MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro test

Menus

• 0 to 100 km / h in 2.9 seconds! Muscular test at over 300 km / h !
• 4 cylinders of 998 cm3, 208 hp and 115 Nm, 186 kg dry, 300 copies, 42,990 euros
• Discovery
• Motor
• In the saddle
• Track test
• Cycle part
• Brakes
• Conclusion

0 to 100 km / h in 2.9 seconds! Muscular test at over 300 km / h !

4 cylinders of 998 cm3, 208 hp and 115 Nm, 186 kg dry, 300 copies, 42,990 euros

At the EICMA show in Milan last November, the dazzling MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro was voted "the most beautiful motorcycle of the show by more than 16,000 voters against competitors as monstrous as the Ducati Panigale V4 R, the BMW S1000RR or Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory.

The production of the new Brutale will however not begin until the end of August after the return of vacation of MV employees while the manufacturer is experiencing a new dynamic. Russian investor Timur Sardarov has injected more than 60 million euros to buy part of the shares of Giovanni Castiglioni, who remains chairman with Sardarov as CEO and former Ducati technical guru Massimo Bordi as consultant. The manufacturer is thus preparing its revival with several highly desirable models which will be put into production over the next 12 months, including the radically revised Brutale 1000, the F4 Claudio and the Superveloce 800, all presented in Milan. Other projects are also in the pipeline such as a three-cylinder turbo and the rebirth of the Cagiva brand as an electrical division of MV. Nothing less !

Exclusive test of the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro

So when MV Agusta asked me to be the first journalist to try out the prototype of the new generation of the Brutale 1000 and visit the factory located on the shores of Lake Varese, I jumped at the chance ! And it was worth it !

Discovery

But at a certain price. The first 300 copies of the Brutale 1000 correspond in fact to the top-of-the-range edition of the Serie Oro … displayed at 42,990 euros including VAT! And deliveries will start only in September, straight as a 2020 model and only available in bright red. Once these are built, production of a normal RR version will begin. Brian Gillen, Direttore Tecnico of MV, specifies that one should not however expect that the price will drop by 30,000 euros. He explains that the exact characteristics are still under discussion, but that the performance will be almost identical at the engine level or with the Ohlins electronic suspensions kept..

The MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro will be produced in 300 units

Motor

What will this level of performance be? Well, this is a naked roadster with a top speed approved at 302 km / h … for daily commuting. This result is made possible by the new version of the in-line four-cylinder Superbike F4 whose power now reaches 208 hp at 13,450 rpm with torque increased to 115 Nm at just 9,300 rpm. With an interval of 4,000 revolutions between maximum torque and maximum power, the bike also promises to be quite versatile. Note that an RC-Project titanium exhaust line, but not compliant with Euro4, will achieve 212 horsepower.

The MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro

These impressive numbers are largely due to the new engine, developed to reduce friction and improve lubrication and a breaker at 14,200 rpm! Add to that a dry weight of 186 kg, thanks in part to the large magnesium housings, titanium screws and bolts as well as the carbon fiber bodywork. On paper, the 2020 Brutale 1000 threatens to set a new benchmark in the category, even challenging the current dominance of the 184 kg Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 which slightly exceeds the MV with its 120 Nm of torque but does not display "that" 175 horsepower. All of this is of course relative…

The tubular trellis of the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro

Paradoxically, at a time when other manufacturers are increasing the capacity of their engines to overcome the obstacles represented by the regulations, MV Agusta is going in the opposite direction compared to the 1.078 cm3 of its previous Brutale 1090RR whose production ceased there is two years old because of Euro4. The new displacement reduced to 998 cm3 uses the same 79 mm bore, but has a shortened stroke from 55 to 50.9 mm. This reflects MV’s goal of engine redesign, one of essentially producing what will be the next-gen F4 block. Except that sports sales have fallen and Sardarov and Castiglioni have preferred to focus on the Brutale.

The new 4-cylinder of the Brutale

Work on the Brutale’s new 4-cylinder engine indeed began a little over two years ago … keeping the same crankcases, but machined differently to incorporate an improved lubrication system aimed at countering the surge of oil under significantly increased acceleration. This now makes it possible to take 1G when the launch control is engaged on the right stalk to achieve 0 to 100 km / h in 2.9 seconds, in the Euro4 homologated version. Overall, the R&D team mostly copied the format of the 1960 MV 500 world champion with Mike Hailwood by creating an oil tank under the crankcase..

