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2010 MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR First Ride
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The new Brutale 1090RR and 990R (see sidebar) are the first new MV Agustas to appear after a year of Harley-Davidson ownership. They’re the first of a new generation of bikes to roll out of the factory gates in Varase, Italy. If the Brutale 1090RR is anything to go by, MV’s future new models, including the new F4 superbike, which will be unveiled in just over three weeks, should be epic.
Judging by the confident swagger of the MV staff at the launch here at Misano and the huge grin on designer Adrian Morton’s face, there’s a real buzz inside MV Agusta at the moment. At long last it looks as if MV could soon be back at its decadent best.
The old Brutale lived up to its name. From the original 2001-model 750, all the way to the out-going 1078RR, MV’s beautiful super naked was always an in-your-face aggressive beast. Everything from the course Inline-Four engine note to the uncompromising race suspension, brutal acceleration and neck-straining 160mph-plus top speed, screamed ‘race’.
It was a riot to ride for a few hours but just too extreme to live with once the thrill of non-stop wheelies, stoppies, knee-down and skids had worn off. As much as we loved its naughty side it was simply too cramped, vibey, harsh and uncompromising. Things have changed.
The 1090RR, which we estimate will cost around £14,000 when it goes on sale at the end of the year is the first MV Agusta I’ve ridden where I could keep going all day. In fact here at Misano’s stunning MotoGP racetrack, I had to be levered off the 1090RR when it was time to go home.
Straight out of the box, the new Brutale 1090RR is a masterful track day weapon.
On the circuit the 1090RR is magical, and straight out of the crate with no modifications it’s a devastating track tool and would shame most production bikes, with or without a fairing.
The engine, which is still 1078cc, confusingly, is revvy, i nvolving, packed with low and mid-range grunt and a howling top-end rush. It’s far more refined now, though and doesn’t sound like a bag of spanners when you start it up. On the throttle the power delivery is smooth and predictable, and off it the stand...
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