Motorcycles

MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: Italy's sexiest naked bike gets thoroughly freshened up for 2017

MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: Italy's sexiest naked bike gets thoroughly freshened up for 2017
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: MV's organ pipe exhausts look so good it'd actually be a hard decision to change them out.
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: MV's organ pipe exhausts look so good it'd actually be a hard decision to change them out.
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: forged rims reduce rotating mass for quicker turning
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: forged rims reduce rotating mass for quicker turning
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: rear seat
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: rear seat
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: 16.5 litre tank
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: 16.5 litre tank
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: organ pipe exhausts have a 3-liter larger flow capacity than the standard bike
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: organ pipe exhausts have a 3-liter larger flow capacity than the standard bike
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: headlight features built-in angel eye-style driving lights
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: headlight features built-in angel eye-style driving lights
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: slim waist and 175kg dry weight should make this a nimble machine
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: slim waist and 175kg dry weight should make this a nimble machine
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: white version with red trellis frame looks only slightly less horn than the black
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: white version with red trellis frame looks only slightly less horn than the black
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: frontal angle looks horn while showing side-mount air intakes
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: frontal angle looks horn while showing side-mount air intakes
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: even the side with the swingarm on it manages to look horn
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: even the side with the swingarm on it manages to look horn
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: front-loaded mass leaves the tail swinging freely in the air
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: front-loaded mass leaves the tail swinging freely in the air
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: MV's organ pipe exhausts look so good it'd actually be a hard decision to change them out.
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: MV's organ pipe exhausts look so good it'd actually be a hard decision to change them out.
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: perhaps the radiator covers look slightly less than horn
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: perhaps the radiator covers look slightly less than horn
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: this is the last angle you'll see before you turn the throttle
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: this is the last angle you'll see before you turn the throttle
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: this is the rare angle that makes this bike look a bit awkward
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: this is the rare angle that makes this bike look a bit awkward
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: a menacing naked brute with the horsepower to back up its appearance
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2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: a menacing naked brute with the horsepower to back up its appearance
View gallery - 15 images

The Brutale 800 was MV Agusta's hottest-selling bike this year – and now the Italians have released a RR version with a lot more horsepower, as well as upgraded electronics, suspension and lightweight wheels. Get into the gallery and drool over this exquisite piece of high-octane butt jewelry.

MV Agusta has been on a wobbly financial footing for … well, pretty much as long as I can remember. But the Castiglioni family has always found ways to keep the doors open, and one thing that's remained rock solid is this company's ability to chop out unreasonably desirable motorcycles.

The latest, unveiled at EICMA 2016, is more of an upgrade than a new model, but a worthy one indeed. MV's Brutale 800 has been its hottest seller this year, accounting for some 35 percent of total sales, and the RR model is now getting a fairly major refresh.

2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: this is the last angle you'll see before you turn the throttle
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: this is the last angle you'll see before you turn the throttle

Built on the awesome 800cc triple that has rejuvenated MV's range, the Brutale hit just the right spot – it looked almost as horn as the Dragster, but out-handled it because it wasn't packing a fat 200-section rear tire for looks.

While it was an excellent and spirited ride, it wasn't blowing anyone's toupée off with its 116 horsepower. But luckily, when MV Agusta slaps a RR sticker on a bike, it means more than suspension and brakes and fancy carbon farkles.

2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: headlight features built-in angel eye-style driving lights
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: headlight features built-in angel eye-style driving lights

The Brutale 800 RR jumps up to 140 horsepower, same as the very yummy Dragster RR. It only gains two pound-feet of torque, up to 63. The RR has a higher rev ceiling – 13,100 rpm instead of 11,500 for the standard bike, and if I recall correctly from riding the Dragster RR, it's gonna be a screamer that loves to rev.

The RR brings the Brutale into the Euro IV fold, with two injectors per cylinder and a re-worked cylinder head designed to drastically reduce all noises that aren't nice combustion ones. There's new camshafts, valve guides, cam chain tensioner and a harmonic damper, all aimed at reducing vibration. A new gearbox, countershaft and starter motor and primary gear drive aim to improve reliability and give a slicker ride.

2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: slim waist and 175kg dry weight should make this a nimble machine
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: slim waist and 175kg dry weight should make this a nimble machine

As part of Euro IV, it's also now fly by wire, with 8-level traction control, 4 engine torque maps and on-board diagnostics. There's also a nifty up/down quickshifter (aided by a slipper clutch), as well as Bosch ABS 9 plus and lightweight forged wheels.

Suspension is reworked, the Marzocchi forks are fully adjustable with lightweight gold anodized tubes, and the rear shock is by Sachs. Brakes are 320mm discs with twin-piston Brembo calipers and master cylinder.

2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: forged rims reduce rotating mass for quicker turning
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: forged rims reduce rotating mass for quicker turning

All of which is to say that it's a thoroughly modern motorcycle, and should be good fun to ride. But the main feature of any MV is, and should always be, its looks. And here, as always, the Brutale 800 RR is a treat. From the sensual headlight with its built-in angel eye, back through the technical and detailed tank and trellis frame, to the barely-there seat unit, organ pipe exhausts and the understated rear wheel on its single-sided swingarm, this thing is just sumptuous. I want to pour olive oil down its sinewy curves and rub myself all over it, naked as the day I was born, and I don't care who knows it.

2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: a menacing naked brute with the horsepower to back up its appearance
2017 MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR: a menacing naked brute with the horsepower to back up its appearance

Every time I see a new MV Agusta design, I find myself wondering, if bikes can be designed to look like this, why doesn't every brand do it? Maybe a hiring freeze should go on all non-Italian designers until everyone else can prove they're doing at least this good a job.

Either way, she's a pearler. And I'm very much looking forward to slinging a leg over one.

More information: MV Agusta

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2 comments
2 comments
Emile Viljoen
Very beautiful. I see it has flickers so this is a road going bike...but where does the number plate fit?
Gyan
@Emile, may be the owner has to wear the plates on his jacket :P