Well, since this thread is already started, I'll jump in. Recently purchased a 2006 Brutale 910S, 10K miles, recent service, pristine. Scott's damper, mid-pipe swap, Corbin saddle, otherwise stock. I've been riding well over 40 years, first solo coast to coast trip at age 16 on a Yamaha 350 R5, lots of different kinds of bikes followed. Triumph twins (x4), Ducati bevel drive twins (x2), BMW twins (x2) KTM 250SX (x2) KTM 450 rfs (x2) trials bikes (x2), ZRX 1200's (x2), etc. Current stable includes KTM 450 MXC and ATK 605 flat tracker, both plated, and the MV. Anyways, I know a thing or two about bikes and what I want from one. I love the Brutale.
I've wanted an MV Agusta ever since I saw my first one, a 7500SS sitting on a pedestal at a bike shop I wandered into at age 15 looking for a part for my Honda 160. Being a man of modest means I couldn't afford one until this Brutale showed up near by and I happened to be flush. First full ride I couldn't get comfortable, and bike stalled out 6 times. Parked it until the following weekend and it wouldn't start Saturday morning. Lousy way to begin my MV ownership. But no worries, I put it on the charger and went to do some research. Now, 6 weeks and 900 miles later, I think I can offer a ride review.
First, ergos. They're odd. I'm 6-0, 150 lbs, still reasonably fit and agile, but I felt cramped and off balance when I first got on the bike. For me, the riding position is a 'tweener, neither sport bike nor standard, neither comfy nor firmly in control. Some owners find relief swapping out to Duc S4R bars to increase seat to bar length, closer to the sportbike crouch. But due to a cracked cervical vertebra and two broken wrist bones, I can no longer assume the position. I need to go in the other direction, foot pegs forward and bar risers if they can be sourced, to take weight off my hands and get my neck more nearly vertical.
Still worse, the stock seat sucks, as it slopes forward to handlebars that are too close, making me feel like I'm going over the bars braking hard prior to tip in. Without a neutral riding position, it is hard to precisely modulate throttle and other control inputs, making the bike seem ungainly and obstinate. The Corbin seat is flatter, but locks you in even closer to the front and appears to be carved from granite. Still, I'm an adaptable fellow, and the innate goodness of this bike had me hooked from the beginnning, so I endeavored to make the relationship work.
As in so many areas of life, the ergonomics solution is mostly acceptance. That and a sheepskin pad for the Corbin. I'm also a cyclist so I wear chamois briefs when I need more padding, the sheepskin is enough for day rides. Now that I am acclimated to the riding position, I am quite comfortable at speed and through the twisties, but slow stop-and-go in town still pretty much sucks. At 60mph, the headwind starts to balance your forward weight bias, and the oversized headlight and instrument nacelle create a smooth air flow over the head and shoulders. I am quite comfortable up to the ton (of course I wear proper gear), and when I feel the need to see 140mph (twice now, this bike is going to get me in trouble), I lean over the tank and she feels supremely planted and controllable.