Discussion
Had this dilemma last year when I strongly considered buying a new F4. Given the shaky finances, the "improved" part lead times ("Now they've improved the supply chain, it can sometimes only take 6 weeks to get a part in from Italy!") and the fact the demo bike had a completely non-functioning rear brake, I decided against it. Too many concerns about reliability, parts availability and future dealer support and that is before I even got onto thinking about depreciation. Turns out my apprehension was validated when the local MV dealer went under earlier this year. I dread to think where the nearest one is now.
A shame, because the engine in the F4 is an absolute gem and it had some design features that I absolutely loved - the winged tank design and the best showroom exhaust I've ever heard for a start, not to mention the stunning looks. I actually preferred it to the Aprilia RSV4 RF that I also tried.
A shame, because the engine in the F4 is an absolute gem and it had some design features that I absolutely loved - the winged tank design and the best showroom exhaust I've ever heard for a start, not to mention the stunning looks. I actually preferred it to the Aprilia RSV4 RF that I also tried.
I bought one of first F4s new back in 2001 from three crosses, it was bloody hard work then getting parts and the after sales service was rubbish.
My son bought a used F4 3 years ago and gets most parts from ebay and he loves it.
Would i buy a brand new F4 today........not a chance, there never getting any more of my hard earned, i am keeping the second one i have owned, also secondhand.
MV have not learned a dam thing, how many times have they almost been bankrupt
My son bought a used F4 3 years ago and gets most parts from ebay and he loves it.
Would i buy a brand new F4 today........not a chance, there never getting any more of my hard earned, i am keeping the second one i have owned, also secondhand.
MV have not learned a dam thing, how many times have they almost been bankrupt
Yeah, if you really want one just get one. They are a bit like owning a TVR in that respect and had a couple of those too 
You are going to lose money in depreciation whatever you buy, may as well get what you want....mmm..saying that, since the TVR factory shut, some models have doubled in value and the support network is better than ever.
MV were getting pretty well sorted. I've got a new 2015 bike and (touch wood) 3k miles to date and zero issues. Its in for its 12 month service in a few weeks.
The dealers are struggling to get bikes and they continue to sell stock through. Parts seem to be coming through ok apparently so they told me last week. Thankfully MV Leicester where I got mine from also do Indian, Victory and other commuter stuff. They are not reliant on selling MVs to survive.
Im sure MV will be financially rescued again and it will be business usual
You are going to lose money in depreciation whatever you buy, may as well get what you want....mmm..saying that, since the TVR factory shut, some models have doubled in value and the support network is better than ever.MV were getting pretty well sorted. I've got a new 2015 bike and (touch wood) 3k miles to date and zero issues. Its in for its 12 month service in a few weeks.
The dealers are struggling to get bikes and they continue to sell stock through. Parts seem to be coming through ok apparently so they told me last week. Thankfully MV Leicester where I got mine from also do Indian, Victory and other commuter stuff. They are not reliant on selling MVs to survive.
Im sure MV will be financially rescued again and it will be business usual
I shared a garage last week at the track with a lad who had a lovely looking F3 track bike - It really looked a work of art, and it sounded wonderful
He said he had to buy up a load of spares as getting them from the dealer network was nigh on impossible, and they had to order it from the factory every time and sometimes they had it and sometimes it took weeks to come
He loved the bike, and despite the frustration of getting parts, said it was worth the hassle
It did look and sound amazing too
He said he had to buy up a load of spares as getting them from the dealer network was nigh on impossible, and they had to order it from the factory every time and sometimes they had it and sometimes it took weeks to come
He loved the bike, and despite the frustration of getting parts, said it was worth the hassle
It did look and sound amazing too
Pwig said:
Haven't Mercedes bought them now?
No, but they have had a stake in them for a year or so, hence all the AMG paint jobs and Lewis Hamilton "special edition" bikes, but they dont "own them"; thats some of the issue, AMG have invested millions, yet MV is still $50M in the red. They are seeking refinancing/restructuring so they can stay in business.News from a few days ago https://www.motul.com/hu/en/news/group-partners/pr...
