MV-AGUSTA BRUTALE 675 (2012 - on) Review

Superb steering geometry. Being as light as it is.. it's effortless to turn in even at the tightest of corners.. helping you maximize entry speed , while giving you confidence on exits. It does require a bit of getting used to it's overall dynamics,but once you are set it only gets smoother. Both front and rear brakes are very strong , incredibly efficient and do not lack anywhere. They bite really early and require minimal pressure to act. If there's one thing this motorcycle does perfect.. it's braking. Front suspension is a bit iffy.. Non Adjustable and stiff. The front gets upset very easily on uneven surfaces from speeds upwards of 150km/h and transmits such behavior directly to the handlebar. A steering damper along with correct tyre pressure and weight relieves the issue. Rear Suspension is adjustable and generally also stiff but performs well. Comfort wise , considering the setup..it is comfortable all over the body except the butt. Seat should be changed with one of gel material..as the factory seat feels like sitting on rocks. Wind shock is not bad even on the windiest of days.

The heart of this little psychopath. Three Cylinders 675cc 100+ish HP. Great throttle response. Very torquey considering the displacement. Power down low.Power mid way.Power up high. It just keeps on giving you more! Truly an elastic motor that never fails to surprise. Demands respect but becomes tameable with time. So much character squeezed from a small package while including one of the most satisfying sounds a motor can produce. Class Craftsmanship by the MV Agusta engineers.

Actual material quality&assembly(metals, plastics , displays , locks , seat.. etc.) is far better than any manufacturer I've ever come across.(Surpassing them even!) It is hand built and it really feels like it, inch by inch. No corrosion,no paint chipping,not a bolt that isnt shining! Nothing rattles,nothing feels flimsy or out of proportion. Material wise all is in order with this machine. Now reliability wise, it's a rolling dice. Years have passed since it's release and the issues are by now well known. Sprag clutches that fail early, gear position sensors malfunction , throttle position issues,as well as occasional electrical gremlins are all things you will have to check on to either fix or prevent. Avoid earlier models (2012-2015) as they are the ones that suffer the most.

Parts for this bike are not cheap. Also the possibility of finding said parts without a dealer..doesnt sound appealing and isnt ideal for many. Adding to the amount of time and money spent. Other than that everything else is standard. You maintain it as you would any other, always consulting the manufacturer manual for any specifics, intervals.. recommendations..etc. Fuel Consumption is really variable.Quite literally as variable as your hand twisting the throttle. If you go easy on it you can pull off , 6.3lt/100km. If you throw in some spirited riding it will up to about 7.5. Push it to it's limits, sport mode , tucked in.. and it will chug the fuel down in no time.

Fully Adjustable TCS , 4 ECU Maps(one is customizable) , Lap Timer , Pit Limiter, Quickshifter On/Off , ABS On/Off among more things on a very beautiful and easy to read LCD Display. Doesn't have a fuel gauge but has a reserve light when fuel is under 4lt. A ton of official accessories are also available from MV Agusta.

The bike is very nimble and responsive in terms of steering. The 675 is not equipped with adjustable forks, however this feature may not be necessary as the stock forks perform well. It feels uncomfortable when navigating over bumps and potholes, but that is expected from a sport standard. Brakes are from Brembo and perform great. It would be unnecessary to upgrade unless one is planning to race. The levers have a slightly spongy feel, but aftermarket ones are available to remedy this.

The Brutale's engine is arguably the highlight of the bike. It revs rather high (up to 15k rpm) for a naked, from being based of the F3. The good side of this is that you will hear the intoxicating roar of the "trepistoni" quite often. The engine makes around 108-110HP (mine makes more from the exhaust I installed) and around 69 Nm worth of torque. Power is delivered gently from 0 to 9k RPMs, from 10k on everything goes mad! However, it is still commuter friendly.

The Brutale 675's build quality is top notch,as you would expect from a brand that proudly claims "Motorcyle Art". After riding for almost a year in both wet and dry conditions rust is non existent and I've only had one breakdown due to human error on the mechanic's part. For some reason I keep getting quite a number of false neutrals when shifting from first to second, but the problem maybe unique to my bike as my friends who also own the same model say otherwise.

The running costs of the Brutale would be higher than average,however I am unable to comment more as mine is still under warranty. It gets around 30-40 km/litre which is good for an Italian. But when you own a Brutale, fuel economy is not a concern.

The Brutale is equipped with an array of electronic rider aids which include ABS, TC, and riding modes. The riding modes are Sport, Normal, Rain, and Custom. Sport mode is best reserved for fast roads and the track as the throttle response is aggressive and TC and ABS is minimal. Normal mode is the "all rounder" which still allows maximum power but a milder throttle response. I commute with the Normal setting unless it rains. Rain mode creates a big difference, since TC is maxed and the engine's HP is restricted to around 75HP. This inspires confidence for riding in the rain, however over all the bike feels restricted and seems to heat up faster. Custom mode for me is set to sit somewhere between Rain and Normal mode for when I was still getting used to the bike. A recommended upgrade would most definitely be a tail tidy , aftermarket clutch levers and aftermarket exhaust. The tail tidy makes an already sexy bike even sexier, although it will get you and everyone around you wet in the rain. There are two choices for the after market exhaust: multiple exit (2 and 3) and single exit. Multiple exit produces a rough,throatier growl, while a single exit produces a smoother, roar reminiscent of a GP bike. The aftermarket levers are a must if one plans on commuting, as the stock ones are ridiculously hard and offer no room for adjustment.