MV Brutale 910 - New (to me) Bike
Discussion
OP - Nice choice of bike and great write up. I even go excited about your nervousness riding it for the first time.
Laughed a lot hearing baout you dressing up in your leather prancing around the house. I remember when I first got my set of leathers. You feel 'proper'. When you dont have them on you'll feel naked!
Enjoy the bike.
Laughed a lot hearing baout you dressing up in your leather prancing around the house. I remember when I first got my set of leathers. You feel 'proper'. When you dont have them on you'll feel naked!
Enjoy the bike.
Thought I'd provide an update, given it has been a few weeks now.
So I've managed to put 500 miles on the bike. I'm a lot more comfortable on it now and finally able to ride with a decent level of confidence. I'm still miles away from actually pushing the bike hard, but we've reached a mutual understanding.
No really issues so far, other than my air duct almost falling off. I went out for a ride on Sunday for a few hours and when I got back I realised my air duct had come loose and was hanging off. Turns out it is supposed to have 3 screws holding it on, but I only had two (and eventually one...).
Quick fix really; tank off and 3 new screws. It gave me a chance to learn how the bike comes apart so I wasn't too annoyed.
I also had my first 'Oh s
t! I'm coming off' moment this morning.
Took a ride into work, happily cruising down the M5 past West Brom. As I'm coming round the corner, in the outside lane, I spot something bouncing into the road. In the space of 2 seconds I decided that 1) I'm going to hit it no matter what and 2) It's a piece of 2x4" and it's going to hurt.
I must admit, I was pretty sure that was it. I was coming off.
So, I braced myself and waited.
Nothing. No impact, nothing. I went straight over it.
Turns out, it wasn't a bit of wood at all. It was a bit of stty foam that looked like wood. I have never been so happy and so angry in my life.
Still, fun and games
So I've managed to put 500 miles on the bike. I'm a lot more comfortable on it now and finally able to ride with a decent level of confidence. I'm still miles away from actually pushing the bike hard, but we've reached a mutual understanding.
No really issues so far, other than my air duct almost falling off. I went out for a ride on Sunday for a few hours and when I got back I realised my air duct had come loose and was hanging off. Turns out it is supposed to have 3 screws holding it on, but I only had two (and eventually one...).
Quick fix really; tank off and 3 new screws. It gave me a chance to learn how the bike comes apart so I wasn't too annoyed.
I also had my first 'Oh s
t! I'm coming off' moment this morning.Took a ride into work, happily cruising down the M5 past West Brom. As I'm coming round the corner, in the outside lane, I spot something bouncing into the road. In the space of 2 seconds I decided that 1) I'm going to hit it no matter what and 2) It's a piece of 2x4" and it's going to hurt.
I must admit, I was pretty sure that was it. I was coming off.
So, I braced myself and waited.
Nothing. No impact, nothing. I went straight over it.
Turns out, it wasn't a bit of wood at all. It was a bit of s
tty foam that looked like wood. I have never been so happy and so angry in my life.Still, fun and games
Anybody able to advise on suspension. By that I mean anything at all 
Basically, since I've had the Brutale, the suspension has been stupidly hard. Being reasonably handy, I decided to adjust the suspension myself based on the medium settings in the manual.
Managed it easy enough and then took it out for a quick blast.
The bike soaks up the bumps a lot better now and my spine is exceptionally grateful. The problem is, the bike now leans over ridiculously easy. It's like the riding in the wet and it's making me nervous.
The stupid thing is, I'm not sure if this is normal or not as I have no basis for comparison.
Before I changed the suspension settings, the bike was wound up pretty hard. For example, the front preload settings were half of the recommended for a hard set up. So basically all set to hard, then cranked up a bit harder.
I've ridden the bike like this since I've had it, but cornering made me nervous as the slightest bump made it skip. Now I'm at the other end of the scale where the bike feels too 'loose'.
In summary, is it just me? Is the bike fine and I'm just too green and lacking in confidence to corner as I'm supposed to or should the bike inspire confidence in the corners if the suspension is right?
I literally have no idea if the bike is fine or I need the suspension set up properly....
Basically, since I've had the Brutale, the suspension has been stupidly hard. Being reasonably handy, I decided to adjust the suspension myself based on the medium settings in the manual.
Managed it easy enough and then took it out for a quick blast.
The bike soaks up the bumps a lot better now and my spine is exceptionally grateful. The problem is, the bike now leans over ridiculously easy. It's like the riding in the wet and it's making me nervous.
