MV Agusta Brutale 989R

The Brutale is the result of never-ending research by MV engineers seeking to make improvements and satisfy the demands of MV riders. The Brutale stands for vanity and power. To create such a spectacularly beautiful naked motorcycle calls for great attention to be paid to even the very smallest detail. When a man buys a suit it can be given a nip here and a tuck there to disguise any imperfections he may have. The same can certainly not be said for a naked man or naked bike where nothing can be hidden.

The only clothes a Brutale has are its tank and side panels. The rest is engineering. The very essence of MV Agusta as a company dictates that appearances are never overlooked for functionality. They have always sought to create pleasing lines between the handlebars, frame, exhausts, saddle, wheels and fittings that, in this case, combine the “Brutale” looks with its character and performance. So, after the 750 and 910 cc models, it was felt time to breathe some new life into the machine with increases in cubic capacity, torque and power output. Other changes were slight tweaks and the addition of an “R”. Capacity went from 909 to 982 cc bringing the engine close to the performance characteristics of a one liter machine and it once again left the competition floundering in its slipstream. We believe that the Brutale 989R is the only motorbike currently available at an affordable price and that it has a sense of “pull” that is unmatched in the motorbike world. It has a soul that cries out not only for accomplished riders but that also wants to be treated with tenderness and aggression at the same time, someone able to tame the power of the new engine. Machines like the Brutale 989R need a long life. By their nature they are presumptuous enough to believe that they are the be all and end all of the evolutionary process of motorcycling. The Brutale is not just a motorbike, it is a symbol, it is passion and, it is a reason to be.

DESIGN: THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE DETAILS

The Brutale is unique in both its concept and in the mystique it exudes. It is not just a question of lines but also of the love for a motorbike that should never be just a cold collection of technical elements. There has to be passion, brilliance and love. Only an Italian company like MV Agusta could create such a machine. It is the details that make all the difference on a ‘naked’. The instrument panel will have new graphics to highlight the Brutale’s new image. It is the engineering components that, more than any other element, redefine the look of the machine and underscore the “Brutale effect” i.e. power and performance. To achieve this, components have been taken from the MV Agusta racing department.

EQUIPMENT

Work on equipping and fine-tuning the Brutale 989R limits the introduction of radical new technical solutions and the new “evolution package” consists of the following:

Decals and color schemes

Instrument panel graphics

Revised suspension calibration

989 cc engine

Resized catalysers

Brembo radial brakes

The number of modifications made to transform the Brutale 910S to the 989R were inversely proportional. Changes to the ride have made the Brutale seem like a different bike altogether.

982cc ENGINE FOR 165MPH

Nine hundred and ten ccs weren’t enough it would seem for many riders. They wanted more pull, more torque, more horsepower. They wanted more and that was that. With its new 982 cc engine, the Brutale will sate the insatiable. This isn’t so much a matter of seeking maximum performance as of taming four cylinders to work together to offer a perfectly balanced ride. This is no easy feat when you’re dealing with 141 HP shoe-horned into a small compact frame like the one on the Brutale. Bore and stroke now measure 79 and 50.1 mm. The pistons are the same as those on the 1,078 cc version and the compression ratio has been lowered to meet Euro 3 homologation requirements. The reduction however has been achieved in a particular way so as to soften the surge when torque really kicks in. Another reason is that with the engine in its new configuration, the pull offered by as muscular an engine as the one in the new 989R means that less compression is needed and it leaves the 910 behind in terms of response and range. The graphics confirm this notion. All the technical development work focused on obtaining a smoother response to the throttle to thus offer an easier ride especially in the stop/start traffic we see in built-up areas. The bigger catalyser also played an essential role in this issue. It has meant more room to maneuver with emissions and thus allowed a richer mix. The fitting of new throttle bodies inherited from the F4 R ’06 involved making the final drive ratio longer by using two teeth less and the ratio now reads 15/41 as opposed to 15/43. This modification has elongated the overall gearing and as a result, the top speed has increased by between 3 and 6 mph over previous figures to take the Brutale 989R up to 165 mph flat out.

A TUBULAR FRAME AS PER MV AGUSTA TRADITION

Retaining the chrome-molybdenum trellis frame was a simple choice for MV. The trellis frame is more than merely aesthetically pleasing, it capably handles the reconfigured engine power output and last of all, is easy to work on when so required. In the first versions of the Brutale, the frame was designed to bear theoretical torsion and flexing parameters greater than those it would in fact have to handle. This was because we knew that eventually we would arrive where we are today. Therefore – no changes needed. The geometry is the same as are the other settings as proof of the fact that we knew right from the start where we would end. The rake is 101.5 mm (3.99 in), the wheelbase measures 1,410 mm (55.51 in) and the maximum overall length is 2,020 mm (79.52 in) for an overall weight of 185 kilos (407.8 lb). The classic single rear swingarm sets the scene and is a symbol of technology and originality. It is a perfect example of art on two wheels not to mention its performance. All of MV’s considerable experience has gone into making this bike compact, mean, and superbly rideable.

CHANGES TO THE FORKS

The addition of new brakes and the increased power output of the 989 cc engine have meant making changes to the front forks. The ends now have lugs to carry radial mounted calipers while internal calibration has been modified to handle the increased loads the suspension will have to deal with. Great care has been taken to ensure that none of the comfort that a bike like the Brutale 989R provides its rider is lost. For this reason, the type of forks remains unchanged and the Brutale boasts a pair of upside down 50 mm Marzocchi to keep the front end glued to the road when the rider is using the machine with a certain degree of zest. Travel has been extended from 126 to 130 mm (4.96 – 5.11 in) to offer a better response over bumpy surfaces.

The rear shock absorber remains unchanged. The new calibration parameters match the bike’s performance and can react instantly to the heavy compression the swingarm is subjected to under the hard acceleration that the bike provides thanks to increased torque from the bigger engine.

NEW BRAKES: BREMBO UNITS

The new Brutale is now even more Italian with new Brembo brakes. The new system on the 989R features 32mm radial units with four-piston calipers. The increased stopping power is offset by better usability on the road and therefore better overall performance.

The Brembo forged aluminum five-spoke wheels measure 3.50” x 17” at the front and 6.00” x 17” at the rear with 120/70 ZR 17 and 190/55 ZR 17 tires.