MV Agusta Brutale

Author
Discussion

The Beaver King

Original Poster:

6,095 posts

194 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
Hi guys/girls,

Not a bike owner (yet), but I've been doing some research on my future purchase and I've got some questions on the Agusta Brutale that Google can't answer. I wondered if any owners or guys with experience could help?

Basically, I know what I want in a bike and a naked, middleweight is my ideal scenario. Done quite a bit of research and ultimately I keep coming back to the Brutale (with a Ducati Monster in close second).

From what I can gather, I'd be better off with a post 2012 as the earlier models were a little 'twitchy' and 'laggy' on the throttle (fly by wire); would a reasonably new rider notice this or be bothered compared to an experienced rider?

Insurance quotes are screwing with my head as well; a new Brutale 675 is circa £700 for my first year, but for some reason a Brutale 920 (same year and price) is pinging back identical quotes? I'd have thought an extra 300cc would have made more of a difference...?

Values; looking at Autotrader, Brutale values hardly change. A 2011/12 model with 5,000 miles is only a slightly cheaper than a brand new bike. Do they hold their value that well or am I missing something?

I suppose the last thing is does anybody have any comments or suggestions regarding the Brutale or an alternative?

Cheers thumbup

Tall_Paul

1,915 posts

226 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
I love the new triple engined Brutales, if you have a decent dealer nearby then go for it. If not... I'd think twice. Much like Aprilia, the dealer network is lacking a little.

Alternatives - Ducati Monster 821 (bloody awesome bike) - presuming you want a bit of italian character?

d8mok

1,815 posts

204 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
cant help in regards a brutale. Rode a F3 last year and thought it a nice bike but fueling was awful and not much dealer network around.

But a 1199 was cheaper to insure than a 899 for me.

The Beaver King

Original Poster:

6,095 posts

194 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
Tall_Paul said:
I love the new triple engined Brutales, if you have a decent dealer nearby then go for it. If not... I'd think twice. Much like Aprilia, the dealer network is lacking a little.

Alternatives - Ducati Monster 821 (bloody awesome bike) - presuming you want a bit of italian character?
I live just outside of Birmingham and checking the website, MV have 3 dealers within 30 mile.

I do love the Ducati, but I don't really fancy a dry clutch as I hear they can be a bit difficult around town. So I'd have to get a new model, which is quite expensive.

I do fancy one of the Italian bikes as they are something a bit different; I looked at the new Yamaha MT-07 which is supposed to be really good, but I think they'll end up being quite common given the price.

The Beaver King

Original Poster:

6,095 posts

194 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
d8mok said:
cant help in regards a brutale. Rode a F3 last year and thought it a nice bike but fueling was awful and not much dealer network around.

But a 1199 was cheaper to insure than a 899 for me.
Yeah, the dealer network seems to be a common concern for most people.

Speaking as a newbie to bikes; I'm guessing that getting serviced by an authorised dealer is very important?

As a TVR owner; I tend to chuck my car into the nearest local garage if anything serious needs doing, but general maintenance is done by myself. So with a bike, I'd be getting everyting done by a dealer. Full service stamps seem very important judging from the bikes I'm looking at.

shielsy

826 posts

128 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
I assume you have also considered the Street Triple? I had a test ride on one last weekend and really enjoyed it. Very lightweight, nice and comfortable, and of course a nice amount of grunt lower down the revs. They seem fairly cheap to insure and the residuals are pretty good to boot.

Tall_Paul

1,915 posts

226 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
The Beaver King said:
I live just outside of Birmingham and checking the website, MV have 3 dealers within 30 mile.

I do love the Ducati, but I don't really fancy a dry clutch as I hear they can be a bit difficult around town. So I'd have to get a new model, which is quite expensive.

I do fancy one of the Italian bikes as they are something a bit different; I looked at the new Yamaha MT-07 which is supposed to be really good, but I think they'll end up being quite common given the price.
The new 821 (watercooled) has a wet clutch, as does a couple of the older air cooled Monsters (696/796/1100/1100evo) and I think one or 2 even have slipper clutches. You could probably pick up a couple of year old 1100 evo for £6-7k, fairly sure these have a wet slipper clutch.

