Brutale990r

MV Agusta Updates Brutale for 2010

2010 MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR - Click above for high-res image gallery

Updating an icon is always a risky proposition. It's hard to believe that it has been nearly a decade since the MV Agusta Brutale burst onto the scene, but a quick check confirms that the naked Italian was first introduced back in 2001. Doesn't matter, really, the bike has always been one of the most attractive motorcycles in existence and the design still looks fresh to our eyes.

Fortunately, then, MV Agusta didn't mess with a good thing for the Brutale's first major redesign. Though over 85 percent of the 2010 Brutale is new and is not interchangeable with the 2009 model, the casual observer would be hard pressed to point out the changes. Everything from the bodywork to the chromoly steel trellis frame to the iconic headlight has been updated, as has the four-cylinder powerplant, which is now available in either 998cc (139 hp and 78 lb-ft) or 1078cc sizes (144 hp and 85 lb-ft).

MV Agusta says that the bike's rider compartment has been altered to make the Brutale a bit more comfortable, and that's a change that will surely be appreciated by owners as the old model was almost impossibly compact. A longer swingarm that drops 2.2 pounds from the previous unit is said to improve the ride and handling, as will the gravity cast (990) or forged wheels (1090). Pricing seems rather reasonable at exactly $15,000 for the 990R and $18,000 for the 1090RR. Click past the break for a short press release along with a video showing both bikes in their natural elements.

Gallery: MV Agusta Brutale 990R