MV Agusta Dragster 800 test: it’s Brutale !
Based on its Brutale 800, MV Agusta widens its range with the Dragster, whose look and name evoke the Ducati Diavel … But a road and track test shows that in reality, this new motorcycle is more roadster than power cruiser.
Punch to spare
Back on the Castelet circuit after a short loop of around 70 km, MNC puts on the leather to tackle the second phase of this test, with several driving sessions on the legendary speed track..
A little push to the right stalk to switch from Normal mode to Sport mode, then an adjustment of the traction control in intermediate position (4 out of 8: caution is the mother of safety!) And let’s go for several laps of the track. 3800 m.
First observation: the short gearbox staging is more penalizing to manage on the circuit than on the road. Fortunately, the gears are stacked up quickly and well thanks to the shifter (device allowing gears to be mounted without disengaging or cutting the throttle), but it takes a little time to adapt to avoid hitting the switch (at 13,000 rpm). min) or "stack one" too early, pledge of an inefficient sub-regime on track !
Even when set to the fourth notch, traction control in no way prevents the front wheel from soaring skyward when you open the throttle wide in relaunch. The "Tre Pistoni" responds well when it is whipped !
The times in the speeds and intermediate gears are excellent, as long as you monitor the tachometer to avoid the premature intervention of the switch. By opening fully in second, the thrust remains constant up to 9,000 rpm, then shows a slight dip up to 10,000 rpm … before setting off again up to 12,000 rpm.
We have barely passed the sixth at the end of the straight line at nearly 230 km / h, when we have to quickly descend in second to negotiate a very closed hairpin bend at the height of the S de la Verrerie. The ABS works once again perfectly, allowing a very manly brake grip without inadvertent release.
The beginnings of "stoppie" (lifting of the rear wheel during braking) are even possible: that is to say, as the Bosch control unit refines its action as closely as possible depending on the grip! The Dragster 800 remains perfectly in line during this powerful braking, but it only accepts to turn after having released the pressure on the right lever..
As already mentioned above, the assistance on the rear brake is much less transparent, with untimely triggering of the ABS which can go so far as to cause dribbling on the hindquarters..
On this well-made coating, apart from the passage of a few bumps in one of the baffles, the original flexible tuned suspension ended up doing quite well. Despite the constraints imposed by the speed of passage in curves significantly faster, the Dragster does not flinch and demonstrates that it has an excellent chassis.
Verdict: true-false novelty ?
In the end, this Dragster 800 can be considered more as a 2014 evolution of the Brutale than as a real new model. Sold for 13,390 euros, it is not really given and will have to reckon with some rivals just as sharp in 3 as in 4-cylinder.
However, the brand is confident and hopes to exceed this year the milestone of 10,000 motorcycles sold (all models combined). An ambitious figure in this period of crisis, knowing that MV Agusta sold 7,500 in the world in 2013 including …
Related articles
-
All Tests – MV Agusta Dragster 800 Test: It’s Brutal! – A nice toy
MV Agusta Dragster 800 test: it’s Brutale ! Based on its Brutale 800, MV Agusta is expanding its range with the Dragster, whose look and name evoke the…
-
All Tests – Brutale 675 test: MV Agusta’s austerity plan – Brutale 675 attacking!
Brutale 675 test: MV Agusta’s austerity plan Compact, firm, vigorous: these adjectives define the little roadster just out of the MV Agusta factory. It…
-
All Tests – MV Agusta Dragster 800 Test: It’s Brutal! – Back to the future
MV Agusta Dragster 800 test: it’s Brutale ! Based on its Brutale 800, MV Agusta is expanding its range with the Dragster, whose look and name evoke the…
-
All Tests – MV Agusta Dragster 800 Test: It’s Brutal! – MV Agusta Dragster 800 data sheet
MV Agusta Dragster 800 test: it’s Brutale ! Based on its Brutale 800, MV Agusta is expanding its range with the Dragster, whose look and name evoke the…
-
All Tests – 2013 MV Agusta F4 Test: the prestige of the senses – Rage in the heart
2013 MV Agusta F4 test: the prestige of the senses With its F4, MV Agusta has so far offered one of the most beautiful sports motorcycles on the market….
-
All Tests – Test of the Brutale 675: the austerity plan of MV Agusta – First test of the Brutale 675
Brutale 675 test: MV Agusta’s austerity plan Compact, firm, vigorous: these adjectives define the little roadster just out of the MV Agusta factory. It…
-
MV Agusta Dragster 800 RR test: good, bad and ugly at the same time Like the Brutale 800, the Dragster 800 was available in 2015 in an RR version that…
-
MV Agusta Dragster 800 RR test: good, bad and ugly at the same time Like the Brutale 800, the Dragster 800 was available in 2015 in an RR version that…
-
Roadster – Test MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: adorable gaRce … – Brutale 800 RR: it aRache severe!
MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR test: adorable gaRce… Two new 2015 models come to top the 3-cylinder series at MV Agusta: the Brutale 800 RR and its Dragster…
-
MV Agusta Dragster 800 RR test: good, bad and ugly at the same time Like the Brutale 800, the Dragster 800 was available in 2015 in an RR version that…