< AllMoto's Motorcycle Investor mag

Motorcycle Investor mag

Tamburini special

(by Ian Falloon, Mar 2022)

For MV Agusta, the ultimate F4 had to be named after its designer

(From the upcoming book, The MV Agusta Story, published by Veloce - see below.)

After dedicating previous limited editions to sporting heroes (Agostini and Senna), Claudio Castiglioni commissioned the highest specification F4 yet to celebrate the greatness of the F4’s designer, Massimo Tamburini.

Known within the factory as the MT4, while the engine was basically that of the F4 1000 S, the F4 Tamburini had hand-finished and polished intakes and the SPR’s surface discharge spark plugs. Intake valve lift was increased to 10.3mm and exhaust valve lift to 9.0mm.

But the most significant feature was the introduction of the patented Torque Shift System (TSS) variable length induction. Vacuum pressure in the inlet manifold loaded a Pierburg pneumatic actuator in the airbox, the ECU then controlling the intake length via a solenoid.

The four differential length intakes were lifted directly off the throttle bodies from 10,000rpm, effectively shortening the intake length to improve top-end power.

Two exhaust systems were provided, one a stainless steel and titanium RG3 racing Arrow, and the power of the F4 Tamburini was 172.8 horsepower at 11,750 rpm.

The chassis was also upgraded over the F4 1000 S. As on the F4 750 Oro the swingarm and support plates were magnesium, as were the 50mm Marzocchi fork’s triple clamps.

The Sachs Racing rear shock absorber was Formula One-inspired and no longer included a gas reservoir, while the Nissin front brakes were the same as the F4 Ago, with Monobloc calipers and discs with aluminium carriers.

The wheels were forged aluminium 10-spoke Marchesini and most of the bodywork, plus the airbox and chain guard, was carbon fibre. The combination of magnesium and carbon-fibre components resulted in a reduction of dry weight to 183kg.

The F4 Tamburini was the most exotic motorcycle available in 2004. While the list price was more than double that of a comparable F4 1000 S, with a claimed top speed of 307 km/h and an unmatched finish it was almost justifiable.

Along with a numbered gold plaque, each of the 300 F4 Tamburinis came with an embossed leather box containing a Tamburini-signed carbon-fibre certificate.

Priced exorbitantly, the R68 continued a BMW tradition that made it available only to a fortunate few, but a few (around eight) did come to Australia. Only 1452 R68s were produced over its three-year production period, and it remains one of the rarest post-war BMW motorcycles. Because of its superior performance, it is also now one of the most desirable.