Sunday 11 February 2018

MV Agusta Brutale 800RR - delicious

I am in no way affiliated with any brands or business mentioned in this post and no commercial contributions have been made. All words and opinions are my own. 

Working away in the office on a Monday like any other, a call comes through to my personal phone.

"Hey mate, it's Vic here from Mid Life Cycles -  an MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR has arrived, you want to come along to the launch day and have a ride?"

--You bet your arse I do.

Fast forward to Saturday morning as I saddle up and point the MT09 towards Kinglake, a mini moto mecca, in the sub alpine hills of Victoria's Yarra Ranges. Eyes aghast with beauty on arrival.


MV Agusta really do build some stunning motorcycles, from their styling, to the exotic materials and high end components - these machines are premium with an impeccable fit and finish. Without a skerrick of mass-production. 

After a meet and greet with Vic and the MV Agusta guys, a bit of paperwork and the rider's brief, I get the key to this lovey one. The Brutale 800 RR.


The baby-faced ride leader - current pro tier racer - took off out of Kinglake at a fun pace, allowing us to toy with the MV's a little more than would be usually accepted on a demo ride. Liberating the throttle allowed a buck eighty plus change when the road opened up with a more consistent dollar fifty five in the corners. 

Allegedly........officer. 
Thank you gentleman. 

As we got into the groove it was obvious that the Brutale 800 RR is more racer than roadster - it is very precise and prefers to be travelling at speed in the top half of the tachometer. The lumpy and hesitant bottom end gave over to a free revving, eager and visceral top end rush.

Start up delivered a familiar, laboured ignition - bringing back memories of past Italian insolence. At idle, the exhaust note was a tad agricultural, however fear not, as the 798cc triple spooled up the noise became like a can full of angry wasps, ready to fcuk you up. 

Beyond the mid range, acceleration is exceptional - speed was added to the digital dashboard in a surprising manner, like - BAM - surprise! The quick-shifter was good, not great and better up than down, although I suspect some of this was user error as it took me a while to force my right hand not to give the throttle a momentary pause when shifting. It works better pinned. 



Handling and chassis characteristics were phenomenal, riding position is quite committed and pitched over, requiring you to grip with your knees to hold your weight - or suffer wrist and shoulder pressure - your choice. 

With minimal rake and weight cantered forward over the nose the Brutale handled magnificently, the bike felt magnetised to the earth. What witchcraft is this? 

Given I was riding an unfamiliar bike I was comfortable attacking corners with more gusto than I had told myself I would. That vibrant chassis buzz when cracking on encouraged more speed towards warp territory - and it felt good, bloody good and bloody stable in doing so. The connection to the bike felt mechanical, which is odd considering all the electronics at play.....I suspected more witchcraft here. 


It was sad to hand the key back, the last thought I had in mind was -- 
'Uh oh I'm not going to be able to stop thinking about you. Scalpel sharp on the road and you made my nuts fizz.' 

I think the Brutale 800 RR deserves a place in the multi bike stable, but it would be a bitch to commute on or for touring. But that's not what it's for.

Looked like an espresso machine - delivered like a drug dealer. 
Hooked? 


\BitSar
Trying to unfizz his nuts.