Italian Triple Threat
ITALIAN TRIPLE THREAT
A sneak peek at MV Agusta’s 2011 Brutale 675
Rumors surrounding the MV Agusta 675 F3 have been circulating for a while. Now, we also know that a Brutale version is in the works, too. This new three-cylinder machine has its sights set squarely on Triumph’s Street Triple, which shares the same displacement.
According to a French dealer who claims to have seen the Brutale 675 at the factory, the new engine will be housed in a tubular-steel frame with aluminum side plates, just like its four-cylinder Brutale brethren. Styling is also said to be similar to the famous original Massimo Tamburini design, so the 675 will sport a single-sided swingarm.
The headlight will still have the singular shape originally inspired by Salvador Dali and is one of the bike’s trademark characteristics, just as Triumph’s Speed/Street Triples are instantly recognizable by their dual-headlight setup. The 675cc Brutale will have an under-engine, MotoGP-style exhaust silencer in place of the big Brutale’s twin sidemount mufflers.
Target for the Triple’s output is rumored to be around 106 hp, which is on par with that of the Street Triple. Physically, the engine is said to be very small, allowing improved placement and packaging in the chassis, as well as reduced weight. Two versions of the bike are supposedly in the works, a standard model for approximately 8900 Euro ($11,500) and an R model with higher-spec suspension and brakes for around 10,990 Euro ($14,300). Both the Brutale 675 and 675 F3 are expected to debut at the Milan motorcycle show in November. Jeff Robert