The Beaver King

Original Poster:

6,095 posts

194 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
shielsy said:
I assume you have also considered the Street Triple? I had a test ride on one last weekend and really enjoyed it. Very lightweight, nice and comfortable, and of course a nice amount of grunt lower down the revs. They seem fairly cheap to insure and the residuals are pretty good to boot.
I've had a look and heard very good things, but I've discounted them for the moment. To be honest, it's a really crap reason but the styling just doesn't do it for me. I find the MV and Ducati just stir something in me, very much like TVR.

I will have a serious look before I buy anthing though. A mate has the Street Triple and swears by it.

Tall_Paul said:
The new 821 (watercooled) has a wet clutch, as does a couple of the older air cooled Monsters (696/796/1100/1100evo) and I think one or 2 even have slipper clutches. You could probably pick up a couple of year old 1100 evo for £6-7k, fairly sure these have a wet slipper clutch.
Awesome, I'll do some reading and have a look. There is something special about the sound of a V-Twin....

shielsy

826 posts

128 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
The Beaver King said:
I've had a look and heard very good things, but I've discounted them for the moment. To be honest, it's a really crap reason but the styling just doesn't do it for me. I find the MV and Ducati just stir something in me, very much like TVR.

I will have a serious look before I buy anthing though. A mate has the Street Triple and swears by it.
It's as good a reason as any. However, do go for a ride on one if you get chance. I could take or leave the looks, but since having a go on one for a few hours I have become more drawn to styling. I even don't mind it's stupid googly eyes now.

Wildfire

9,774 posts

251 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
The Beaver King said:
Yeah, the dealer network seems to be a common concern for most people.

Speaking as a newbie to bikes; I'm guessing that getting serviced by an authorised dealer is very important?

As a TVR owner; I tend to chuck my car into the nearest local garage if anything serious needs doing, but general maintenance is done by myself. So with a bike, I'd be getting everyting done by a dealer. Full service stamps seem very important judging from the bikes I'm looking at.
Depending on where you are the dealerships aren't too bad. I run a little MV Club (started this year when I bought mine) and we have a couple of guys whom work at dealers our FB page. They are getting mpore widespread although the London dealer lasted all of 6 months. Tyson, Bennets, Forza Italia, Robinsons and the new one in Richmond are but to name a few.

I know what you mean, MV are every much like TVR. Owning both cloud9, there is something very special about opening my garage to see the MV in front of the Griff.

The new Triple models (Dragster and B3) are a different ride to the older IL4 models and possibly a bit rarer (if you can get rarer in MV circles, I've only ever seen one other MV on the road in the wild).

PM me if you want to know a bit more.

The Beaver King

Original Poster:

6,095 posts

194 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
Wildfire said:
Depending on where you are the dealerships aren't too bad. I run a little MV Club (started this year when I bought mine) and we have a couple of guys whom work at dealers our FB page. They are getting mpore widespread although the London dealer lasted all of 6 months. Tyson, Bennets, Forza Italia, Robinsons and the new one in Richmond are but to name a few.

I know what you mean, MV are every much like TVR. Owning both cloud9, there is something very special about opening my garage to see the MV in front of the Griff.

The new Triple models (Dragster and B3) are a different ride to the older IL4 models and possibly a bit rarer (if you can get rarer in MV circles, I've only ever seen one other MV on the road in the wild).

PM me if you want to know a bit more.
Thanks for all that info, very helpful smile

I suppose my main question is that I've read a lot of reviews that the 675 is very abrupt with it's power distribution, any truth to this?

Also, how tall are you? I'm 6ft 1" and about 16 stone; I'm slightly concerned that I might be a little oversized for the bike. I'll be arranging some visits to look at a few in the near future.

Cheers thumbup

ETA - Basically, would the Brutale be suitable for a fat newbie? hehe

d8mok

1,815 posts

204 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
The power wont be a problem. The rubbish fueling might. the f3 i rode was great when thrashing it, but no good for pootling about. Ask yourself which you will be truly doing as a newbie? I bought a 1199 as it was genuinely esaier to ride in every situation.

If i was you id look at a street triple or monster 696/796 for a year. Gain experience , then decide if you want a harder bike to ride. Ive had a 696 and it was great.

Freakuk

3,105 posts

150 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
If you're in Birmingham you have one of the countries best Ducati dealers on your doorstep in Ducati Coventry (JHP), go and see the guys there if you do venture down that path rather than MV

Chipchap

2,580 posts

196 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
I have a thing for Italian bikes and currently own both a big MV and a Ducati 1198 so I am not a stranger to their quirks and foibles. However as a newbie to bikes I would say buy a Triumph Street Triple or Triple R or perhaps even a low mileage used MT09 Yamaha.

