The "Original" Brutale 800

THE "ORIGINAL" BRUTALE 800

IGNITION

FIRST RIDE

Okay, so it’s a four-cylinder, but we punched out our 2004 MV Agusta Brutale 750 S long-term testbike to 800cc long before the recent displacement expansion of the big middleweight class. And our Brutale “800” was a scream to ride with its 113

hp, 53 pound-feet of output howling through gorgeous headers and Gianelli silencers. Incidentally, that power is virtually identical to that produced by the stock Brutale 800 we last tested (“Howl,” Dec. 2013). Riding experience was also similar (razor-

sharp chassis and even some fueling issues!), even though the 430-pound 750 5 was 45 pounds heavier than the newer triple. The other thing to lighten up a bit? The 2004 Brutale’s MSRP was $13,995, and the 2014 800 Brutale’s is $12,498. Progress!

Mark Hoyer