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Rocking up to a group ride on an MV Agusta has long been the kind of thing to raise eyebrows. An MV rider, eh? What are we looking at here, a dyed-in-the-wool old-school Agostini fan? A lover of fine Italian design? A fastidious bike-washer? You can be fairly sure you're not looking at somebody frugal or practical or geared up for long distance; MV's motorcycles are statement pieces. Strapping luggage on them would feel like filling a Gucci handbag up with undies and socks. These are purchases of passion, not pragmatism.

That's the regular MVs, mind you, the almost affordable ones. If you're the type that demands an extra dollop of special, MV has never been afraid to gild the hell out of a lily. Special editions pop up from this factory like whack-a-mole heads, each for a short time and solely for people willing to spend serious money on a motorcycle. Please ignore the fact that serious motorcycle money lines up pretty nicely with average new car money.

The Rush 1000 is such a special edition. It's based on the Brutale 1000 RR, a four-cylinder, 998cc, 208-horsepower monster and a very pretty and expensive bike in its own right. The Rush keeps this monster engine in the same state of tune, as well as the same claimed top speed over 300 km/h (186 mph) if you can hang onto a naked bike in that kind of windblast. You can slap on an optional racing kit if you need four extra horsepower ... Who are we kidding here? The chief value of the racing kit is that its titanium exhaust will make the bike louder, thus garnering you a little extra attention.