Based on MV’s range-topping Brutale 1090RR, the Cannonball is fitted with an array of mouth-watering MV Agusta Corse goodies.
Starting with the standard £13,699 machine, which is smoother and far easier to live with than the angry Brutales of old, you can choose what parts of the Cannonball kit you want by going on to MV’s online ‘configurator’. Our test bike was fully-loaded with £3917-worth of cosmetics and chassis mods, which include MV Agusta Corse levers, rearsets and a dazzling array of carbon fibre parts. It’s topped off with a £4745 F4 superbike-inspired engine kit, which has a tuned top end and a full titanium Arrow exhaust system, which boosts power by 21bhp to 165bhp.
The Brutale 1090RR Cannonball manages to be insanely fast, unbelievable fun, stupidly loud, excessively expensive and easy to ride, all in one go. In our book, it makes this one of the most desirable motorcycles in the world.This isn’t a bike for shrinking violets. Hammer through the gears at full throttle and the tuned inline-four-cylinder 1078cc motor hesitates very slightly at low rpm, then takes off in violent style. It will loop-the-loop in first gear and wants to lift in the next two. The engine devours revs and gears and before you know it, if you’re on a big enough track, you’ll be flat in top, struggling to hang on while your ears are being assaulted by the angry roar of the titanium Arrow racing exhaust.
With its Cannonball kit fitted you still get the same friendly new-generation Brutale. On this test bike the standard fully-adjustable Sachs rear shock and 50mm Marzocchi forks are set to give a plush, quality ride and the stock Brembo brakes are powerful enough for anything you care to throw at them.
From the Cannonball chassis kit, you only notice the slightly chunkier feel of the MV Agusta Corse racing levers and the higher rearsets, the rest of the goodies are purely cosmetic.On top of all the goodies you get with the Cannonball kit, you get traction control, fully adjustable 50mm Marzocchi forks and Sachs rear shock, monobloc four-piston Brembo calipers, slipper clutch and gear position indicator. This is the ultimate super naked. It’s super-fast and handles like a superbike. It’s the most insane fun you can have on a bike if you’ve got a mischievous streak in you. Yes it’s hideously expensive and you can have almost as fun on any one of the leading super naked machines out there for a fraction of the price, but if you want the very best, the Cannonball is the one to have.
