MRW Issue 1

She’s expensive
Even if you say it quickly,
R499,000 is a lot of money,
making the Brutale 1000RR
the most expensive naked
bike on the market. Ducati’s
Streetfighter V4 S, arguably
MV’s closest competition,
also comes with semi-active
Öhlins suspension and
205bhp but is under 400k at
R359,500, and Aprilia’s Tuono,
also with semi-active suspension,
is even cheaper at
R315,000. Yes, you could argue
the MV has more exclusivity
and that with all its carbon
and other goodies, is the
most eye-catching. But the
Ducati is also new for 2020
as well as R139,500 cheaper.
“The new mv Brutale 1000RR is the
most advanced mv to date, and its
titanium rodded engine now wants
to rev higher and create even more
power: a quoted 205 Italian horses.”
Meanwhile, MV dealers up
and down the country will be
saying, you’re buying into the
image, brand and exclusivity.
If you want a Rolex, you must
pay Rolex money.
Power and torque
It’s crazy to think that if you
don’t’ have over 200bhp in
the super naked class then
you’re turning up to a gunfight
with a knife. MV has really
pushed the boundaries
with the 998cc Brutale now
producing a quoted 205bhp
at 13,000rpm. To put that in
perspective, the new MV is
on par with Ducati’s Streetfighter,
which, remember, has
a larger capacity (1103cc) and
way ahead of Aprilia’s Tuono,
which produces ‘just’ 173bhp.
Where do I start with the
dramatic MV Agusta Brutale
1000RR? It looks like it’s doing
a million miles an hour stood
still. I can’t remember a recent
bike that is so dramatic, individual
and, perhaps because
it says MV Agusta on the fuel
tank, exclusive. I spent nearly
a week with the MV yet was
still admiring it and finding
new parts to fall in love with
when I gave it back. From the
front, the distinctive Porschelike
headlights mean it’s immediately
identifiable as a
Brutale. The cut away rear
seat section featuring fourprotruding
silencers and a
sculpted swing-arm combine
to make one of the best rear
ends on the market… But, like
everything exclusive and Italian,
the MV comes at a price
– an eye-watering R499,000.
It’s not just about the looks,
though. The new MV Brutale
1000RR is the most advanced
MV to date, and its titanium
rodded engine now wants to
rev higher and create even
more power: a quoted 205
Italian horses. I couldn’t wait
to find out if the 2020 Brutale
went as fast as it looks,
which is why we headed to
Italy to find out both on road
and track, flicking between
Pirelli road and slick tyres to
get a real flavour for this Italian
beauty. Yes it’s a tough job
but someone has to do it.