MV Brutale 1090 RR

[Chazaxl]

Hi, a friend of mine suggested I seek out a user called 'spareparts' here and ask about these bikes.

I was looking for something 'interesting' and was looking at some new but don't want to invest that type of money, moreso since we have recently invested in a property and need to do further investment.

So was looking around, one of these popped up, specs looks interest, purchase prices vary from £4 - 8K pending age and miles.

So these are rare, I cant pop down the road and go test ride one, perhaps if I explain what I like ....

Previous bike, KTM 1290 Super Adv S, loved it. A bit too soft but lovely. Some character, reasonably fast, front brakes not that great, but very capable. Sold to help fund the house purchase.

Previous to that - MT 10 - loved it but never felt comfortable on it. Great engine - but always felt like I was riding 'on' the bike and not 'in' it so didnt feel comfortable.

Before I bought the Super Adv S, I was very close to buying the current KTM Superduke GT, this remains an option, even the older one is great.

Testrode the Ducati Streetfighter - mindblowing - but lots of money.

Z2H Kawa, nice, souless, too expensive.

Last weekend rode the 2020 S1000XR. Very very good. But lots of $$$$ and wish it had more character / torque.

I love bikes with a lot of torque - roll on wheelies :-) That said, the XR was lacking but could lift the wheel with wheelie protection disabled - certainly not that keen on anything less 'torquey'.

So, how does the Brutale 1090 RR look against what I'm looking for?

In terms of comfort - I'm 5 10 ish. I like sitting upright but I am not against something a bit more aggressive.

Certainly a Tuono V4 seems to be suitable too - love the motor, test rode before but the bike is a bit small for me.

Thoughts?

Thanks

[bogie]

I can help, ive had my Brutale 1090RR for 5 years now. Love riding it, had it from new, no issues so far 13k miles on it. Fit the bill perfectly for what I was looking for at the time. I had test ridden all the naked options at the time back then. Wanted something comfy, plenty of poke, and more interesting than S1000R or MT10 kind of bikes. Perceived quality is great too, paint finish is awesome.

You can get similar to this for £8k now...would be £15k list when new, saw one the same for £7999 last year, very rare though, 3 in the UK AFAIK in this colour.



wheelies: - on demand off the throttle through first 4 gears. Its the previous gen F4 engine with the gearing lowered down to 164mph which it revs out to really easily.

character:- remove the airbox snorkles and it sounds really angry, much more interesting than other IL4s. Looks are subjective, but even the plain black 1090 looks great IMO.

comfort: - im 5'10" and its perfect. Priority for me was comfort and the Tuono is an awesome tool, but I found it still too much forward lean and legs a bit cramped, a Brutale 800 felt too small. The 1090 is spot on, near upright riding position and adjustable rearsets as standard.

ride/handling: - didnt take much tweaking, set the sag, some minor adjustments and spot on for me on road, like most modern bikes, way more capable than the rider

power: - plenty, 158bhp (crank) standard, I fit a full system/map/filter, picked up 12bhp at the back wheel and super smooth delivery.

electronics :- basic, previous generation stuff; ABS, anti rear wheel lift, engine braking management, traction control....thats it. No wheelie control other than the rear brake which is pretty much the only thing its good for .

Things I dont like: - not much really, changed tyres to Diablo Rosso Corsa II as original Supercorsa barely last the summer months. Didnt notice any downside yet. Its got a funky LCD dash and no bloody clock ....so found a stick on one that looks ok. Resetting the trip meter after fueling is 4 button presses at different lengths....unreal...why so complicated ? Footpegs are slippery as standard - £70 for knurled MV Corse a great upgrade.

lots of info from owners on the MV forum https://www.mvagusta.net/

Edited by bogie on Thursday 6th August 13:58

[Chazaxl]

bogie said:

I can help, ive had my Brutale 1090RR for 5 years now. Love riding it, had it from new, no issues so far 13k miles on it. Fit the bill perfectly for what I was looking for at the time. I had test ridden all the naked options at the time back then. Wanted something comfy, plenty of poke, and more interesting than S1000R or MT10 kind of bikes. Perceived quality is great too, paint finish is awesome.

