MV Agusta Rivale 800 2017 — Specifications

How can one resist this silhouette, this blend of aggression and elegance that seems to defy all categorization? The MV Agusta Rivale 800, introduced in 2013 and continuing its career through the 2017 and 2018 versions, doesn’t fit into boxes. It’s not really a supermotard, not really a roadster, but something in between, an Italian creation that dares to forge its own path. The price, around €13,690 at the time, already signaled that this wasn’t just a simple machine being purchased, but a mechanical object of desire.

Its design is a statement. One finds this MV obsession with taut lines, sharp angles, this interplay of curves and edges that makes each model a moving sculpture. The raptor’s head, the monobrach rear swingarm, the triple exhaust pipes, all of this speaks of a pedigree from the Brutale family. But the Rivale 800 adds its own quirks: raised suspensions, 142 mm of ground clearance, a more relaxed posture that gives it the air of an urban tightrope walker. Compared to a Ducati Hypermotard, it is more refined, more nervous in its forms, less raw. It is a motorcycle that wants to be looked at as much as ridden.

At its heart is that famous three-cylinder engine of 798 cc, derived directly from the Brutale 800. 125 horsepower at 12,000 rpm, 84 Nm of torque, housed in a trellis frame combined with aluminum plates that display a dry weight of only 178 kg. The figures speak of a lively machine, ready to play. The transmission is a classic chain, but the electronic equipment is rich for the time: MVICS with its ride-by-wire, 8-level traction control, and Bosch 9MP ABS, present from 2014 on Rivale 800 ABS versions. The EAS quickshifter, the assisted gear change system, was also standard, making acceleration even smoother.

On the road, or rather in the corners, this Rivale 800 reveals its character. The three-cylinder engine offers that unique sound, that linear progression but with a touch of fire when approaching high revs. Handling, announced as improved by MV thanks to a more open steering angle, feels good in urban maneuvers. But be warned, the seat height of 881 mm may intimidate some, and the 12.9-liter tank reminds you that this motorcycle is made for pleasure, not for long trips. It is a machine for the rider who seeks aesthetics, liveliness, and a unique positioning. Not for beginners, but for those who have already tasted roadsters and want a more exhilarating, more visual experience.

Tests of the MV Agusta Rivale 800 often highlighted this paradox: an extremely seductive motorcycle, a true technological gem with its impressive specifications, but which occupies a very specific niche. Between the more classic Brutale 800 and the more straightforward hypermotards, the Rivale 800 EAS ABS finds its audience among lovers of pure Italian design, those who are willing to pay to have something different. Today, looking for an MV Agusta Rivale 800 used can be a good idea to acquire this gem without the initial price, but it is important to keep in mind its exclusive character, and its positioning off the beaten path. It is less a motorcycle for doing everything than a statement of intent, a passion object that, like many MV’s, is experienced as much with the eyes as with the wrists.