The stupid thing is, I'm not sure if this is normal or not as I have no basis for comparison.
Before I changed the suspension settings, the bike was wound up pretty hard. For example, the front preload settings were half of the recommended for a hard set up. So basically all set to hard, then cranked up a bit harder.
I've ridden the bike like this since I've had it, but cornering made me nervous as the slightest bump made it skip. Now I'm at the other end of the scale where the bike feels too 'loose'.
In summary, is it just me? Is the bike fine and I'm just too green and lacking in confidence to corner as I'm supposed to or should the bike inspire confidence in the corners if the suspension is right?
I literally have no idea if the bike is fine or I need the suspension set up properly....
Unless you are clued up its best to get someone to do it all for you. If however you are a little bit handy then its all achievable.
First wind off all compression and rebound damping to the least possible settings, remembering where they were before you started to mess with them.
Get a mate and look at the rear of the bike for somewhere to measure to and from, mark these with chalk or similar. Then pull the bike right over on its sidestand so that the rear suspension extends fully.
Get said mate to measure the distance between the two marks. Now return bike to upright and bounce the rear once or twice. This should now be the static sag position. Keeping it upright but not sitting on it, get said mate to measure accurately again between the two marks. Subtract the lesser number from the greater number and this is now your static sag in mm. Adjust the rear preload until the static sag is as close as possible to that recommended in the manual for your weight or failing that 20 to 25mm. Reset the compression damping and rebound damping to exactly that in the handbook.
Then bounce the bike again once or twice and sit on it. Get said mate to measure between the marks again. Then once again subtract the lesser from the greater. This is the rider sag. If this is now a greater number than say 35mm then you need a heavier spring but you can compromise with slightly more preload and one click more compression damping. This is a compromise and is in no way a cure.
Repeat this for the front suspension.
Then go for a ride and take a screwdriver with you and tweak the damping if you think it needs it.
If its all set well it should be compliant but controlled as it compresses over bumps and controlled as the suspension returns up the stroke.
You may just be fortunate that your weight ready to ride in full gear matched what the factory felt was good but more than likely you will need to engage an expert to change the springs and fluid / air gap etc.
Best of luck
A
First wind off all compression and rebound damping to the least possible settings, remembering where they were before you started to mess with them.
Get a mate and look at the rear of the bike for somewhere to measure to and from, mark these with chalk or similar. Then pull the bike right over on its sidestand so that the rear suspension extends fully.
Get said mate to measure the distance between the two marks. Now return bike to upright and bounce the rear once or twice. This should now be the static sag position. Keeping it upright but not sitting on it, get said mate to measure accurately again between the two marks. Subtract the lesser number from the greater number and this is now your static sag in mm. Adjust the rear preload until the static sag is as close as possible to that recommended in the manual for your weight or failing that 20 to 25mm. Reset the compression damping and rebound damping to exactly that in the handbook.
Then bounce the bike again once or twice and sit on it. Get said mate to measure between the marks again. Then once again subtract the lesser from the greater. This is the rider sag. If this is now a greater number than say 35mm then you need a heavier spring but you can compromise with slightly more preload and one click more compression damping. This is a compromise and is in no way a cure.
Repeat this for the front suspension.
Then go for a ride and take a screwdriver with you and tweak the damping if you think it needs it.
If its all set well it should be compliant but controlled as it compresses over bumps and controlled as the suspension returns up the stroke.
You may just be fortunate that your weight ready to ride in full gear matched what the factory felt was good but more than likely you will need to engage an expert to change the springs and fluid / air gap etc.
Best of luck
A
Could always take it to a local track day and get the on site suspension guys to set it up for you. Don't need to be on the trackday to use them.
Get them to set up, go for a ride on the road, come back to adjust/confirm, repeat till happy. They normally charge about £50-60 for a day of fettling.
Get them to set up, go for a ride on the road, come back to adjust/confirm, repeat till happy. They normally charge about £50-60 for a day of fettling.
gwm said:
Could always take it to a local track day and get the on site suspension guys to set it up for you. Don't need to be on the trackday to use them.
Get them to set up, go for a ride on the road, come back to adjust/confirm, repeat till happy. They normally charge about £50-60 for a day of fettling.
That is not the most insane thing I've ever heard. In fact, I was considering an amateur track day in the near future. Get them to set up, go for a ride on the road, come back to adjust/confirm, repeat till happy. They normally charge about £50-60 for a day of fettling.
Good shout. Thank you.
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