The engine now delivers 208 hp and 115 Nm

The shorter stroke crankshaft carries new forged titanium connecting rods made by Oral Engineering in Modena, a company run by Ferrari’s former F1 technical parton. These carry three-ring, forged Asso pistons with cast iron compression rings designed to reduce friction. The cylinder head has been retained with radial valves with very different intake ports and the new camshafts offer greater lift over a longer life. In addition, the combustion chambers housing the 31.8mm intake valves and the 26.5mm radial valves provide a compression ratio of 13.6: 1 versus 12.8: 1 on the previous model..

However, we note that the new Brutale 1000 abandons the TSS variable length intake system that MV was the first to introduce on the F4 Tamburini in 2005. According to Gillen, the TSS system provides additional torque in theory, but causes in practice. systematic intervention of Traction Control or anti-wheeling.

Brian Gillen, in charge of the technical development of the Brutale

The new Brutale 1000 also features a significant upgrade with the installation of a Ride-by-Wire throttle which integrates four riding modes (Race, Sport, Rain and Custom) regulated by an IMU inertial unit and which can be selected. at any time without turning off the throttle. The electronic package is also more sophisticated. It includes eight-stage traction control, engine brake control, anti-wheelie control and up / down shifter. The Ride by Wire consisting of a 50mm throttle body quartet was supplied by Mikuni which also feeds the lower of the two injectors in each cylinder, the upper one being supplied by Magneti Marelli. Eldor, the brand’s usual partner, provides the ECU while the deactivatable ABS is the Bosch 9 Plus with the RLM system preventing rear wheel lifting..

In addition, the latest generation Ohlins semi-active electronic suspension is mounted at the front and rear to automatically adapt the damping according to road and driving conditions. The 43mm NIX fork and TTC shock provide 120mm travel via electronic compression and rebound control, as well as shock preload, with fork preload adjusting manually. The damping map also varies depending on the driving mode. The Ohlins steering damper is also electronically controlled, but this time it is simply speed adjustable. It is therefore lighter in town and stiffens as the speed approaches 300 km / h.

The semi-active Цhlins fork

This electronic suspension adorns a redesigned version of the usual MV composite chassis with a tubular CrMo steel trellis frame combined with two aluminum side plates in which the engine is integrated as a load-bearing element. The wheelbase here reaches 1,432 mm with a fork open at 24 ° with 97 mm of drag. The single-sided swingarm, whose pivot axis is adjustable, is still in aluminum and taken from the previous model.

The single-sided swingarm of the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro

Brembo’s new 4-piston, front-mounted Stylema monobloc brake calipers are paired with 320mm floating discs while a two-piston Brembo caliper bites the 220mm disc at the rear.

Front brakes use Brembo Stylema calipers

It was on the Pirelli test track in Vizzola, 30 km from the factory, that I was able to test the pre-production prototype of the Brutale 1000! However, not being an employee of the brand, I was not allowed to go out on the road. Anyway, it is here that most of the developments of this new model have been made, with the latest Diablo Supercorsa III from the transalpine manufacturer installed on BST carbon fiber rims, standard equipment of the Oro Series. . These feature a red tint built into the interior of the material that sparkles in the sun. A technical advance on the part of the South African manufacturer who gives "bling" to the Brutale and helps to justify all these euros on its label.

BST rims are made of carbon fibers

Equally admirable is how Adrian Morton so successfully captured the original design spirit of Tamburini’s Brutale unveiled two decades ago in Germany. The result is a true work of design on two wheels complemented by the Brutale’s four tailpipes. If the organ of Tamburini has become the harmonium of Morton, it does not lose its devastating look or its bewitching howl at high speed, although a little more moderate with the Euro4 compliance..

The MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro from the front and from behind

In the saddle

With barely the tip of a foot once perched on the 845mm high saddle, I discovered a surprisingly well-balanced riding position, without excessive weight on the arms and shoulders, while the sporty-style handlebars. remain fairly straight while offering a slightly tilted position ideal for fighting against the wind. My knees fit them perfectly into the sculpted recesses of the 19-liter tank. The new Brutale is finally incredibly comfortable for such a fast machine.

The saddle of the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro

Another positive point, the new 5-inch TFT dashboard is much better designed than the small, cluttered and partially illegible instrumentation that still equips the MV.

