Motorcycle specifications MV-Agusta800 BRUTALE 2018 A pinch of drunkenness

for some manufacturers, like MV-Agusta, reworking, upgrading or replacing a model is a balancing act. The challenge is to modernize while preserving the model's qualities and charm. All the more so when the model accounts for a significant proportion of sales. The 800 Brutale roadster is in this vein. With its roots in the brilliant pencil strokes of the late Tamburini, the "average" Brutale allows itself to be swept along in a movement of renewal. The art lies in making it more dynamic, more desirable, more striking. More MV-Agusta, in short. And to continue to assert this strong identity: a roadster that's hot, admired and deadly.

while everyone will have to make up their own mind, the majority will be enthusiastic about the design of this 800 Butale "II". Beautiful, piquant and genuinely more incisive, the Schiranna beauty emerges from adolescence to become a beautiful young woman, daring to wear new clothes. She's even closer to bespoke. Although the general allure and analogy are preserved, the eye is sure to appreciate her more seductive forms; the enlightened connoisseur will be delighted to focus on the details. The elliptical headlamp, an emblematic element of the Brutale, features a circle of LEDs to great effect. The support lugs are less convincing. After that, you just have to take it slowly to discover that its rims have changed, that its shoulders are much more dynamic with the new scoops, and that its rear has become much more airy. The rear loop has got rid of the passenger footrest supports and the indicator-fire-registration pack. Combined with the Turismo Veloce-style under-seat recess, the Brutale's seating position is strikingly pure. Superb!
The fittings mentioned earlier have not disappeared. It has simply migrated: all the footrests are mounted on a plate attached to the frame - while the rear road binders are attached to the end of the swingarm.
A modified front mudguard, a revised speedo cap, a double-decker seat with topstitching, and still the presence of the monobracket and three exhaust pipes, finely honed for the occasion. We're talking beauty and sensuality here. While MV-Agusta always has a particular appreciation of its finances, we can't help but be impressed by the masterful design of its machines.

the manufacturer has been tempting motorcyclists with its design for a long time, and then comes the time to savor its engines. True thoroughbreds that should be appreciated as they should be: Italian mechanics. Full of character and watts, with plenty of emotion. Except that in this case, the brand had to deal with rather drastic Euro4 standards. How is the 3-cylinder faring? Not too bad, and it defends that. Torque has improved, surpassing the old engine throughout the rev range and delivering 90% of its power from 3800 rpm.
Where the boiler feels its wings lead is on the power side. Since 2018, the stud has dropped to 110 horsepower at 11,500 rpm. To achieve this result, the Brutale had to steal its camshafts and pistons from the Turismo Veloce, revise the intake ducts, redesign the exhaust system and increase the volume of the plenum. Naturally, the electronics have been reprogrammed accordingly.
The results? A little less powerful, a tad slower, under 240 instead of over, but more available and fuller. Few will complain about this dynamic facelift.

mV-Agusta is far from being left behind in the frenzy to develop clever chips. It continues to offer a serious package, with disconnectable ABS, Ride-by-Wire, 8-level traction control, multiple injection maps (4, one of which is customizable*), and as a bonus on this evolution, the EAS 2.0 up&down shifter. With it, upshifting and downshifting no longer require the left hand. Almost enough to make you forget the introduction of a hydraulic clutch.
The dashboard also needed a little refreshing. And there's no need to look far: the B3 has simply borrowed it from the Rivale. Too bad the fuel gauge is still missing.

the feel of the road, virile driving, senses heightened by rhythm... An MV doesn't think like a Japanese car. It's much more direct, more singular, for those who believe that emotion is experienced raw. Yet the 800 Brutale seems to have put a little water in its wine. The wheelbase has increased to 1400 mm (+ 2 cm), thanks to a more open column angle. This should make the bike more stable and a little less nervous, with less "brutal" reactions. Handling shouldn't suffer either, as the seat height has been raised by 20 mm and the handlebars widened. This should even offset the extra 8 kilos on board.
Apart from that, the chassis as a whole remains unchanged. Miss Brutale retains its confidence in a 43 mm Marzocchi inverted fork, a steel trellis frame linked to attractive aluminum plates, a Sachs shock absorber to contain the swingarm's movements, and quality braking. Two 320 mm discs are gripped by Brembo 4-piston radial pliers, while the 220 mm rear disc has to make do with a two-piston clamp.
The rigor of these components is hard to fault, and they're comfortable enough for enthusiasts.

it's not easy to modernize a Brutale, let alone an MV-Agusta. The hand must be sure and deft, the talent certain, the work flawless. The 800 Brutale exemplifies this spirit, with a series of improvements that will delight enthusiasts. The loss of power is anecdotal, and the beauty promises to be more flexible both mechanically and in terms of handling. A choice with character.

* More details on the four MVICS system mappings:

- Normal: the most suitable for everyday use, with 90 hp at hand.
- Sport: the engine unleashes its 110 hp with a more direct response.
- Rain: power is reduced to 80 hp.
- Custom: allows the rider to define fundamental parameters such as engine response, rev limiter, engine torque response, throttle sensitivity and engine braking...

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