2012–2017 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
The Italian Triple That Bites
The Brutale 675 takes the three-cylinder heart of MV Agusta's F3 supersport and puts it in a compact roadster that looks like it cost twice the money. The 675 cc inline-triple makes 113 hp and 48 lb-ft. It is an engine that wants revs, and it gets louder and angrier the higher you take it. It sits in a steel trellis frame at 395 lb (179 kg) wet, with traction control, ride modes and an up-only quickshifter as standard. ABS was an option, so check what the bike in front of you actually has. Among middleweight nakeds, this is the one people cross the parking lot to look at.
On the road it is light on its feet and easy to slice through traffic. It leans a long way before anything touches down, and the chassis keeps you well informed about what's going on underneath. It suits an experienced rider who wants a small Italian exotic for short, intense rides and can live with some fuss. The honest caveat is ownership. The fueling can feel on/off at small throttle openings. Electrical faults turn up, and the starter sprag clutch is a known wear item. Certain 2014 bikes were covered by NHTSA recall 14V189000 for faulty swingarm bolts, so confirm that work was done. Buy one with records, not on looks alone.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 113 hp (83 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 48 lb-ft (65 Nm) |
| Displacement | 675 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 54.3 in (1380 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.9 in (810 mm) |
| Wet weight | 395 lb (179 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.4 gal (16.6 L) |
| Top speed | 140 mph (225 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 33 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Drivetrain
Safety
This picture comes from years of listening to riders: conversations in the paddock, owners talking over a coffee at club nights, and the emails and messages riders send me directly about the bikes they live with. For the Brutale 675, the pattern is consistent. Owners praise its looks, its lightness and its eager triple, and most of their complaints come from what it's like to live with day to day.
The looks come up more than anything else. Owners mention the sculpted tank, the single-sided swingarm and a finish that makes the Japanese competition look plain. Many also describe it as light and flickable, and they say the triple rewards you for keeping it spinning toward the top end. Several remember that at launch it cost less than a lot of Japanese rivals and still came with ride modes, traction control and Brembo brakes.
The complaint that comes up most is the stock suspension. Riders call it stiff and say it hits hard over broken pavement, which wears on you over a long ride. Another recurring complaint is the thin dealer network, with owners describing long waits for parts even for routine service. Some owners also say the thin seat gets hard after about an hour, and a few mention vibration through the bars and pegs at certain revs that can leave hands and feet numb on longer trips.
Swingarm bolt recall (2014 models)
A safety recall (NHTSA campaign 14V189000) was issued for certain 2014 Brutale 675s due to a batch of faulty swingarm bolts that could loosen, affecting handling and safety.
Low‑speed throttle jerkiness / stalling
The aggressive fuel mapping causes an on/off feel at small throttle openings, occasionally leading to stalling when stopping. ECU reflashes and updated mapping significantly reduce the problem on later bikes.
General electrical gremlins
Intermittent electrical faults such as phantom warning lights, faulty sensors, and poor ground connections have been reported by owners, often requiring dealer diagnostics to trace.
Sprag clutch wear
The starter sprag clutch can wear prematurely, causing loud metallic noises on startup and eventual failure to crank the engine. The issue is most noticeable when the engine is half-warm.
Where this MV Agusta Brutale 675 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
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Brutale 675 is actually built for.
For a city commute and weekend ridge roads, this is a photogenic, nimble Italian that turns heads at the meetup spot. Just know it's gas-powered, with an exotic's ownership quirks.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
Light steering, deep lean and clear feedback make canyon roads a joy. You can't adjust the fork, and it rewards revs over grunt, so ride it hard and keep it spinning.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
It's a blast on twisty Hill Country roads and brings real style to the BBQ stop. The 4.4-gallon tank and naked riding position mean short hops, not long road trips.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
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 675. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2014–2016
Hooligan Engine, Japanese Precision
Roughly $1,700 cheaper used than this bike at 10 yr
Competitor · 2013–2016
Triple That Carves Clean
About the same used price as this bike at 10 yr
Same Platform · 2012–2024
Italian Fire On A Trellis
Roughly $900 pricier used than this bike at 9 yr
Similar Character · 2009–2011
Triple Soul, Cornering Precision