2015–2024 · Hyper Naked · A variant of the Dragster 800
Differences between the standard Dragster 800 and the RR
140 Horses in Italian Sculpture
The Dragster 800 RR takes the 798 cc inline-three to 140 hp at 12,300 rpm and wraps it in bodywork that treats the rear half of the bike as the main event: stubby tail, fat 200/50-17 rear tire, exhaust stack sitting where you cannot miss it. Underneath the theater is real hardware. Fully adjustable suspension front and rear, a steering damper, a slipper clutch, a quickshifter that works both up and down, plus ABS, traction control and ride modes. In a class that usually shouts with displacement, this one shouts with revs and shape.
It is a short, tight, aggressive machine built around a rider who wants the occasion more than the errand. The 63 lb-ft peak arrives at 10,250 rpm, so the reward comes from using the top half of the tacho on a road that lets you. Owners should go in clear-eyed about the ownership side. The starter sprag clutch has a reputation for early wear, electrical faults show up, and 2017 RR machines were covered by an NHTSA recall (17V772000) for rear wheel spokes that could loosen, affecting 45 units. Buy one because you want it, not because it is sensible.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 140 hp (103 kW) @ 12,300 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 63 lb-ft (85 Nm) @ 10,250 rpm |
| Displacement | 798 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 200/50-17 |
| Seat height | 31.9 in (811 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.4 gal (16.6 L) |
| Top speed | 152 mph (245 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 37 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Drivetrain
Safety
Swing a leg over and the 31.9 in seat feels taller than the number suggests, because the tank is narrow and the bars are close. You sit on this bike, not in it. Cold start brings a hard metallic bark, and above 6,000 rpm the triple turns into a genuine howl that bounces off canyon walls and makes bystanders turn their heads. There is a fine buzz through the pegs and bar ends at steady road speed, the kind that reminds you the engine is doing something rather than the kind that numbs your hands. Wrists carry a bit of weight, the tail is unforgiving over broken pavement, and with 4.4 gal and 37 mpg you plan your stops. At a real road pace on a good surface, none of that registers.
The Dragster 800 RR (MY2014-RR) builds on the standard Dragster 800: the upgraded hardware, the key spec changes and where its character shifts. The full ride, specs, scoring and verdict are all right here on this page.
| Spec | Standard Dragster 800 | RR | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 125 hp | 140 hp | +15 hp |
| Torque | 60 lb-ft | 63 lb-ft | +3 lb-ft |
Two decades of paddock talk, club nights, gas station conversations and the steady stream of messages riders send me directly have built a clear picture of this bike. The chatter around the Dragster 800 falls into a pattern almost every time. Owners talk about the engine and the way the thing looks before they talk about anything else, and they talk about it with real heat. Then, usually in the same breath, they get honest about what living with one actually asks of them.
The engine is what riders bring up first and keep coming back to. They describe a quick-revving inline-three with a raspy voice and a hard mid-range pull that keeps building to the redline, and they call an ordinary ride an event because of it. Right behind that comes the way the bike looks. Owners point to the sculpted bodywork, the paint, the forged wheels and the machined details, and a lot of them describe the finish as closer to a handcrafted object than a mass-produced motorcycle. Riders also praise the brakes without much argument. The Brembo setup gets described as immense and confidence-inspiring, and plenty of experienced riders rate it among the best they have used.
Reliability is the recurring caveat. Riders report sprag clutch failures that arrive without warning, electrical faults, and fasteners that work loose. Not everybody, but often enough that owners warn each other about it. On the road, opinion splits on handling. Many call the bike sharp and flickable on tight roads thanks to the short wheelbase and steep geometry, while others say the wide rear tire adds real effort at the bars and turns quick direction changes into something you plan rather than flick. The suspension draws a consistent note too: set for control, firm to the point of harsh over broken pavement. A few owners add that buying and servicing one is a luxury-item expense.
Rear wheel spokes may loosen (NHTSA recall 17V772000)
Due to improperly manufactured rear wheel rims and nipples, spokes can loosen, potentially compromising handling and increasing crash risk. Affects 45 units of the 2017 Dragster RR.
Sprag clutch premature wear
The starter sprag clutch can wear or fail, causing a screeching noise on startup or an inability to start. Replacement is often necessary at relatively low mileage.
Loose bolts and fasteners
Some owners report that various chassis and bodywork bolts can loosen over time, requiring periodic checking and re‑tightening.
Handlebar switch failures
Early models may experience issues with the handlebar switchgear, leading to intermittent or non‑functioning controls.
Electrical gremlins
Various electrical issues reported, including rear brake light failures, sensor errors, and occasional dashboard glitches.
Where this MV Agusta Dragster 800 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Dragster 800 is actually built for.
On Angeles Crest this thing is in its element: enormous lean clearance, adjustable suspension you can dial to your pace, and a triple that rewards revs. The traffic getting there is the tax you pay.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
Short, sharp and happy to be flicked from side to side, it suits tight East Coast twisties where you work the gearbox constantly. Keep it above 6,000 rpm and it comes alive.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2014–2018
Italian Fire On Three Cylinders
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this MV Agusta Dragster 800. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
