MV Agusta Dragster R 2025 — Specifications

"Rosso? Who is Rosso?!?" Sorry, it’s not us. Or maybe in the archives...". To be honest, the Dragster Rosso is still around but now under the designation R. It’s a bit more refined, and since the machine is now available in several colors, it couldn’t logically keep a name that limited it to the red catalog.

Alright, let’s move on. Let’s see what bonuses the R has brought with it. We can see a ride-by-wire throttle with the best feel, a more intuitive system for disengaging the cruise control, an improved seat, slightly retouched electronics, Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires, a rear brake with the best response, and a friction-reducing coating on the fork tubes.

Thus, the MV-Agusta 800 Dragster steps up in R trim. It’s not a special series or a derivative but the base model designation. Not everyone necessarily wants the RR, with its high-revving engine and the price that goes with it.

It was updated in 2023 as we just read. But let’s not forget that the factory had carried out a general platform update for the 800 a few years ago. The Dragster benefited from progressing electronics. The most visible aspect being the 5.5-inch color TFT screen, equipped with GPS, Bluetooth, an integrated navigator, and the MV Ride app. Engine management was refined while the riding aids gained an inertial platform, Continental MK100 ABS in curves, 3rd generation Up&Down shifter, and cruise control.

Its counter-rotating crankshaft engine received new internal parts, an improved clutch, and a revised exhaust. The three final flutes now feature a much more prominent design. The chassis also received a few adjustments, including new suspension settings, a more progressive rear shock linkage, and redesigned frame plates to improve torsion and longitudinal rigidity.

This is where the Dragster begins. What changes compared to the RR? Fewer horsepower, finished with spoked wheels, and fewer refined details. But... what modifications compared to the previous non-RR Dragster? The looks! The shoulders, the hips, the silhouette. Finally! One could say. The RR had received a new appearance some time ago. Largely inspired by the 800 Brutale’s redesign, to be precise. A makeover completed with a price re-indexing. Does this Dragster want to charm?

Black or red are the only color choices for the R; direct, without stickers or embellishments. This choice, bordering on simplistic, linked to the removal of the fairing and the optimization of part manufacturing, allows this model to be displayed at a more accommodating price. The difference is frankly marked with the Dragster RR; even more so since the latter now includes the SCS clutch as standard.

The three-cylinder installed here is common to all R models, namely the 798 cm3 counter-rotating crankshaft engine – delivering 112 horsepower at 11,500 rpm and benefiting from a peak torque of 8.67 mkg at 8,500 rpm. Figures slightly improved since the passage to Euro5. The Dragster has never sought to differentiate itself from its Brutale sister in terms of the engine but in terms of design, its rear cropped by a Walking Dead character, and the harsh riding position. The riding position of the 800 Dragster makes the difference. The handlebars are mounted on axes that can be adjusted in 3 positions.

The on-board electronics are the MVICS 2.1 platform, which extends to the entire MV-Agusta range. It includes 4 riding modes working with engine management, traction control, ride-by-wire throttle sensitivity, engine braking, torque curve, etc... The chassis is almost identical to that of the Brutale, distinguished by a large 200 mm rear tire. Otherwise, we find the aluminum/steel tubular trellis frame with a 43 mm Marzocchi inverted fork, a Sachs shock absorber, the monobras, Brembo 320 mm brakes with radial 4-piston calipers. We never tire of the lightweight figures advanced by Varese productions. The engine block weighs only 52 kilos, and the 800 Dragster has placed its weight at 175 kilos.

The MV-Agusta 800 Dragster remains a beautiful machine, singularly aggressive. Its rear remains a sight to behold. But today as yesterday, it’s nothing like a new motorcycle; it’s a Brutale with (a superb) angle grinder to the rear, a slightly more sporty temperament, and a few cosmetic specifics. Another version of the style that allows you to choose between the streetfighter and the "Mad-Max-roadster".

M.B - Photos manufacturer