MV Agusta Brutale 910S (2006)

There's this tragic belief out there among motorcycle designers that naked bikes should generally be running limp-wristed versions of whatever powerplants their sporting siblings are launched with. Fortunately MV Agusta does not appear to subscribe to that belief. True, the Brutale 910 doesn't have the ultimate punch of its one-litre F4 stablemate, but the four-pot screamer still lays claim to a tasty 136 horses at 11,000rpm, punting a toy with a claimed dry weight of just 185 kilos. So you can safely assume the performance is...err...lively, to say the least.

We rode the 750 version about a year or so ago and enjoyed it hugely for its pin-sharp handling plus a powerplant that you really could play tunes on. The fear with the new chap was, of course, that the nimbleness of the original may have been lost with the addition of the bigger, more powerful engine. Could it be too much of a good thing?

 Well, no is our conclusion. There is a caveat on that: the 910 is significantly faster and more feisty getting in and out of turns, so it takes a fair while longer to get your head around.

Where the 750 jumped out of turns with a fair bit of authority, the 910 wants to do it on the back wheel and/or sideways. There is a huge amount of grunt on tap.

In fact the biggest challenge is getting used to the combination of very short gearing, which provides phenomenal acceleration, and a touchy throttle response -- particularly in the lower reaches. I found it more challenging than the F4 1000 I rode the same day, and requiring a somewhat different riding technique. The short version is you need to be somewhat more precise and assertive with your throttle use. Oh, and it helps a lot if you get your weight as far forward as possible.

Though the Brutale gets light up front, and has quick steering, it categorically refused to get in to a headshake, even on some pretty ordinary surfaces.

Suspension rates are quite firm and we found the super-meaty front end really came into its own under brakes, as it was rock steady and still supplied good bump absorption right to the point of lock up. You could pull off some pretty impressive braking moves on this thing. The stoppers themselves are what you'd expect -- very powerful with lots of feel.

Cog-swapping proved to be fuss-free, even on this low-kay example.

 While hardly luxurious, the Brutale proved to be reasonably comfortable for a squirt up into the hills, near the importer's home base in Nerang (Qld). It's not something you'd take touring, but tall people can cope with the ride position and many will find it far more comfortable than the 'traditional' head-down/tail-up sports crouch.

Finish is to a very high standard, with lots of little design touches scattered around the bike that help to make the owner feel good about their choice.

The price is substantial -- $24,990 plus ORC - but the product is unique and I suspect most people will forget about the money once they've tipped it into a few corners. As a road-going sport bike, it will be very, very, hard to beat...

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Voltage 12 V
Alternator 650 W at 5000 r.p.m.
Battery 12 V - 9 Ah

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
Wheelbase 1410 mm (55.55 in.)
Overall lenght 2020 mm (79.59 in.)
Overall width 760 mm (29.94 in.)
Saddle height 805 mm (31.72 in.)
Min. ground clearance 135 mm (5.32 in.)
Trail 101,5 mm (4.00 in.)
Dry weight 185 Kg (407.9 lbs)
Fuel tank capacity 19 l (5.02 U.S. gal.) - reserve fuel: 4 l (1. 05 U.S. gal.)

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed* 257 Km/h (159.6 mph)

FRAME
Type CrMo Steel tubular trellis (TIG welded)
Rear swing arm pivot plates: material Aluminium alloy

FRONT SUSPENSION
Type "UPSIDE - DOWN" telescopic hydraulic fork with rebound-compression damping and spring preload adjustment
Rod dia. 50 mm (1.97 in.) with carbonitriding
Travel on leg axis 129 mm (5.07 in.)

REAR SUSPENSION
Type Progressive, single shock absorber with rebound and compression (High speed / Low speed) damping and spring preload
Single sided swing arm: materiale Aluminium alloy
Wheel travel 120 mm (4.72 in.)

BRAKE
Front brake Double floating disc with Ø 320 mm (Ø 12.6 in.) diameter, with steel braking band and aluminium flange
Front brake caliper Radial-type with 4 pistons - Ø 34 mm (Ø 1.34 in.)
Rear brake Single steel disc with Ø 210 mm (Ø 8.27 in.) diameter
Rear brake caliper With 4 pistons - Ø 25,4 mm (Ø 1.00 in.)

RIM
Front: Material / size Forged aluminium alloy 3.50 " x 17 "
Rear: Material / size Forged aluminium alloy 6.00 " x 17 "

TYRES
Front 120/70 - ZR 17 (58 W)
Rear 190/55 - ZR 17 (75 W)

FAIRING
Material Thermoplastic
* = Top speed attained on closed course.