MV Agusta Brutale 800 Dragster 2017 — Specifications

What truly separates an MV Agusta Brutale 800 Dragster from a standard Brutale 800? On paper, not much. Under the skin, just enough to transform a punchy roadster into an urban thrill machine. The 798 cc three-cylinder still pumps out 125 horsepower at 11,600 rpm and 80.9 Nm of torque at 8,600 rpm. The figures are identical. But Varese reworked the delivery curve to achieve a sharper, more direct response. The kind of calibration you feel from the first twist of the throttle, not on a spec sheet.

Style-wise, the Dragster plays a different card from its cousin. The chopped, sculptural tail gives this 2017 version a two-wheeled hot rod look that the standard Brutale simply doesn't have. Belly pan, stitched seat, dedicated wheels, bar-end mirrors: the cosmetic details add up and partly justify the price tag of 14,090 euros. The handlebar, adjustable in three positions, lets you set up the cockpit depending on whether you'd rather play tough in the city or cruise along country roads. The seat, perched at 811 mm, remains accessible to most rider heights. The passenger, however, will have to make do with a postage stamp for a perch. Best to ride solo.

The chassis follows the proven Brutale family recipe: tubular steel trellis frame with aluminum plates, 43 mm inverted fork, rear monoshock with single-sided swingarm. The notable difference lies in the 200/50-17 rear tire, wider, contributing as much to the machine's stocky aesthetics as to its traction. The Brembo brakes, twin 320 mm discs up front with radial-mount four-piston calipers, deliver stopping power on par with the performance. All this at 167 kg dry, a figure that would make plenty of competitors blush. Against a Triumph Street Triple RS or a Yamaha MT-09, the MV Agusta Brutale 800 Dragster boasts a contained weight that translates into genuine agility on the road. The onboard electronics, the MVICS 2.0 platform, offer four riding modes, traction control, ride-by-wire throttle, EAS quickshifter, and Bosch ABS. A comprehensive package for a motorcycle of this generation.

Should you take the plunge? The MV Agusta Brutale 800 Dragster is aimed at riders who want to stand out, who refuse the banality of a Japanese roadster without tipping into the world of hypernakeds. It's a motorcycle with character, built for the city and Sunday rides, not for devouring highway miles with its 16.6-liter tank. Its top speed of 245 km/h confirms it's not short on breath, but its natural playground remains back roads and roundabout entries taken with enthusiasm. Those looking for a step up can turn to the MV Agusta Brutale 800 Dragster RR, later offered in a Lewis Hamilton edition for collectors. On the used market, the Brutale 800 Dragster RR remains a sought-after commodity. Testing this Dragster reveals an endearing motorcycle, beautiful to look at, enjoyable to ride, but one that remains fundamentally an aesthetic and temperamental variation of the Brutale. That's not a flaw. It's a deliberate choice by Varese: offering two distinct temperaments on an identical mechanical platform. The result is a thoroughbred Italian that looks like nothing else in a parking lot, with a 13.3:1 compression ratio reminding you that this little three-cylinder was designed to rev high and hard. Provided you're willing to pay the price of Italian exclusivity.