After several years in obscurity, a couple of committed Italian businessmen who had previously established Cagiva resurrected the legendary brand.
Cagiva was already on the ropes, but the MV Agusta name held weight with so many devotees that all they needed was a pair of bikes that could live up to the reputation. They found it in the F4 and Brutale. Since then, the firm has risen from strength to strength, and while the F4 will always be considered the forefather of the contemporary MV Agusta, their success has been founded almost entirely on the strength of the Brutale series.
MV Agusta Brutale: 10 Great Things
1. Italian
These bikes, like anything built in Italy, have their quirks. They do get rather hot, are particularly uncomfortable for naked bikes, and will be costly to repair.
Buying one of these motorcycles used is akin to winning the local lottery, but whether you acquire it used or new, you won’t be disappointed. They have a distinct charm and are simply lovely.
2. Breathtaking Acceleration
On paper, the 3-second 0-60 may not appear to be very different from other hyper-nakeds or comparably powerful sportbikes, but none of them make their power quite like this.
As it explodes to life towards the top revs, the most powerful Brutale makes its power in the most terrifying yet satisfying way. This surge isn’t confined to the biggest and most powerful bikes; because to their low-down grunt, lesser bikes attain similarly amazing acceleration times.
3. Performance-Focused
Despite the fact that sport-naked bikes are designed to be more comfortable and usable, the Brutale line has always prioritised performance.
That is especially evident with the 208-horsepower 1000cc variants, which will put many sportbikes to shame. However, even the 110-horsepower Rosso is adequate, and the 140-horsepower 800RR outperforms everything in its class (unless you take into account its rather steep price).
4. Unique Models
The Brutale has given rise to the Dragster lineup and the bizarre Rush, despite the fact that they no longer fly under the same banner.
It undoubtedly aided in the creation of MV Agusta’s sole touring bike, the Turismo Veloce. The platform is simple in essence, but it has enabled seemingly limitless development.
5. Modern Electronics
The electronics suite has evolved along with the bikes, with wheelie control, traction control, and lean-sensitive ABS all controlled by a new IMU.
All of this is designed to tame the power of the 1000cc vehicles, but with the 798cc platform, you can also choose for their innovative SCS (smart clutch system), which functions similarly to an automatic transmission.
6. Brutal 1000
Few bikes look as aggressive as the 1000 RS and 1000 RR, but in the real world, they really do have far too much power for their own good.
These bikes truly live up to their name and are not for the faint of heart. With 208 horsepower, they need pretty advanced electronics just to keep the bike upright.
7. Practical Rosso
Their entry-level motorcycle is far from being a “entry-level” motorcycle. We’re fine with the fact that none of their bikes qualify as starting bikes.
The focus is on performance. Even with the most moderate tune, this bike produces 110 horsepower, which is more than most middleweight bikes.
8. Impressive Triples
MV Agusta has long been known for its high-revving inline-4 engines, but the contemporary incarnation has become more associated with a particularly spectacular triple.
It was first released as a 675cc engine several years ago, but has since been rebuilt to suit pollution regulations and now has a displacement of 798cc. It produces plenty of torque, plenty of power, and much more noise, and it can be found in the vast majority of MV Agusta motorcycles.
9. Sportbike Roots
The fact that the original Brutale and F4 share so many components is no coincidence. The same people who handled the creation of the Ducati Monster assisted in the production of these two bikes.
The move makes financial sense because the corporation saves money on tooling costs and the consumer gets more bang for their dollars with the sport-naked model.
10. Tamburini Design
Massimo Tamburini was one of those entrepreneurs. He is also largely considered as the greatest motorbike designer of all time.
He is the man behind the design of the renowned Ducati 916, which essentially rewrote history in terms of how a sportbike should look, and subsequently the F4. He also wrote the first Brutale. Of course, the design has developed over time, but the fundamentals remain.