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BIKES: MV Agusta Brutale 1090 R & RR Review
MotoUSA has a brief summer fling with high-performance two-wheeled Italian exotica from MV Agusta, sampling the 2012 Brutale 1090 R and RR.
Our MCUSA testing cadre has long deemed the Brutale one of the most fetching bikes on the road, and these 2012 models do nothing to change that opinion. (Photo: MotorcycleUSA.com)
aly has long been the coveted source for high-performance motorcycling exotica here in the States. And of the four Italian marques, MV Agusta may be the most exotic of all. A former Grand Prix powerhouse, MV is renowned for the sleek styling of its F4 Superbikes (and most recently the gorgeous F3 supersport). No to be forgotten, however, the Italians have also produced some of the most lust-worthy naked standards on the road with its Brutale streetfighter.
Based off the F4 models, the Brutale hails a confusing displacement lineage. The original 750cc forebear eventually diverged into a smaller 910 and larger 1078. Along the way there have been a mishmash of model names, including the 910, 920, 1078, 1090 and the 990 – the latter a 998cc version. The situation is further confounded by several special S and R spec versions of various models, not to mention limited editions… Well, the Brutale story is almost as complicated the MV Agusta ownership saga over the last decade.
This summer Motorcycle USA started fresh with two versions of the 2012 Brutale, the 1090 R and, for those whom one R just ain’t enough, the racier 1090 RR version. Flogging the Italian mounts on the curvy backroads of our Southern Oregon headquarters, the two brutes more than lived up to their billing as attention-grabbing high-performance play bikes.
(UPDATE: MV recently announced changes to its 2013 Brutale lineup, which eliminated the 920 version that was unavailable in the US market. It now includes three versions of the 1090, a base model alongside the 1090 R and RR. It also includes the Brutale 675, which is based off the firm’s Inline Triple-powered F3 supersport, as well as the all-new Brutale 800 - also an Inline Triple.)
Our MCUSA testing cadre has long deemed the Brutale one of the most fetching bikes on the road, and these 2012 models do nothing to change that opinion. The R & RR share the same basic styling lines, though the up-sec model is by far the flashier mount. Offered in MV’s traditional silver and red racing colors, the RR further ups the styling ante on its sibling with cleaner integrated turn signals and LED running light. Our standard R test bike features a more understated black colorway, with red accents.
Styling cues draw attention to the spec sheet variances of the two bikes. Gold two-piece calipers on the R contrast the silver monoblocs adorning the RR. The bright red frame on the RR isn’t all show either, as its chromoly steel tubing is different than the alloy sourced by the R version, the former is also TIG hand-welded in contrast to the MIG welded base model. The bikes continue to diverge with different seats and wheels. Perhaps the most prominent visual change, the R sources the familiar and distinctive star-spoked cast aluminum rims while the RR hoops are 10-spoke forged aluminum wheels.
For the rest of this article including more photos ad specs please visit MotorcycleUSA.com
Based off the F4 models, the Brutale hails a confusing displacement lineage. The original 750cc forebear eventually diverged into a smaller 910 and larger 1078. Along the way there have been a mishmash of model names, including the 910, 920, 1078, 1090 and the 990 – the latter a 998cc version. The situation is further confounded by several special S and R spec versions of various models, not to mention limited editions… Well, the Brutale story is almost as complicated the MV Agusta ownership saga over the last decade.
This summer Motorcycle USA started fresh with two versions of the 2012 Brutale, the 1090 R and, for those whom one R just ain’t enough, the racier 1090 RR version. Flogging the Italian mounts on the curvy backroads of our Southern Oregon headquarters, the two brutes more than lived up to their billing as attention-grabbing high-performance play bikes.
(UPDATE: MV recently announced changes to its 2013 Brutale lineup, which eliminated the 920 version that was unavailable in the US market. It now includes three versions of the 1090, a base model alongside the 1090 R and RR. It also includes the Brutale 675, which is based off the firm’s Inline Triple-powered F3 supersport, as well as the all-new Brutale 800 - also an Inline Triple.)
Our MCUSA testing cadre has long deemed the Brutale one of the most fetching bikes on the road, and these 2012 models do nothing to change that opinion. The R & RR share the same basic styling lines, though the up-sec model is by far the flashier mount. Offered in MV’s traditional silver and red racing colors, the RR further ups the styling ante on its sibling with cleaner integrated turn signals and LED running light. Our standard R test bike features a more understated black colorway, with red accents.
Styling cues draw attention to the spec sheet variances of the two bikes. Gold two-piece calipers on the R contrast the silver monoblocs adorning the RR. The bright red frame on the RR isn’t all show either, as its chromoly steel tubing is different than the alloy sourced by the R version, the former is also TIG hand-welded in contrast to the MIG welded base model. The bikes continue to diverge with different seats and wheels. Perhaps the most prominent visual change, the R sources the familiar and distinctive star-spoked cast aluminum rims while the RR hoops are 10-spoke forged aluminum wheels.
For the rest of this article including more photos ad specs please visit MotorcycleUSA.com
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