Middleweight sports bikes are a lot different from a decade ago. During the 2010s, there was a sort of war between Japanese and European bikemakers to whip supersport track weapons left, right, and center. Everyone was chasing razor-sharp handling and screaming performance without paying much attention to usability. In 2025, the trend has well and truly changed.
Everyone wants to build a “usable” middleweight with more low-end performance and less of top-end grunt. Even someone like Ducati succumbed to the societal pressure and whipped up a new Panigale V2 with a whopping 35 horsepower less than before. So what do you do if you want a screaming, overpowered middleweight today? Well, there is one fairly modern bike from Italy you can get.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from MV Agusta and other authoritative sources.
The MV Agusta F3 R Is The Most Overpowered Middleweight Sports Bike Right Now
Price: $17,998
We’re talking about the MV Agusta F3 R. It’s arguably the most powerful middleweight sports bike you can get, promising an impeccable 147 horsepower. That is 27 more than the Panigale V2, almost 20 more than the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, and the likes of the Honda CBR650R are not even in the same ballpark. This is made possible by its screaming triple-cylinder engine, which we’ll talk about in detail later.
Other than the F3, we’re also blessed with the Suzuki GSX-R750 in the US. It promises the same 147 horsepower as the F3 R, and at a much lower MSRP, meaning a better price to power ratio. Why didn’t we pick that then? Because it has less torque, and Suzuki offers no official aftermarket kit to bump up the output. Whereas, MV has a dedicated race kit that takes the output to 160 ponies.
The F3 Is One Of The Fastest Middleweight Bikes Out There
Peak Power: 147 HP
This is what makes the MV Agusta F3 the most overpowered middleweight sports bike. What you get here is an inline-triple engine with a 79 mm bore and a 54.3 mm stroke, along with a 13.3:1 compression ratio. That, along with 50 mm throttle bodies, enables an output of 147 horsepower and 65 pound-feet. MV claims these numbers will take you to 62 mph in just 3.05 seconds and 124 mph in just 9 seconds, followed by a top speed of 150 mph (V-Box tested). Those are some seriously mighty numbers for a “middleweight”.
But wait, there’s more. While 147 is plenty already, the mill has potential for way more. We say so because there’s a new F3 Competizione in 2025. That pushes the very same engine to an output of 160 horsepower, mainly by virtue of a performance exhaust. So if you get the normal F3, you know you’re a flash and exhaust away from even more oomph. Bonkers, isn’t it?
Engine Specifications
|
Capacity |
798cc |
|
Layout |
Inline-triple |
|
Power |
147 HP @ 13,000 RPM |
|
Torque |
64 LB-FT @ 10,100 RPM |
|
Transmission |
Six-speed |
|
Top speed |
150 MPH |
|
0-62mph |
3.05 seconds |
An Innovative Chassis And High-Quality Components Make The F3 R A Weapon On Track
Chassis: Steel Trellis
*F3 RR shown for reference
Modern-day middleweights try to walk the tightrope between practicality and performance. While we appreciate it, we appreciate all-out aggressive middleweight bikes more. And the F3 R is exactly that. It hides an ALS steel trellis chassis, accompanied by a bolt-on subframe and a single-sided swingarm. Suspension duties are courtesy of 43 mm Marzocchi forks and a Sachs monoshock, each of which has full adjustability in typical supersport fashion.
What’s also impressive is the braking setup. The F3 R has had Brembo Stylema calipers up top for a few years, which is something modern-day middleweights are just bringing to the party. Heck, the Panigale V2 still doesn’t have them. There are two gripes, though. One is the 424-pound heft that’s without the fuel tank filled up, and the other is the somewhat dated Pirelli Rosso II tire.
Key Dimensions
- Wheelbase: 54.33 inches
- Weight: 424 pounds
- Seat height: 32.68 inches
- Ground clearance: 4.72 inches
- Tank capacity: 4.36 gallons
The F3 R Spoils You With Cutting-Edge Riding Aids
Plus, It Looks Like A Million Bucks
This might be a middleweight, but it’s still an MV Agusta. That means you get all the premium bits you’d expect from an MV. In fact, the electronic suite is actually better than many of your favorite Japanese superbikes from a segment above. As a lowdown, you get a six-axis IMU, eight levels of traction control, cornering ABS, wheel lift control for both the front and rear, launch control, and cruise control. There are creature comforts, too, such as navigation and an anti-theft system with geolocation.
Notable Features
- Traction control
- Wheelie control
- Rear lift mitigation
- Cornering ABS
- Two-way quickshifter
- Launch control
- Cruise control
- Navigation system
Lastly, a special mention goes to the gorgeous design. While being the most overpowered, it is also arguably the sexiest middleweight sports bike on the planet. Not only do the sharp fairings add to this, but it’s the same for special touches like the triple-tip exhaust, cutouts in the front fender, and a color-matched rear seat. Bonus points for not having unusable wings just because of peer pressure!