Mv Agusta Brutale
MV Agusta Brutale
ITALY 2001
Naked and gnarly
MV AGUSTA PICKED THE PERFECT NAME FOR THE stripper version of its F4 sportbike. The raw forcefulness with which the limited-edition, carbon-fiber-and-magnesium Serie Oro Brutale accelerates-not to mention the breathtaking exhaust note that accompanies that acceleration-can only be described one way: Brutal.
TheF4 has been portrayed as a missile. And it is. But with MV claiming more midrange punch, shorter gearing and less weight than the F4, it's no wonder the Brutale is a truly inspiring machine. And the noise! Let's be honest: Despite its eye-catching, quad underseat mufflers, the F4's exhaust note turned out to be somewhat uninspiring. The Brutale, howev er, with its screened air intakes and stacked side pipes, deliv ers the most pleasing mechanical song. Moreover, those sounds change dramatically as the revs climb. At the lower end of the scale, the 750cc inline-Four emits a hoarse smoker's cacide. As the tach needle sweeps past 3000 rpm, however, the voice becomes stronger and more authontative Near
redline, the sound can only be described as a howl! With its Formula One-inspired radial four-valve cylinder head, Marelli fuel-injection and cassettestyle six-speed transmission, the Brutale's liquidcooled engine is virtually identical to the F4's com pact power source. In the case of the former,
however, the pumped-up midrange and updated EFI mapping make for immediate throttle response. Feeling spontaneous? Wheelies are merely a lively twist of the grip away. Top speed is an alleged 155 mph, down 23 mph to the high zoot F4 SPR. Not too shabby, considering the Brutale's relatively upright seating position and lack of aerodynamic aids. Frame-wise, the Brutale uses the F4 s mas terful mix of steel tubes and alloy pivot plates And what can you say about that single-sided magnesium swrngarm'~ Beautiful. The rest of the running gear is similarly top-shelf, from the titanium-nitride-treated, inverted 50mm Marzocchi fork and Sachs shock to the sexy five-spoke wheels (also mag) shod with Dunlop D207 GP radials in 120/65-17 front and 190/55-17 rear sizes, and exclusive Nissin six-piston pinchers squeezing 310mm floating discs. Tasty, eh?
Put to work on a snaking backroad, the Brutale is a real weapon. Despite leaving taller riders out in the wind, the higher handlebar makes you feel as if any thing is possible. The slightly forward lean puts you right in touch with the front axle, quickly generating a feel ing of complete control. At virtually any speed, from park ing-lot crawl to top-gear sweepers, the Brutale is beautifully balanced and ready to respond to orders. (In comparison, the F4, which seemed so wonderful before you threw a leg over the Brutale, seems to lose some of its sublime handling.) The only surprise is the odd hose and wire, which are shamelessly misplaced among the charming frame, artfully crafted engine and otherwise refined componentry. Oh yeah, the seat isn't particularly spacious...
How to own such a delightful piece of moto-jeweiry? First, you must be patient. All 300 of the $28,995 Serie Oro models are spoken for. Fortunately, the standard-issue Brutale, coming soon, will cost roughly half that amount.
Claudio Bragglia
