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2012–2018 · Hyper Naked · Buyer's Guide
Raw Sound, Savage Inline Four
The Brutale 1090 is built around a 1078 cc inline-four making 144 hp and 83 lb-ft, and MV never tried to sand the edges off it. The delivery is hard and free-revving, with the top third of the tach doing most of the talking. Underneath sits a rigid steel trellis frame on a short 56.3 in wheelbase, fully adjustable suspension front and rear, and a rider-aid package covering traction control and selectable ride modes. In a class that trades in raw force, this one leans hardest on drama, styling and sheer presence.
On the road it asks for commitment. The riding position is compact and forward, the chassis talks constantly, and at 463 lb wet it feels light on its feet once you are moving, though the 32.7 in seat is a real step up for shorter riders. This is a machine for someone buying character, not for someone winning a spec sheet argument. The honest caveat: it wants an owner who checks service history properly and stays on top of the details, because the mechanical drama is part of the deal on the good days and the bad ones.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 144 hp (106 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 83 lb-ft (112 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1078 cc |
| Engine | Inline-fourMotorcycles With Inline-Four Engines → |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 310 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 190/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 56.3 in (1430 mm) |
| Seat height | 32.7 in (830 mm) |
| Wet weight | 463 lb (210 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.1 gal (23 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Drivetrain
Safety
Over the years, Brutale 1090 owners have told me about their bikes in the paddock, on club nights and in the messages they send me directly. The pattern is clear. The looks and the top-end pull win people over, while the complaints center on traffic, comfort and running costs.
Owners keep coming back to the design details: the trellis frame, the side-exit exhaust, the single-sided swingarm. They describe the engine pulling hard from 7,000 rpm all the way to the 13,000 rpm redline. They also praise steering that stays sharp and a bike that holds steady mid-corner. A few mention the 6.1 gal (23 L) tank, good for more than 124 miles (200 km) per fill, which makes longer rides more realistic than they expected.
The most common gripe is jerky throttle just off idle, which calls for careful clutch work in traffic. Owners say later ECU updates only partly fixed it. Others point to the premium over Japanese rivals and to expensive replacement bodywork and engine parts. Some find first through third gears so closely spaced that city riding means constant shifting, and a few have fitted taller final gearing. The thin, forward-sloped seat starts to hurt after about an hour, and aftermarket seats are a popular fix.
Sprag clutch / starter failure (earlier models)
Some 2010‑2012 Brutale 1090s exhibit a noisy or failing sprag clutch, leading to intermittent starter engagement. Requires replacement of the sprag gear and housing.
Connecting rod bearing failure (rare)
A small number of these inline-four engines have suffered big-end connecting rod bearing failure, with metallic debris appearing in the engine oil. Suspected causes include oil starvation or an assembly defect. Isolated in occurrence but catastrophic when it happens, typically requiring a full engine rebuild.
Snatchy throttle / erratic low‑rpm fuelling
Many owners report a jerky, on‑off throttle response at small openings, particularly in Normal mode. Can cause surging in town and makes smooth U‑turns difficult. Fixed by ECU reflash on later examples.
Where this MV Agusta Brutale 1090 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Brutale 1090 is actually built for.
Short wheelbase, real front-end feedback and lean clearance to spare make this a proper canyon bike. The stop-start LA traffic on the way there is the part you will have to make peace with.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail Scenic Byway · Big Sur Coast Highway
For Saturday runs through the twisty stuff it serves up noise and theater in quantities almost nothing else matches. With a 6.1 gal tank, fuel stops are not what ends the ride.
Made for Texas Hill Country · Texas Hill Country BDR-X · Twisted Sisters
It holds a line and tells you what the front tire is doing, which is most of what you want on a fast day. Just remember ABS and a slipper clutch were options here, so check the bike you are buying.
Made for WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca · Barber Motorsports Park · Circuit of The Americas
The MV Agusta Brutale 1090 also comes in these variants, models and special editions. Each has its own page covering only what differs from the standard Brutale 1090 — equipment, electronics, specs and used price.
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this MV Agusta Brutale 1090. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Successor · 2019
Italian Fire, 211 Horses
Competitor · 2010–2013
Instant Punch, Sovereign Character
About the same used price as this bike at 14 yr
Competitor · 2011–2017
Triple Character, Real Grunt
About the same used price as this bike at 11 yr
Same Platform · 2012
Italian Fire, Maximum Feedback
Roughly $4,500 pricier used than this bike at 14 yr
Compare it with every bike that shares the same spec or equipment.