New news out of italy http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/polaris-mv-ag...
New news out of italy http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/polaris-mv-ag...
Edited by FezSpider on Saturday 28th May 22:47
MV are really stuck between a rock and a hard place now.
The deal with AMG saw them take a 25% stake in the company, with Giovanni Castiglioni retaining control.
Now they're deeper in the hole, to the tune of 50M rumour has it, they desperately need refinancing of their current debt and future cash for product development.
Big issue is if anyone takes a majority holding in MV or AMG's holding goes to less than 20% there's a 15m Euro load from a Milanese bank that has the condition of immediate repayment in full if this happens.
So when you consider that if GC cedes control to anypartyother than AMG he/MV have to immediately repay the loan aside from the 50M debt that's crippling them now.
So GC can't let go, either from a financial or egotistical standpoint,which spells doom for the brand. CG clearly isn't the man to lead the restructuring but he won't let go. If someone wants to buy it, they're not going to pay the 15m on top of the company's value to get the Milanese bank off their backs, as it seems GC can't stump up that cash single handed.
Doesn't look good for them sadly.
The deal with AMG saw them take a 25% stake in the company, with Giovanni Castiglioni retaining control.
Now they're deeper in the hole, to the tune of 50M rumour has it, they desperately need refinancing of their current debt and future cash for product development.
Big issue is if anyone takes a majority holding in MV or AMG's holding goes to less than 20% there's a 15m Euro load from a Milanese bank that has the condition of immediate repayment in full if this happens.
So when you consider that if GC cedes control to anypartyother than AMG he/MV have to immediately repay the loan aside from the 50M debt that's crippling them now.
So GC can't let go, either from a financial or egotistical standpoint,which spells doom for the brand. CG clearly isn't the man to lead the restructuring but he won't let go. If someone wants to buy it, they're not going to pay the 15m on top of the company's value to get the Milanese bank off their backs, as it seems GC can't stump up that cash single handed.
Doesn't look good for them sadly.
Edited by Steve Bass on Sunday 29th May 18:42
Steve Bass said:
MV are really stuck between a rock and a hard place now.
The deal with AMG saw them take a 25% stake in the company, with Giovanni Castiglioni retaining control.
Now they're deeper in the hole, to the tune of 50M rumour has it, they desperately need refinancing of their current debt and future cash for product development.
Big issue is if anyone takes a majority holding in MV or AMG's holding goes to less than 20% there's a 15m Euro load from a Milanese bank that has the condition of immediate repayment in full if this happens.
So when you consider that if GC cedes control to anypartyother than AMG he/MV have to immediately repay the loan aside from the 50M debt that's crippling them now.
So GC can't let go, either from a financial or egotistical standpoint,which spells doom for the brand. CG clearly isn't the man to lead the restructuring but he won't let go. If someone wants to buy it, they're not going to pay the 15m on top of the company's value to get the Milanese bank off their backs, as it seems GC can't stump up that cash single handed.
Doesn't look good for them sadly.
I was told by an MV owner on here that AMG had put forward a deal but required Castiglioni to go?The deal with AMG saw them take a 25% stake in the company, with Giovanni Castiglioni retaining control.
Now they're deeper in the hole, to the tune of 50M rumour has it, they desperately need refinancing of their current debt and future cash for product development.
Big issue is if anyone takes a majority holding in MV or AMG's holding goes to less than 20% there's a 15m Euro load from a Milanese bank that has the condition of immediate repayment in full if this happens.
So when you consider that if GC cedes control to anypartyother than AMG he/MV have to immediately repay the loan aside from the 50M debt that's crippling them now.
So GC can't let go, either from a financial or egotistical standpoint,which spells doom for the brand. CG clearly isn't the man to lead the restructuring but he won't let go. If someone wants to buy it, they're not going to pay the 15m on top of the company's value to get the Milanese bank off their backs, as it seems GC can't stump up that cash single handed.