You can get similar to this for £8k now...would be £15k list when new, saw one the same for £7999 last year, very rare though, 3 in the UK AFAIK in this colour.



wheelies: - on demand off the throttle through first 4 gears. Its the previous gen F4 engine with the gearing lowered down to 164mph which it revs out to really easily.

character:- remove the airbox snorkles and it sounds really angry, much more interesting than other IL4s. Looks are subjective, but even the plain black 1090 looks great IMO.

comfort: - im 5'10" and its perfect. Priority for me was comfort and the Tuono is an awesome tool, but I found it still too much forward lean and legs a bit cramped, a Brutale 800 felt too small. The 1090 is spot on, near upright riding position and adjustable rearsets as standard.

ride/handling: - didnt take much tweaking, set the sag, some minor adjustments and spot on for me on road, like most modern bikes, way more capable than the rider

power: - plenty, 158bhp (crank) standard, I fit a full system/map/filter, picked up 12bhp at the back wheel and super smooth delivery.

electronics :- basic, previous generation stuff; ABS, anti rear wheel lift, engine braking management, traction control....thats it. No wheelie control other than the rear brake which is pretty much the only thing its good for .

Things I dont like: - not much really, changed tyres to Diablo Rosso Corsa II as original Supercorsa barely last the summer months. Didnt notice any downside yet. Its got a funky LCD dash and no bloody clock ....so found a stick on one that looks ok. Resetting the trip meter after fueling is 4 button presses at different lengths....unreal...why so complicated ? Footpegs are slippery as standard - £70 for knurled MV Corse a great upgrade.

lots of info from owners on the MV forum https://www.mvagusta.net/

Edited by bogie on Thursday 6th August 13:58

Thank you. Amazing colours on your bike. You seem to suggest what I expected and that this is a bike I'd enjoy.

£4K buys this with high miles ... https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/mv-a...

whereas going closer to £8K buys this bike with only 214 miles on it. Pity it has such a boring colour scheme - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

This looks decent, pity 3 previous owners - not bad looking however. https://www.gumtree.com/p/mv-agusta-motorbikes/201...

[bogie]

I wouldnt worry too much about 20k miles, its a lot of bike for £4k, if the service history checks out. The "R" version is a bit less top end power 158bhp down to 144bhp but apparently more usable midrange...not that either are lacking, its a 1078cc engine with lower gearing than the sportsbike it came out of, so acceleration in any gear is not lacking.

The other things the "R" is missing are just bling bits, depending on model year might have heavier wheels, non adjustable foot rests, less fancy suspension, less carbon, Brembo monoblocs only on the RR etc

A 1078RR was often preferred by some long term owners. One here, with 3500 miles on.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MV-agusta-1078RR/174371...

[carinaman]

That blue is a fantastic colour.

[bogie]

carinaman said:

That blue is a fantastic colour.

Thanks, I thought so too at the time when I saw it at the dealer. I always wanted a red/white/blue MV from the 70s, they didn't go red/silver for racing until later.

[Volant]

Bogie,

Got to agree with everyone else, that looks spectacular.

I’m a sucker for a red frame anyway, but I’ve always thought that colour scheme was special, lovely blue too.

Some of the MV colour schemes are so muted... I have an older 800rr, black with red frame, which I think is the right side of subtle, the frame ‘pops’.

But the new 2020 800RR seems to be available black on black on black with a black frame and grey highlights!

Edited by Volant on Thursday 6th August 18:13

[Chazaxl]

bogie said:

I wouldnt worry too much about 20k miles, its a lot of bike for £4k, if the service history checks out. The "R" version is a bit less top end power 158bhp down to 144bhp but apparently more usable midrange...not that either are lacking, its a 1078cc engine with lower gearing than the sportsbike it came out of, so acceleration in any gear is not lacking.

The other things the "R" is missing are just bling bits, depending on model year might have heavier wheels, non adjustable foot rests, less fancy suspension, less carbon, Brembo monoblocs only on the RR etc

A 1078RR was often preferred by some long term owners. One here, with 3500 miles on.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MV-agusta-1078RR/174371...

How much difference is there between the 1090RR and 1078RR? There is a dealer with a 1078RR and 1090RR

The 1090 is cheaper (but has an issue with forkseals) - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2011-MV-AGUSTA-BRUTALE-... and his other bike is this one - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-MV-AGUSTA-F4-1078R...

[Volant]

Not sure about the front end on that 1078

[Chazaxl]

Volant said:

Not sure about the front end on that 1078

I agree, thought it looked odd, so its not standard then I take it?

[bogie]

The front end is not standard, very odd looking. A standard headlight is over £700 though, so perhaps something happened to that.