I would certainly not have a 675 Brutale as my first bike. If it misbehaves it will put you off forever, so for now choose the path well trodden and buy a Triumph or Yamaha.

Allan

d8mok

1,815 posts

204 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
As a newbie even a 696/796 will give you giggles for a while. Get some termi's and off you go. Cheap to run / insure too.

i took my 696 to the TT and it was great holding a flat throttle everywhere over the mountain.


The Beaver King

Original Poster:

6,095 posts

194 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
Cheers for the comments chaps.

I'll have another look at the Ducatis; my test isn't until the end of January, so I've got more than enough time to change my mind twenty odd times hehe

powerstans

353 posts

196 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
If its any help Mrs P has just gone through he whole test riding process having just passed her test (Aprilla Shiver, Speed and Street triples, Fazer, Monster 696 Hornet 650 etc.) She didnt try the Brutale as its a bit left field for her.
She is 6' and 10.5 stone and has bought a Triumph Speed Triple having tried the above and dosen't look silly on it. She found the Monster 696 a bit small with her legs in a more tucked position than the Triumph.
When we picked up her Street I rode it about 80 miles of the way home and found it very willing with good power delivery from low down with the 3 pot engine and good fun through the twisty bits. Only down side was at 6'4" and 16.5 stone I probably look a bit big on it (though it felt fine while I was on it).
She also test rode a Speed Triple (which I have now bought) and found it a bit heavy and she was more tentative with the power delivery. When yopu do the test rides you will probably find the dealer 675's etc will feel far more willing than your training school bike.
Power delivery was the main issue with the Aprilla Shiver as she found it lumpy (twin pot) and a bit jerky (Fueling) and therefore less predictable at low speed precise control manouvres and pulling away, not something she liked whilst she is still having to master everything else.
I would say on twisty road hers is in some ways more fun than my Speed T and is a brilliant first bike.

mak

1,434 posts

225 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
I Bought a 989r 2012 model several weeks ago from a Kawasaki main dealer in Birmingham :-). I reckon for me it will be more satisfying than the gsxr 1000 it shares the garage with. I have only used it twice and once was the return trip from buying the thing but its a beautiful place to sit :-) or look at , I was a bit overwhelmed about how many different models there where and also the lack of price difference between year and model.
I did not do to much research because mine appeared on ebay within 2 days of scouring the second hand market and for me it ticked the boxes.






Wildfire

9,774 posts

251 months

Friday 19th December 2014
quotequote all
The Beaver King said:
Thanks for all that info, very helpful smile

I suppose my main question is that I've read a lot of reviews that the 675 is very abrupt with it's power distribution, any truth to this?

Also, how tall are you? I'm 6ft 1" and about 16 stone; I'm slightly concerned that I might be a little oversized for the bike. I'll be arranging some visits to look at a few in the near future.

Cheers thumbup

ETA - Basically, would the Brutale be suitable for a fat newbie? hehe
On the old map, especially on Sports, town was not a good place to be. The new map is much improved and I understand that the new bikes come with a heavier throttle spring on the RBW throttle. The light spring combined with the odd power deliver and a bit of tiredness could make for a bit of a jerky ride.

With the new map I still get this but last time it was after the PH trip to Belgium and I'd just done the best part of 300 miles, loaded up on a sports bike. Day to day, it's fine. As all sports bikes the F3 is a bit of a pain under 30-40 mph in town, but no more so than my old Ninja.

I test rode the Daytona 657R back to back with my 07 ZX-6R and the same with my F3. The Daytona is a superb bike, and IMHO a better bike. But it wasn't exciting, after I got off it I though "That was nice." It just did everything better than my Ninja. After 10 minutes on the MV I thought "Wow!" I wanted to ride it more and the bike just makes so much sense the more you push it.

I'm only 5' 7" and the F3 is nice and small. I could just about tip toe on the floor on the ZX-6R, on the MV it's flat footed. My mate is about 6' 1" and he didn't look too big for the bike. The narrow triple engine definitely makes the bikes feel smaller than the IL4s. We have a few Brutale owners on the group.


JRH63

166 posts

121 months

Friday 19th December 2014
quotequote all
I've got a TVR and an MV, believe me, the MV is a lot easier to own!! Buy the MV, much more 'special' than a Ducati, you won't regret it.