MV Agusta Brutale 800 Review

The Brutale’s only fashion faux pas are related to emissions regulations. The emissions-compliance sticker on left fork tube looks heinous, while you can blame the California Air Resources Board for the black plastic evaporative canister stuck to the left side of its engine.The Brutale 800 is one of the most exciting naked sportbikes ever made, and its handsome style will impress at the Burger Barn or just sitting quietly in your garage. As such, it’s one of the most desirable nakeds in production.

Timid riders should keep their distance. With its tight 54.3-inch wheelbase and reasonably low 31.9-inch seat height, MV’s middle Brutale feels like a compact middleweight when straddled. But it only takes one twist of its short-turn throttle to realize you’re on a machine that can outmuscle many liter-size naked sportbikes.Finer details are found in smaller places. Note the flowing swoosh on the lower fork legs that commingle in the brake caliper mounts, or the graceful slashes formed in the front fender. Or the characterful creases adorning the classy titanium-colored 4.4-gallon fuel tank and the graceful and tidy tail section.

but its engine-management behavior needs further development – hopefully an issue that updated ECU mapping will solve. Adding a steering damper would be an easy fix for the Brutale’s stability issues.

Yet the combination of its size, its power and its style makes it distinct among its streetfighter brethren. The only thing that comes close is Ducati’s 848 Streetfighter. An Italian Middleweight Streetfighter Comparo is sure to follow.

At $12,498, the Brutale 800 is inexpensive relative to other MV Agustas, putting it within range of enthusiasts who could previously only dream about MV ownership. It’s a scintillating machine that balances real-world usability with improbable sporting prowess and chic Italian style.

MV Agusta Brutale 800 Picture Gallery