Street fighter : MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR

Motor 4 Speed | MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR | The Brutale has been around since ’99, and when it was first introduced it brought a real sense of sophistication and style to the naked sportsbike segment. Despite its age it still continues to turn heads, but the styling is not quite as fresh as it once was. Now it follows the trend rather than sets them.

For the 2010 model year MV Agusta have given the bike a comprehensive mechanical overhaul and a mild styling refresh. They’ve also renamed the two models available, the Brutale 1090RR – described here, and the Brutale 990R.

Despite the fact the Brutale 1090RR looks remarkably similar to the previous model it actually shares only 15% of the parts with its predecessor. Among the redesigned components are new wheel rims, brake discs, suspension internals, instrument cluster, headlight, taillight, and swingarm.

The bodywork of the MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR has been modified to include larger intakes to direct more air into the airbox. The radiator is now protected on either side by a new bodywork element instead of the previous metal component. The biggest change occurs at the rear of the bike where a new, slimmer tail unit with an integrated LED taillight can be found. The design and angle of the twin exhausts have also been modified to better suit the lines of the bike.

The frame of the 1090RR Brutale is a chromium molybdenum steel trellis unit which features a taller, lighter and more rigid design than the previous model. The new swingarm is 1kg (2.2 lbs) lighter than the 2009 model’s, while also being slightly longer to increase the wheelbase and improve the stability. The 50mm front forks have had their internals and oil dynamics redesigned by CRC, and are produced by Marzocchi. The compression, extension, and spring preload are all adjustable.

Powering the MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR is a 1078cc, four-cylinder, 16 valve engine which spits out 144 horsepower @ 10,600 rpm and 115 Nm of torque @ 8,000 rpm. This is connected to a six-speed gearbox equipped with a slipper clutch. The new engine also has an enhanced cooling system and lighter components than the previous engine.