For my money, I would choose the Yamaha FZ-09. It’s difficult to beat the versatile and refined performance of Triumph’s Street Triple 675. For years, I’ve ridden that bike and there’s not much I dislike. Considering its engine size, it pumps out a ton of torque and I love how smooth the power comes on and the sporting character of the motor. With the addition of the R-spec suspension and brakes, Triumph offers true racetrack-grade performance. But it comes at a cost, retailing just under $10,000. On the other hand, I’m in love with the aesthetics of the Brutale. The designers in Italy absolutely nailed the styling. However, its got some glitches like its overly sensitive throttle and fragile clutch. A motorcycle that costs nearly $13,000 shouldn’t have these problems. Which leads me to the ridiculously affordable Yamaha FZ-09. Engine-wise, it is an absolute homerun. It blows me away that Yamaha could produce such a finely-tuned motor on its first try. I love its broad spread of power and guttural roar that sounds almost identical to the R1. And although it doesn’t handle as well as the Triumph, I sure do like the thought of having an extra $2000 in my pocket.
Alex Dunstan – Triumph Street Triple 675
Age: 34
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 175 pounds
If I was going to plunk down some cash for one of these I’d have to go with the Triumph. The Yamaha’s got a really nice motor and I can’t wait to see what they do with it but the handling issues are holding the current platform back with the MV in a similar boat. The MV has a monster engine but the harsh ergos and off-putting transmission/clutch issues make it a tough sell. The Triumph handles well, looks great, has sweet brakes and a solid powerplant. I’d probably look to open the motor up a little bit as a long term goal (pipe, ECU, etc) but that’s what tax returns are for right?
Melissa Perris-Hayes – MV Agusta F3 800 Brutale
Age: 30
Height: 5’5”
Weight: 120 pounds
I would pick the MV, hands down. The Brutale exemplifies a streetfighter. To me, it’s looks stunning, especially it’s triple organ-pipe style exhaust. The engine sound is so violent, it almost screams at you when opening the throttle. If I was so inclined, It felt like I could run from the Law, make a lot of bad decisions and get in a lot of trouble on it. That’s what I think a motorcycle is all about.
