If you’ve always fancied an MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR (who hasn’t?), but can’t afford one, you’ll be pleased to read the news that MV are launching a Brutale 1000 RS; a more ‘accessible’ version of the ridiculously fast, ridiculously sexy, ridiculously expensive ‘RR’. But it’s still fast, it’s still sexy and it’s still (we think) going to be expensive.
Whilst we haven’t had confirmation of the price just yet, the performance figures of the RS appear to be very similar to the RR. The 998cc inline four-cylinder engine, with its titanium conrods and valves, central timing chain and DLC coated tappets makes 208hp and 116.5Nm; the same as the RR. That’s a phenomenal amount of poke for a naked bike.
Not only is the engine very similar to the RR, so is the frame. Radical, compact and extremely light are the words MV have used to describe the Brutale’s frame. That said, the RS is 10kg heavier than the RR (186kg to 196kg – dry).
So what else is different, and how have MV made the RS so much more ‘accessible’ than the RR? Well you don’t get fancy electronic Öhlins suspension on the RS. Instead, you get Marzocchi forks and a Sachs shock. It’s still all fully adjustable, but manually, rather than electronically. That’ll account for a big proportion of the price difference between the Brutale models.
You also get higher handlebars and some new footrests, which, by the sound of it, will make the RS a bit more comfortable than the RR if you ever decide to do any long journeys on it. As will the new seat, which has softer padding.
There’s a full suite of electronics on the Brutale 1000 RS, with a new IMU, a TFT dash and smartphone app that links the bike. You can also have a tyre pressure monitoring system if you want, but that’s extra.
If I’m being perfectly honest I don’t really know who this bike is aimed at. Rumour has it that the MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RS will be in the region of £22,800. That’s still a massive amount of money. If you’re going to spend the thick end of £23k on Italian exotica, you can’t be far off ‘money’s no object’ territory. And if that’s the case, why wouldn’t you spend the extra £6,100 (£28,900) on the RR? Maybe the RS is for rich people that don’t like electronic suspension. What I do know is this; I’m not going to be able to afford one, this side of a lottery win.