Wouldnt go for either of those. How can a trader hope to sell a bike "generally in good nick but the fork seals leaking" ...surely they would fix and prep as good as possible...makes you wonder what else it may need.

1078 to 1090RR not that much difference (both actually 1078cc) obviously the 1078 is older, previous iteration.They basically developed the 920 into the 1078 then the 1090, ironed out niggles, made it more smoother/refined "out of the box".

1078RR is 4bhp down on a 1090RR, slightly different gearing, made peak power couple of thousand revs earlier. No ABS on some models, fewer electronics, different ECU, trim level, wheels

A well looked after 1078, with ABS, probably with aftermarket system + map would be a nice bike, I just wouldn't want to pay £8k for a >10 year old bike when that seems like top dealer price for a 5 year old 1090RR.

If you are on the lookout for a nice Brutale maybe call some of the dealers, they may have some owners trading in. Bennets MV at Barnsley have had a few nice 1090RRs in over the last 12 months, including a R/W/B like mine that sold fairly recently.

[ReverendCounter]

OP have you looked at MV's Rivale? My current object of fascination.

[bogie]

Volant said:

Bogie,

Got to agree with everyone else, that looks spectacular.

I’m a sucker for a red frame anyway, but I’ve always thought that colour scheme was special, lovely blue too.

Some of the MV colour schemes are so muted... I have an older 800rr, black with red frame, which I think is the right side of subtle, the frame ‘pops’.

But the new 2020 800RR seems to be available black on black on black with a black frame and grey highlights!

Edited by Volant on Thursday 6th August 18:13

Yeah, have to agree, some years colours are quite bland. Not too impressed with the new Brutale 1000 colours for such an expensive bike.

[Chazaxl]

ReverendCounter said:

OP have you looked at MV's Rivale? My current object of fascination.

Nope, wasnt aware of them - looked after I saw you message last night. Looks nice, need more power :-)

[Chazaxl]

bogie said:

The front end is not standard, very odd looking. A standard headlight is over £700 though, so perhaps something happened to that.

Wouldnt go for either of those. How can a trader hope to sell a bike "generally in good nick but the fork seals leaking" ...surely they would fix and prep as good as possible...makes you wonder what else it may need.

1078 to 1090RR not that much difference (both actually 1078cc) obviously the 1078 is older, previous iteration.They basically developed the 920 into the 1078 then the 1090, ironed out niggles, made it more smoother/refined "out of the box".

1078RR is 4bhp down on a 1090RR, slightly different gearing, made peak power couple of thousand revs earlier. No ABS on some models, fewer electronics, different ECU, trim level, wheels

A well looked after 1078, with ABS, probably with aftermarket system + map would be a nice bike, I just wouldn't want to pay £8k for a >10 year old bike when that seems like top dealer price for a 5 year old 1090RR.

If you are on the lookout for a nice Brutale maybe call some of the dealers, they may have some owners trading in. Bennets MV at Barnsley have had a few nice 1090RRs in over the last 12 months, including a R/W/B like mine that sold fairly recently.

Thanks. I think they explain it was a part ex etc

[Chazaxl]

bogie said:

The front end is not standard, very odd looking. A standard headlight is over £700 though, so perhaps something happened to that.

Wouldnt go for either of those. How can a trader hope to sell a bike "generally in good nick but the fork seals leaking" ...surely they would fix and prep as good as possible...makes you wonder what else it may need.

1078 to 1090RR not that much difference (both actually 1078cc) obviously the 1078 is older, previous iteration.They basically developed the 920 into the 1078 then the 1090, ironed out niggles, made it more smoother/refined "out of the box".

1078RR is 4bhp down on a 1090RR, slightly different gearing, made peak power couple of thousand revs earlier. No ABS on some models, fewer electronics, different ECU, trim level, wheels

A well looked after 1078, with ABS, probably with aftermarket system + map would be a nice bike, I just wouldn't want to pay £8k for a >10 year old bike when that seems like top dealer price for a 5 year old 1090RR.

If you are on the lookout for a nice Brutale maybe call some of the dealers, they may have some owners trading in. Bennets MV at Barnsley have had a few nice 1090RRs in over the last 12 months, including a R/W/B like mine that sold fairly recently.

Thanks - so the 1078RR is certainly worth looking at then. If the power peak is lower its also more towards my riding style, so wont rule that out then.