Doesn't look good for them sadly.
Edited by Steve Bass on Sunday 29th May 18:42
Polaris makes a lot of sense for them. They have got Victory off the ground and then realised to move forward they need a 'trusted brand' hence the Indian name making a come back with properly good bikes in that market. If they want to hit the Sports bike and super naked market, they could do a lot worse than buying MV Agusta.
3DP said:
I was told by an MV owner on here that AMG had put forward a deal but required Castiglioni to go?
Polaris makes a lot of sense for them. They have got Victory off the ground and then realised to move forward they need a 'trusted brand' hence the Indian name making a come back with properly good bikes in that market. If they want to hit the Sports bike and super naked market, they could do a lot worse than buying MV Agusta.
Problem is Giovanni won't go. He doesn't want to relinquish control, he want's investment but not a loss of power. I suspect he'd rather deep six the company than let go and move aside.Polaris makes a lot of sense for them. They have got Victory off the ground and then realised to move forward they need a 'trusted brand' hence the Indian name making a come back with properly good bikes in that market. If they want to hit the Sports bike and super naked market, they could do a lot worse than buying MV Agusta.
And if Polaris take a stake that dilutes AMG's stake to below 20% then there's the 15M to pay immediately. So if Polaris or anyone else comes in, they need to finance that loan as well. If not, Polaris have to live with a major share holder (25%) which is an unlikely scenario.
Nice bikes, I have two, R312 and RR312, the latter has sat for years unregistered though, but may get sold or registered in Sept. I'm glad AMG aren't involved any more than they are, and wouldn't be surprised if they'd make the marque as bland as all the others if they were.
If you actually took the plunge with one of these, for me any pre 2010, when they were MV Agusta proper, you'd understand what is so unique about them I guess. Power figures in a brochure mean nothing like they do with most other brands. These are something else in my opinion. I ride others too, and my R312 in use isn't a garage queen like many, the thing is infectious, although used in the dry, still it's unique.
If you actually took the plunge with one of these, for me any pre 2010, when they were MV Agusta proper, you'd understand what is so unique about them I guess. Power figures in a brochure mean nothing like they do with most other brands. These are something else in my opinion. I ride others too, and my R312 in use isn't a garage queen like many, the thing is infectious, although used in the dry, still it's unique.
I bought an MV new March last year. Done 8000 miles, tracked it and still very pleased
It was a new model out and did have a few very minor issues which they sorted at the time (One was april one was June) but otherwise the bikes been solid
Its having the 8k service right now, fresh tyres etc ready for IOM but I cant grumble about it and the garage has been instant with parts, turnaround time etc (Hampshire MV Sarah & Dave)
Even with all this yep it worries me with whats going on but Id buy another, you need to own one to really appreciate how good they are
It was a new model out and did have a few very minor issues which they sorted at the time (One was april one was June) but otherwise the bikes been solid
Its having the 8k service right now, fresh tyres etc ready for IOM but I cant grumble about it and the garage has been instant with parts, turnaround time etc (Hampshire MV Sarah & Dave)
Even with all this yep it worries me with whats going on but Id buy another, you need to own one to really appreciate how good they are
J B L said:
I'd still have a recent F4. I'm sure that even if MV goes down there'll be some companies such as Forza in Silverstone who will carry on servicing and fixing them.
I tried to order a few gaskets for my MV two weeks ago from Martin at Forza. They order there parts straight from italy and they could not supply any due to the problems at MV.God knows were they will get the parts from if they shut down completely. Certain parts have already been discontinued for early F4 750s.
FezSpider said:
I tried to order a few gaskets for my MV two weeks ago from Martin at Forza. They order there parts straight from italy and they could not supply any due to the problems at MV.
God knows were they will get the parts from if they shut down completely. Certain parts have already been discontinued for early F4 750s.
The good thing (!) with Italian bikes like this is that you always have the chance of the OEM being a source, or some other crowd will step in. God knows were they will get the parts from if they shut down completely. Certain parts have already been discontinued for early F4 750s.
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