The TFT counter is much more readable than previous MV instrumentation

Track test

And fast it is, very VERY fast, so much so that the straight 800 meters of the huge Pista Pirelli complex turned out to be too short for me to fully exploit the potential of this new Brutale. I was only able to reach "only" 253 km / h in 4th gear with 13,000 rpm. At this speed the Brutale remains completely stationary on the asphalt thanks to the radiator which has been modified by integrating fins to provide additional support on the front wheel. Design which had to evolve during development while the Brutale tended to pitch up in … 6th !

Test of the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro on the track

I couldn’t verify whether wheelies in 6th were a thing of the past, but I got a taste of the Brutale’s phenomenal acceleration. Supple and permissive, it is very comfortable at low speed around 6,000 rpm on a section of the track which reproduces the conditions of a winding road, but show it a start of a straight line and it leaves like a rocket on a standing start, with an involuntary wheelie obligatory every time! The anti-wheelie software was indeed not yet effective on this pre-production bike..

Even so, although pressing the rear brake pedal to try to keep the front on the ground, it accelerates very hard, so you have to hold on really tight as the MV blasts like a guided missile..

The engine works wonders in a straight line

The up / down shifter is brilliantly configured, without being too sensitive. It is therefore not enough to simply touch the selector, but to apply a determined stroke to it. The cut-off is however infinitesimal and the gear shift is perfectly homogeneous in both directions. There is a leveling off in the arrival of power to 9,500 rpm, just after the torque has reached its peak, when it seems that the acceleration is even stronger. This experience is incredibly exhilarating and yet it is carried out with a minimum of vibrations, whatever the regime..

The MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro in curve

Shifting gears and pushing up to 14,000 rpm gives a nice feeling of acceleration, but the Brutale also does very well in the corners and that is in a way the most impressive aspect of this development. new motorcycle. I rode the F4 Factory superbike in the configuration used when Leon Camier arrived and you could tell that there was a lot of work to make it competitive on this point as it turned like a truck; heavy and hard to change direction with a tendency to be unpredictable in the way he gets on the corner. The technical team managed to remedy the situation, as evidenced by the results obtained in the race subsequently. The advantages of this development have been incorporated into the Brutale.

Corner socket with the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro

Cycle part

The Brutale now offers incredible handling for such a powerful motorcycle, also capable of forgiving now. It is no longer necessary to be a test pilot to master it. You can enter a curve too quickly and halfway through the turn put your finger on the front brake lever to reduce speed and make the Brutale slow down without it straightening up and heading towards the red and yellow tires. aligned on the test track. However, there is not necessarily an excess of optimism because the roadster is capable of passing in curves much faster than what one can imagine thanks to a Pirelli before which remains stuck to the asphalt and to a Ohlins pendant light that works in perfect concert.

The Brutale allows for quick cornering

Brakes

Engine mapping is ideal in Sport and Race modes. While the throttle response is significantly more aggressive in the latter case, the full throttle shutdown is more powerful than brutal, providing a welcome sense of control over such a demonstrative package. MV boss Timur Sardarov’s goal of achieving a high level of performance that is satisfying but not scary is achieved.

At the end of the straight line I could drop the speed of 230 km / h to engage in the pin to take in second, in total confidence, the Brembo Stylema calipers offering an even better feeling and feedback than before. The Bosch ABS system, on the other hand, manages to effectively minimize rear wheel lift, even when my weight is thrown onto the front road with this impressive stopping power. Engine brake control provides welcome assistance when downshifting on the fly thanks to the new shifter.

The Brutale does not pick up during corner braking

Conclusion

The new MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro is the attractive combination of performance incomparable to those of roadster standards, associated with now unparalleled handling and aesthetics unique to the Brutale brand. Adrian Morton and his team have achieved the most difficult task of reinventing a design icon while retaining its unique appearance and heritage, sending MV Agusta back to his pedestal as a builder of motorcycles that are both capable and attractive. Brian Gillen and his men accomplished an equally difficult task, renewing a 20 year old engine and achieving a level of performance hard to match anywhere else. Timur Sardarov now hopes that these potential customers will renew this trust, but this time with their credit card … for extremely rich bikers. The price of excellence !

MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro

Strong points

• Motor
• Agility and maneuverability
• Granting of suspensions
• Braking
• Shifter

Weak points

• Saddle height
• Elite rate

The technical sheet of the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 Serie Oro

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