By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Hyper Naked
MV Agusta Brutale 1090 (MY2012) vs Kawasaki Z1000 (ZRT00D)
MV Agusta Brutale 1090 vs Kawasaki Z1000: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
You'll hear the MV Agusta Brutale 1090 snarl as it rushes harder the higher you wind it. The Kawasaki Z1000 shoves the instant it's cracked open, anywhere.
So which one do you buy?
The Brutale 1090 has the edge if…
Racetrack use
Nose ahead: Brutale 1090
Track days lean slightly toward the Brutale 1090. What tips it: better suspension and more feel through the bars. Count it as a small bonus.
Character, looks and sound
Slight edge: Brutale 1090
On style, the Brutale 1090 makes a slightly stronger case. The reason: more distinctive styling. Go see both in person.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Inches ahead: Brutale 1090
Through a string of corners, the Brutale 1090 feels a little more eager. Credit lighter steering. The gap is small, so ride both.
The Z1000 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Edges it: Z1000
Through rush hour, the Z1000 is a little easier to live with. Put it down to simpler maintenance and friendlier manners.
Which one's the smarter buy
No clear winner on value
Neither bike is the clear better buy at these used prices. The Brutale 1090 costs less, but that doesn't make it the smarter spend.
What makes each one tick
Brutale 1090
Direction changes come almost before you've thought them through on the Brutale 1090, because its short wheelbase and steel trellis frame put the front tire on a hair trigger. Mid-corner, it doesn't drift off line, and the frame reports each ripple in the pavement. Off idle, the throttle can snatch. The brake lever hauls it down with the trellis talking.
Z1000
Before the Z1000 rolls a yard, its exhaust lets out a mechanical bark the noise rules haven't tamed. Turn-in isn't the class's sharpest. Bend after bend, the frame's still got margin left.
Nils rode the Z1000 in 2010 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Z1000 has the lower seat: 32.1 in (815 mm) vs 32.7 in (830 mm).
- The Brutale 1090 has the lower wet weight: 463 lb (210 kg) vs 481 lb (218 kg).
- The Brutale 1090 has the larger fuel tank: 6.1 US gal (23 L) vs 4.0 US gal (15 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not built for this
Big miles aren't where either one shines. You'll be watching for the next rest stop.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Brutale 1090
What owners say
Strengths
- Exotic, head‑turning styling
- Ferocious, race‑bred inline‑four engine
- Telepathic handling and chassis feedback
Trade-offs
- Abrupt off‑idle throttle response
- High purchase price and expensive parts
Z1000
Strengths
- Reworked Drivetrain, Instant Drive
- Savage Pull, Stays Sovereign
- Raw, Unfiltered Exhaust Note
- Radial Brakes Bite Hard
- Finish Holds Up Close
Trade-offs
- Turn-In Not the Sharpest
- Comfort Pays for the Sport Tune
- Master Cylinder Seal Can Weep
- Buzzy at highway speed
- Small fuel tank
Known problems to check before you buy
Brutale 1090
- 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.
Z1000
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 14-year-old Brutale 1090 with a 14-year-old Z1000.
- Brutale 1090
- about $6,400
- Z1000
- about $7,700
At 14 years old, the MV Agusta Brutale 1090 sits around $6,400 while the Kawasaki Z1000 runs about $7,700. That's a $1,300 gap in the Brutale 1090's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Brutale 1090 | Z1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.7 in (830 mm) | 32.1 in (815 mm) |
| Wet weight | 463 lb (210 kg) | 481 lb (218 kg) |
| Brutale 1090 | Z1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1078 cc | 1043 cc |
| Power | 144 hp (106 kW) | 138 hp (102 kW) |
| Torque | 83 lb-ft (112 Nm) | 81 lb-ft (110 Nm) |
| Brutale 1090 | Z1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 6.1 US gal (23 L) | 4.0 US gal (15 L) |
| Brutale 1090 | Z1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 310 mm | 300 mm |
| Rear tire | 190/55-17 | 190/50-17 |
| Wheelbase | 56.3 in (1430 mm) | 56.7 in (1440 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Brutale 1090 | Z1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Traction Control | Standard | Not offered |
| Ride Modes | Standard | Not offered |
| Slipper Clutch | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
