2012 Mv Agusta Brutale 675

MV Agusta has launched the Brutale 675, a budget contender enabling the Varese firm to tap into a bigger market. However, a budget MV Agusta is still expected to place itself right at the top in its segment and that’s pretty much my impression after my test ride in Italy.
I’m strolling around the MV Agusta factory premises in Schiranna, North Italy, admiring the new Brutale 675 which I haven’t seen in the flesh since the press launch at the EICMA show. A few months have passed since I tested the F3 and I’ve been told a few glitches have been sorted out with the engine management.
The Brutale 675 features a newly developed triple engine highly compact in design with 108.5 horsepower mounted in a very light chassis. The swanky naked streetfighter isaimed right at motorcycles such as the Triumph Street Triple R, Honda CB600F, Kawasaki Z750, Ducati Monster 1100, Suzuki GSR750 and Yamaha FZ8.
At $14,000 (€8,990) the Brutale 675 is definitely in the upper range in terms of price but this is now the cheapest entry into owning a new MV Agusta. The F3 and B3 are thefirst two models in what MV promises will be an extensive line-up featuring affordable triple power.
The Brutale 675 features eight-stage traction control and three riding modes which straight away makes it one of the most high tech middle weight nakeds. In a motorcyclewith 108.5 horsepower that weighs only 368 lbs. (167 kilos) dry I’m personally not very interested in neither traction control nor ABS brakes unless I’d get to trash it on a wet road.
MV Agusta happened to offer us 30 degrees Celsius and dry roads so I started out with everything turned off. ABS brakes aren’t available with MV Agusta yet so that’s out of the question anyway.
As I fire up the 675cc triple forthe first time it growls to life sounding like something quite a bit larger than a 600. That can only be a benefit and I already know I’ll be up for a treat once I get a chance to open her up.
Taking a seat I notice that theB3 probably isn’t the naked with the lowest seat height in the class but maybe the most compact and still novice friendly. It’s easy to release the slightly heavy clutch and get moving in first gear. The balance whilst moving slowly out of the factory gates is almost perfect. This little motorcycle should be a treat around tight corners is my first impression.
I’m the first rider behind our MV Agusta guide and I’m impatient from the word go meaning that the Brutale 675 is very easy to get used to. Fellow motorcycle tester Toshifrom Japan comments that the B3 suits him perfect and he’s not a big guy. I’m 6 foot and also felt comfortable and at home despite the compact externals.
MV Agusta has opted for Pirelli Angel ST tyres in standard sport dimensions of 120/70-ZR17 front and a 180/55-ZR17 rear. This means that I have superb everyday grip straight away and along with very powerful radial Brembo brakes I could have done stoppies on cold tires but settled for a roundabout to roundabout race in the first few miles of riding. With only 367 lbs. to stop the Brembo’s are going to feel more powerful than on something with more bulk anyway.
The 43mm Marzocchi fork feels good for sporty riding but felt a bit hard for our varied riding. Hard on the brakes it’s great but perhaps lacks a little feel if the cornering isn’t fast enough. The Sachs rear shock tackles all I can give it and standard set-up works just fine for a road ride. The Brutale 675 likes to go fast and the fasterwe go the better everything feels.
The most impressive thing about the Brutale 675 is its chassis and engine top end. This version of the 675cc triple responds nicely from around 4,600 rpm despite the torque max figure (65Nm) onlyappearing at 12,000rpm. It’s by no means a torque monsterbut it can be ridden comfortably on low revs and high gears for an economic and relaxing commute.
The real fun starts at 10,000rpm when the triple roars out of the three stubby pipes on the right hand side. Itrevs up quickly also which is a bonus as there are some revs to cover.
The fuel injection and ride-by-wire throttle response is much improved over the F3 and coupled with a very smooth gear box it’s just a delight to change gears.The clutch is a bit hard which could make you tired in the long run.
2012 MV Agusta Brutale 675 Positives/Negatives:
Chassis and handling is lightand stable at the same time, superb.
Entertaining engine with the power in the right places
High tech newly developed solutions makes the Brutale 675 the Ferrari of the middleweights
Powerful brakes
– Heavy clutch
– Electronics such as EAS and ABS not ready at the time of this writing

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