ROUNDING OFF...

For two bikes that are so similar, they couldn’t really be more different. I feel like it’s the equivalent of having twins – one becomes a butler in The Ritz, while the other takes up a career fighting in MMA. Yet somehow, both machines really did make me feel incredibly special in their own very distinct ways.

The Superveloce truly is a beauty and it turned heads everywhere we went, with its sleek design and bold colours. Yet even with all the effort that’s gone into the appearance, MV has managed to pull off a corker when it comes to getting out and riding the thing, packing it with as much substance as style. It rides like a sportsbike, it’s comfortable and, best of all, it’s a blast to ride – not to mention the fact that it’s packed with tech as well.

And then again, at the other end of the spectrum, there’s the Brutale... well, what a weapon that is. It’s living proof that a spec sheet means diddly squat; as the Superveloce was a finely cooked machine, the Brutale was just raw and savage. It has more than enough oomph to make a litre bike sweat and an incredible attitude that every naked bike needs. With every twist of the wrist, the front wheel just wants to reach for the sky, and how MV has crafted the geometry and set-up on the Brutale makes it a seriously wild animal.

Don’t get me wrong – they both have their downsides, and it’s a lot of cash to be throwing at a bike. But then, the big Italian badge that’s plastered on the side of the tank still counts for a lot these days, and they do feel special.

So, if I had to pick between the two? It would have to be the Brutale. Sure, the dash is crap, the ride is hard and the brakes aren’t top-notch, but even so, it made me smile and laugh more than any bike has in a bloody long time. Mind you, if you asked me in 20 years or so when I’m not so young, my answer would probably change, and I can almost definitely say I’d go with the more refined, smooth and saucy-looking Superveloce.

Until then, brutality wins.