A natural expansion of MV Agusta’s nascent sportbike range, the Brutale was introduced in 2001 and was basically a naked F4, sharing most of the flagship sportbike’s high-quality components, most significantly its frame, iconic wheels, radial-valve, 749cc inline four engine, and cassette-style six-speed gearbox. As the F4’s displacement and power increased, so did the Brutale’s, although clear efforts were made to keep performance below the superbike’s to make sure the slightly downmarket naked bike didn’t steal the F4’s thunder. But really, the MV Agusta Brutale 910S seen here might just about strike the perfect balance for the model anyway, with a claimed 136hp from its 909cc engine. More than that might look great on paper but, with no rider aids or traction control whatsoever, bikes like the later Brutale 1078 just seem a bit like overkill. Especially given the bike’s complete lack of wind protection and upright riding position…
SELLER
Brutale is not a name, it’s an adjective. While technically a “standard” with a more upright riding position than sport bikes, this Brutale has the heart and soul (engine, transmission, brakes) of the mighty MV Augusta F4. The Brutale has classic Italian performance – all on or all off. A touch of the throttle propels you forward instantaneously while a slight pull of the brake level feels just less than hitting a brick wall. The stiff suspension holds its own, handling especially well with a racer-style slight lean off the seat into the curve. Given the exclusivity of the brand, you are almost certain to never come across another.
I am the second adult owner, purchased from the original owner in October 2022. It has been stored inside its entire life and has been well maintained by Motorcycles of Charlotte (formerly an MV Augusta dealer). This bike is completely stock except for an MV Augusta rear fender installed by the original owner. The Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tires were installed just before I purchased it and have approximately 1200 miles on them. The only damage known was a front turn signal housing that cracked and was repaired by the previous owner by wrapping it (and the other one to match it) in black electrical tape.
It’s never a great sign when the seller spells the brand name of the vehicle incorrectly. Kinda like when you see listings for “Alpha Romeros.” Probably best to avoid those. With just over 5,000 miles on the odometer of this MV Agusta Brutale 910S, the seller probably hasn’t spent much time actually riding the thing, so maybe adding that extra “u” into “Agusta” is an understandable mistake. Brutales are still wildly undervalued machines, considering the looks, performance, and pedigree. These are generally very solidly engineered machines, but can also be very hit-or-miss when it comes to reliability. They’re not practical, and will stretch your neck muscles if you spend any amount of time on the freeway, but offer similarly brilliant handling with a much better overall riding experience than the admittedly gorgeous F4. Roll the dice and grab one now while they’re still cheap.
-tad
My brother seriously considered one of these some years ago, it had low miles, was minty and seemed ridiculously cheap. But the ‘Italian heritage’ and the lack of wind protection scuttled that deal. Still a cool hooligan bike.