If you’re after an expensive, exotic, naked Italian superbike it has to look good – whether you’re parading up and down the Kings Road or, in our case, the streets of Bologna. Which is where MV Agusta’s new Brutale 800 RR comes in – an Italian super-naked which raises exotica levels to a new high. But does it? And, if so, is it worth over £11,500 for what is still ‘only’ an 800? To find out we decided to pit the new MV against the definitive example of the Italian naked genre, Ducati’s Monster 1200S, a bike which has much of what the MV offers, for a similar price and yet is a full 1200. The similarities don’t end there. Both are from desirable brands, each with a long history of racing success, and both have that wow factor. Both also have single-sided swingarms, lightweight race wheels, and racing Brembo brakes which are ABS assisted. They also have similarly-styled trellis frames, although the MV’s is the more traditional, as the Ducati uses the engine as a stressed...