[Chazaxl]

How similar is the 990 in terms of 'fit'? There is one up the road from me which I can go look at.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MV-AGUSTA-BRUTALE-990-R...

[spareparts]

Spareparts here. Bogie has more experience than me with his 1090RR. I had a Corsa (1 of 7 in UK) which was effectively the same motor but with the full Ohlins front end. A beautiful motorbike with all the trick bits. She was a looker for a naked bike.



People gush about the power but it really depends on what you are familiar with and - importantly - whether you are a Twin cylinder or IL4 rider. If you like IL4s, the 1090/78 is a strong motor. It sounds fantastic with the radial valves, and more so if you have a full system (mine had the Corsa Arrows). The fueling as standard is rubbish - a glitch at 4-5k rpm means it feels like the valves stick open as you roll off/change gear/enter a corner. But this can be mapped out. Power wise, I think the way the old Suzuki 1000 K5/6 delivers was just as visceral and arguably more exciting.

But - and this is the big but - if you come from a big/torquey V-twin (think 1x98 or 1290) I think the 1078/90 is not all that. And I am a v-twin rider who rarely rides at the top end of the rpm range. For me, the ability to cover ground fast and have excitement is when you have at least 100lbsft torque @6k rpm, and not 80lbsft @12k rpm.

Regarding ergos: you sit on top of the Brutale imho, although less so than some others. Compared to a KTM, Ducati, or BMW - you are perched on an MV.

Imho, the 2nd gen Tuono V2 is the most fun and memorable naked bike I’ve had the pleasure of owning. The grunt. Noise. Handling. And it is a proper full sized motorbike. I do miss mine, and the Rotax twin was a lovely engine with more character and what felt like more torque than the MVs. At least it felt like it had more torque even if it didn’t. It certainly doesn’t have the power of the MV, but it is not relevant if you don’t ride at 10k rpm everywhere. A proper lunatic and grin inducing.



YMMV, the MV is a beautiful bike and I am glad I scratched the itch to try the long stroke IL4 before they went to the short stroke corsa corta engine. But do I miss it? No.

[Chazaxl]

spareparts said:

Spareparts here. Bogie has more experience than me with his 1090RR. I had a Corsa (1 of 7 in UK) which was effectively the same motor but with the full Ohlins front end. A beautiful motorbike with all the trick bits. She was a looker for a naked bike.



People gush about the power but it really depends on what you are familiar with and - importantly - whether you are a Twin cylinder or IL4 rider. If you like IL4s, the 1090/78 is a strong motor. It sounds fantastic with the radial valves, and more so if you have a full system (mine had the Corsa Arrows). The fueling as standard is rubbish - a glitch at 4-5k rpm means it feels like the valves stick open as you roll off/change gear/enter a corner. But this can be mapped out. Power wise, I think the way the old Suzuki 1000 K5/6 delivers was just as visceral and arguably more exciting.

But - and this is the big but - if you come from a big/torquey V-twin (think 1x98 or 1290) I think the 1078/90 is not all that. And I am a v-twin rider who rarely rides at the top end of the rpm range. For me, the ability to cover ground fast and have excitement is when you have at least 100lbsft torque @6k rpm, and not 80lbsft @12k rpm.

Regarding ergos: you sit on top of the Brutale imho, although less so than some others. Compared to a KTM, Ducati, or BMW - you are perched on an MV.

Imho, the 2nd gen Tuono V2 is the most fun and memorable naked bike I’ve had the pleasure of owning. The grunt. Noise. Handling. And it is a proper full sized motorbike. I do miss mine, and the Rotax twin was a lovely engine with more character and what felt like more torque than the MVs. At least it felt like it had more torque even if it didn’t. It certainly doesn’t have the power of the MV, but it is not relevant if you don’t ride at 10k rpm everywhere. A proper lunatic and grin inducing.



YMMV, the MV is a beautiful bike and I am glad I scratched the itch to try the long stroke IL4 before they went to the short stroke corsa corta engine. But do I miss it? No.

Thanks, one to throw the whole discussion wide open :-)

Oddly this morning I was looking at KTM again having watched Lambchops review of the SDR and usability - some good finance deals already so might go this way.

That said .... still browsing.

Thanks for the info and feedback spareparts.

[bogie]

Chazaxl said:

How similar is the 990 in terms of 'fit'? There is one up the road from me which I can go look at.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MV-AGUSTA-BRUTALE-990-R...

Very similar

see here to compare riding positions on bikes

https://cycle-ergo.com/