2010 MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR, 990R announced

MV claim the 2010 Brutale 1090RR and 990R are 85% new. While that may be correct, we do wish they had made more significant changes to the bike's styling.


MV Agusta have announced the 2010 Brutale 1090RR and 990R machines, which, according to MV, share only 15% of their components with the earlier Brutale bikes. Designed by Massimo Tamburini, the first Brutale was launched almost 10 years ago and still looks as good as ever. And that’s probably a good thing because even the 2010 bikes, which have supposedly been updated in a big way, don’t look very different from the older bikes…


Then again, look more closely and you realise that the Brutale 1090RR and 990R are subtly different from the earlier 1078RR and 989R. They also, as their names imply, have slightly bigger, more powerful engines - 153bhp for the 1090RR and 141bhp for the 990R. Mechanical changes include improved engine cooling and lubrication, lighter, more compact throttle bodies, and two riding modes for wet and dry weather conditions. Both bikes are equipped with a traction control system and the Brutale 1090RR also gets a slipper clutch.


The 2010 Brutale bikes feature an all-new chassis made of chrome-molybdenum tubes and aluminium plates, the single-sided swingarm is 20mm longer (made of forged aluminium for the 1090RR) and the rear monoshock is new. Forged aluminium wheels are lighter and stronger than before and the 1090RR gets lighter brake discs with monobloc callipers. The seat has also been redesigned for improved long-distance riding comfort.


The new MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR is priced at 18,500 euros, while the Brutale 990R costs 15,500 euros (US prices have been set at $18,000 and $15,000 respectively for the two bikes). We don’t really know what to make of the new Brutale duo. Yes, the bikes look gorgeous as ever. But ten years is a long time and a lot of people may have been expecting a much more significant update in terms of the styling and design. We’d like to know what you think of the new MV Brutale 1090 and 990 machines – post your thoughts in the comments section below…


The MV still looks cool, but the Ducati Streetfighter has now out-brutalised the Brutale at its own game. MV need to do something dramatic to claw their way back to the top

2010 MV Agusta Brutale 1090RR, 990R announced

You might also like: