Comments on: MV’s 675 Brutale to be a Street Triple Slayer? (Bike Reports) (News)

By: Luther

Luther — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 10:46:12 +0000

MV might do well in Italy. In the states, things like service, reliability, and spare parts supply are crucial factors to a brand’s survival. Most of the triumph dealers I see in the states are triumph/BMW/another brand. Aprillia and KTM can’t find local dealers because their prior dealers let them go because of part supply issues. So, unless MV can put together a dealer network here, I don’t see them threatening the street triple.

I’ll note that triumph keeps the streetie’s power below 100hp because of French horsepower restrictions. They don’t have to sell a different model there, and it saves costs.
Historically, racing wins don’t help sale rise, and racing losses can cost sales. Triumph was at it’s performance peak in 1971, and five years later was virtually gone from the US market. Indian whipped the tar out of Harley and never had the sales figures. Yamaha won world superbike, and the motogp in 2010, yet they took a bigger drop in sales than any other japanese manufacturer.

Report this comment

By: ziggy

ziggy — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 02:22:22 +0000

Finally someone has the balls to take shot at the champ.

Who gives a sh*t if it’s an overpriced Italian Prima Donna.

Let the games begin!

Report this comment

By: Neil

Neil — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:52:34 +0000

I always thought of them as overpriced multi inline cylinder Ducatis. That being said, if I compare it to say, the Harley XR1200, it can win hands down because MV choose to use modern engineering on their bikes. Imgagine the XR with a more balanced motor. I have seen several people crashing XR’s on their owners web site, losing the front end and XR racers saying they have too little feel from the front end. Well, MV answers that with bikes that give you lighter weight, more balanced motors and better front end feedback. It is not trying to be anything but what it is, an MV. Italian. Attention grabbing. Functional. Could be really nice.

Report this comment

By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:12:32 +0000

no, the triple will not use the radial valve layout. given the reduced size design target there apparently wasn’t going to be enough room… or so i’ve read…?

Report this comment

By: Cory

Cory — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:53:57 +0000

The campaigning of “Go your own Way” may explain this a bit, but the travelling demo truck travelling to various dealerships around the country is part of the campaigning. They also support dealerships that are not always in the highest traffic markets. They have been at Honda Hoot in year’s past, giving demo ride, as well as Americade.
Their racing support could be better, but you will see triumphs in Wera and AMA classes, as well as British Supersport and World Supersport.
Ultimately, Triumph is still a very small company on the world level, and they have to pick and choose their battles carefully. So far, they have had more hits than misses.

Report this comment

By: Bud

Bud — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:25:56 +0000

Will the 675/800 have the radial valve layout? I haven’t been able to find out much about that setup online. Is it a positive selling point or a showroom feature that’s not worth the extra complexity and is only there because since it’s Italian it needs to have a unique valvetrain? Because otherwise I really really like the Brutales.

Report this comment

By: Jeremy in TX

Jeremy in TX — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:15:51 +0000

MV definitely has some proving to do. Triumph went through the same stage and delivered mightily on the reliability front. There is no reason MV couldn’t do the same. But they have to make it a priority like Triumph did, set some high goals, and make the investment at the front end to make it happen.

Report this comment

By: Jeremy in TX

Jeremy in TX — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:12:02 +0000

I like Japanese bikes very much, and I like Triumphs very much. I don’t like them because I can’t stand the thought of owning a bike from another country/manufacturer. They have “aggressively campaigned” and won many customers in different niches of the market: cruisers, retros and street fighters / hooligan bikes / whatever you want to call them. Do they race? No. Why would they? They don’t have any race replcias in their model lineup. The 675R is a great track tool for those who care to use it as such, but it sells by being different rather than trying to dominate in a cookie-cutter 599cc market. Have they been at the IMS the past few years? No, but many of their competitors have opted out of that as well as has the attendance. They just decided they could reach customers better in other ways.

MV will have to finds its own formula that works with its brand, but taking after Triumph’s strategy is a huge step in the right direction. They’ll figure it out from there. I’d seriously consider buying a Brutale Jr.

Report this comment

By: blackcayman

blackcayman — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:56:54 +0000

No doubt the MV has it on the Triumph in the design/appearance category…but you give no creedence to the dealer support aspect of a “new”, “Italian” motorcycle???

Report this comment

By: Hot Dog

Hot Dog — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:26:40 +0000

Triumph has done well because it’s bikes are “Anything other than Japanese” and they build a great machine. If they have “Aggressively campaigned”, as noted, why haven’t they attended the International Motorcyle Show that travels around the country? Wouldn’t this be a great venue to compare products to other manufacturers? Do they participate at races, like Indy and Laguna, with product displays?

Report this comment