You are looking at the Steve Austin of motorcycles: better, stronger, faster. Claudio Castiglioni, managing director of Italian manufacturer MV Agusta, was apparently bored with his company's already mind-boggling bikes — so he commissioned a special model just for himself. Then he approved 99 more for the lucky few who can shell out $128,000 for certain death. Dubbed the F4CC (CC for Claudio Castiglioni), it's as close as a civilian will ever get to a full-blown Superbike racer. It's actually faster. Castiglioni charged MV's chief engineer with wringing the most miles per hour out of the equipment. The result — 90 percent of which is fabricated by hand — is a panoply of exotic materials focused on maximizing strength and minimizing weight. The F4CC ended up being so fast that the company had to electronically limit the machine's velocity to 195.6 mph because the tires would melt at higher speeds. Somebody please make some better, stronger tires.
Power 197 hp @ 12,200 rpm Torque 92.2 lb-ft @ 9,000 rpm Top Speed 195.6 mph (electronically limited) 0-60 Less than 3 seconds Weight 412.6 pounds (dry) Price $128,000 Number produced 100
1. Carbon-Fiber Fairing
Aerodynamically shaped to lower drag and hand-formed out of carbon fiber, it's a full 50-percent lighter than the thermoplastic job on its slower, lower-rent sibling, the F4-1000 R ($22,995).
2. Racing Tires
Pirelli Dragon Supercorsa Pros, rated to withstand speeds of up to 195.6 mph, which is, not coincidentally, the F4CC's electronically limited maximum velocity. Higher speeds would destroy the tires.
3. Four-Cylinder Engine
The liquid-cooled 1,078-cc, inline four-cylinder redlines at 13,000 rpm and lays down 197 horsepower on the terrified asphalt through a six-speed gearbox transplanted from a race bike.
4. Nonslip Seat
Stitched out of Alcantara, a synthetic suedelike material that's made only in one factory in the world (in Italy, natch) and prized for its ability to stop asses from sliding around.
5. Ultralight Wheels
Hand-forged of the thinnest aluminum that could possibly withstand the cornering forces and violent bursts of power delivered by a psychotic rider on a brutally potent motorcycle.
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