By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike vs Hyper Naked
MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR SCS (MY2020) vs Dragster 800 RR Pirelli (MY2019)
You'll find the MV Agusta Brutale 800 RR SCS and MV Agusta Dragster 800 RR Pirelli part ways at the front end. The Dragster 800 RR Pirelli doesn't need coaxing into a tight bend: it flicks in and stays neutral. Up at high speed, its front starts a gentle weave.
So which one do you buy?
The Dragster 800 RR Pirelli has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
Narrow edge: Dragster 800 RR Pirelli
Long days lean slightly toward the Dragster 800 RR Pirelli. Your own body is the better judge of a gap this small.
What makes each one tick
Brutale 800 RR SCS
The Brutale's triple doesn't like to lug along, and it comes alive as the revs climb. Through the middle of the range, the throttle answers with a raw shove. The exhaust wails toward redline.
Dragster 800 RR Pirelli
The Dragster's triple feels flat low in the revs, and it doesn't pull hard until you've dropped down a gear. Around town, the firm suspension isn't forgiving: every bump comes straight through the seat. Rough roads unsettle it. Up top, the triple surges and keeps on pulling.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Brutale 800 RR SCS has the lower seat: 32.7 in (830 mm) vs 33.3 in (845 mm).
- Slipper Clutch: standard on the Dragster 800 RR Pirelli, not offered on the Brutale 800 RR SCS.
- Smartphone Connectivity: standard on the Brutale 800 RR SCS, not offered on the Dragster 800 RR Pirelli.
Which one for the way you ride
Traveling with luggage
Both miss here
Neither is a natural luggage carrier, so a trip with bags means a compromise either way.
They come out level on commuting, twisty roads, and running costs. The better-kept used example is the smarter money.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Brutale 800 RR SCS
What owners say
Strengths
- Charismatic triple-cylinder engine
Dragster 800 RR Pirelli
What owners say
Strengths
- Exhilarating, rev-happy triple engine
- Agile, intuitive handling
- Seamless quickshifter operation
Trade-offs
- High-speed weave and instability
- Lean low-end torque
- Stiff, harsh low-speed ride
What they share
- Displacement
- 798 cc
- Engine
- Inline-three
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 140 hp (103 kW)
- Torque
- 64 lb-ft (87 Nm)
- Fuel capacity
- 4.4 US gal (16.5 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 320 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Brutale 800 RR SCS | Dragster 800 RR Pirelli | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.7 in (830 mm) | 33.3 in (845 mm) |
| Brutale 800 RR SCS | Dragster 800 RR Pirelli | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 200/55-17 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Brutale 800 RR SCS | Dragster 800 RR Pirelli | |
|---|---|---|
| Slipper Clutch | Not offered | Standard |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Not offered |
| LED Headlight | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
