouch. You will not feel you need more power. This illusion that you need a liter bike is nuts. On the street you really can't use 200 hp 99.9% of the time. Even the 148hp is excessive but manageable. We are spoiled these days with how much power our bikes have.

100% agree but he lives in a county where most scooters over 125cc are overkill. I say get whatever gives you the biggest grin since it want be used anywhere near its potential.

wnehme

· #18 · Feb 14, 2014

HeyZeus said:
Go with the F3 800. It has more power then 98% of the people on this board or elsewhere can safely use. The F3 800 is no slouch. You will not feel you need more power. This illusion that you need a liter bike is nuts. On the street you really can't use 200 hp 99.9% of the time. Even the 148hp is excessive but manageable. We are spoiled these days with how much power our bikes have.

Each to there own buddy. Its not the how much power you have but how it delivers it and im betting the litre bike is going to deliver it allover the rev range. The 200 hp figure is a bonus. But anyway if you cant handle a litre bike i guess thats whats tbe 800 and 675 for.

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anothermvfanatic

· #19 · Feb 14, 2014

Flip a coin mate.
When the coin is in the air the bike u really want will be the one that u hope it will land on.

MV81

· #20 · Feb 14, 2014

StevieChowie said:
The local dealer program is very limited in terms of sales support and in Singapore, the price of an F3 is USD$28k and F4R is USD$33k excluding insurance. Don't want to drop this kind of dough and find out the bike is not suitable for me. MV ownership is also low and I could not find anyone who has actual experience with one to find out more. Would really appreciate if you can share riding experience of both bikes to help me with my choice. Most forum threads are on track and canyons reviews which my country lacks in as it is a city state. My main concern will be ridability and feel rather than pure numbers.

I'm from Sg too. Currently riding a F3 675. I had considered on getting the F4 when viewing both bikes too. But seems like the F4 is a little too high n big to my comfort level. I'm 171 and barely touches the ground with both legs on the F4. Dun wanna keep getting stuck on the heavy traffic here in SG (i'm sure u know what i mean) with problems resting the bike. And i'm sure you know in Sg, not matters how powerful your bike is, it is still a waste. So i pick the F3, the size of a 250's and power more than a 600's. Cornering with the F3 feels real good. And trust me, you'll never keep your rpm low with either bike.

( You're getting the bike from Xtreme or?)

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