2006 MV Agusta reviews

I have ridden hard, year round for 15 years, in LA and Orange County traffic. I don't own a car. I have owned 3 older model FZ-1s, a K1200R w/ESA, 99 Triumph Speed 3, Vmax, CBR 600, Honda Hawk NT650, etc. I currently own an FJR 1300 and the Brutale. This is my first excursion into the Italian bike market. I rode a test bike at PI and it put a big stupid hooligan grin on my face. I couldn't keep the front end on the ground in the first three gears. The performance is incredible, but I think a portion of that perception is because of the lack of wind protection. The power comes on really hard with no delay whatsoever. It needs room and revs before you feel like it starts to come into its own. I have found no one that can touch it in a canyon. There is power everywhere and it is light. It is definitely akin to a Ferrari. The bike is very precise; it goes exactly where you put it, all the time. If you want to kick back, this really isn't the bike for you. I have discovered a nasty little dark secret about it. It has an absolutely wicked headshake. A bit of steady ripple in the pavement and a quick freeway entry speed are all it took for me to discover this. The wheelbase is short and the steering is very quick; a setup that I should have seen coming. The owners of the 750 versions don't claim to have run into this, so it must be a combination of how hard I am accelerating, lightening up the front end combined with the pavement that is causing this. It has occurred 3 times to me and one nearly became a tank slapper. I was able to dampen the bars through sheer willpower, but I was very lucky no cars were around, etc. The only production bike that I have heard of this kind of problem being regularly reported on was a 1000cc Suzuki twin in recent years....I believe they did a recall on that one. I have now gone looking for a steering dampener and found nothing that appears to just be a bolt on solution. I have lowered the ride height in an attempt to soften the characteristic. I am running correct tire pressures and all of my suspension settings are the middle of the road adjustments. Show less

I got to test ride this bike at Mid-Ohio (about a 30 mile trip). From that ride, this is the best bike out there, period. I've rode many, many bikes and none of them are as good as this bike. It has tremendous torque low down and an awesome top end. More than the power though it handles great, feels great to ride and looks like a work of art. I've never been this impressed by a bike. My intention was to get the new Yamaha FZ1 but now I plan on buying the Brutale for next year. It's worth the extra money. Show less