Speed Date: 2015 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster RR | 5BikeChallenge

Name: Brutale Dragster RR
Hometown: Rome
Height (seat): 811mm (31.9”)
Weight (dry): 168 kg (370 lbs)
Profile: Italian sex symbol
Personality: Smooth talking, bad-ass, can be aggressive when provoked
Favourite Music: Belladonna, Italian speed metal
Religion: Catholic (ex-communicated)
Hobbies: Going faster.

SEX AND ART

In Federico Fellini’s classic 1976 film Casanova, the notorious title character -- played by Donald Sutherland -- is a tormented libertine who travels Europe having sex with beautiful woman after beautiful woman; but he is not truly happy. Though immersed in pleasurable experiences, he is unable to make the kind of deep and emotional connection that could bring meaning to his existence. In the end he dies alone, his life wasted.

In 2000, I was involved in the production of a series of 25 short digital films for the 25th anniversary of the Toronto International Film Festival. Each of these special short films was created during the event by an attending filmmaker. That year Asia Argento, daughter of the famous Italian horror filmmaker Dario Argento, debuted Scarlet Diva, a sexy autobiographical thriller she wrote and directed about an actress who gets pulled into an excessive lifestyle filled with drugs and sex. Together with her co-star, she created one of those short films, a semi-pornographic homage to movie stardom and lesbian love. (Yes, if you must know, I still have the video.)

Italian cinema directors are masters at combining art and raw sexuality.

SEX AND MOTORCYCLE ART

When the opportunity arose to attend a demo for Italian manufacturer MV Agusta in a nearby suburb, I cancelled my plans for the day and headed out. Luckily there was rain in the forecast, so there were many who did not show. This meant I often had a pick of the seven bikes they had lined up for testing.

For many years I had a definite crush on the Brutale 675, but I never had an opportunity to ride one. Getting to know the 2015 Brutale Dragster 800 RR at the demo day was like finding myself on a date with the younger, sexier sister to the pretty girl I'd had a childhood crush on.

MV Agusta's motto is "Motorcycle Art". I would completely agree that the design and engineering of the Dragster RR puts it in a category of near creative perfection. On top of this, the fit and finish is really outstanding: every component meshes beautifully and is constructed from the highest quality of materials. And even though I generally prefer a monochromatic bike, I wouldn't argue with the tasteful red/black and red/black/white colour schemes MV has on offer.

I do have to say though, that MV's motto could equally be "Motorcycle Sex": it really better describes the experience of actually riding one.

BUILT LIKE A MODEL

At a slender 370lbs dry, the Dragster RR is lean: a full 60lbs lighter than the 4 cylinder BMW S1000R which to be fair wields a bit more muscle, but it is even a few pounds lighter than the significantly less powerful Triumph 675cc Street Triple R which is a great bike too. At 140 HP the Dragster RR’s 798cc inline triple is only bested in its middle-weight category by MV’s own supersport F3 800 which features a slightly more tweaked version of the same engine.

But what does all this power mean in terms of driveability for an intermediate rider like me? One who is used to an upright seating position and half the horsepower?

The Dragster RR was actually and amazingly smooth and extremely well balanced machine. I was quite taken by how easy it was to zip in and around traffic at city pace with nice smooth pick-up at low RPMs. There wasn’t a gear that it didn’t handle at almost any speed, though I swear that every time I slowed down to take a breath the Dragster would growl at me something that sounded strangely like “faster! harder! more!”

BUILT FOR SPEED

Don’t get me wrong: above 6,000 rpm you don’t have to twist the throttle much to feel the truly awesome capabilities of that compact inline triple. I had traction control dialed half way, and though it can be disabled, doing so has been said to potentially unleash beastly forces that lurk at the heart of this Brutale. The throttle response can also be set to one of three defined maps: Road, Rain and Sport, or you can set your own to suit your preferred riding style. When we got outside city limits and on to some twisty roads, the Dragster RR was a fantastic performer. It truly felt like litre-bike power with the agility of a 600cc naked sport.

DO YOU SMOKE AFTER SEX?

At the end of our session I was sweating and out of breath. I felt like I just had a torrid affair with Asia Argento, and she was now lying next to me cooly staring across the bed and inhaling from a Marlboro. I knew at that moment that I had to go but that I would have to see her again as soon as possible. But how?

As I left the demo rides that day I had to wonder if I was perhaps heading down a similar path to that of Casanova. Here I was, seducing and being seduced by an ultra-sexy Italian beauty; yet after that brief hour of ecstasy I was left at with a gnawing sense of loneliness and despair. Our ride was filled with raging desire and racing pulse and yet I wondered I could ever make her mine?

I am determined to find her again, to take more time to learn her ways and get to know her intimate details.

I have concluded that this Italian motorcycle producer its counterparts in the movie industry: they all really know how to synthesize aesthetic principals with a kind of raw sexuality. And art and sex make for a great biking experience.

MSRP $17,798 USD ($19,995 CAN)
Fuel capacity: 4.39 gal. (16.6 l)
6-speed, 798 cc engine

About the #5BikeChallenge

There is no one perfect bike. In order to serve every possible need and desire, I believe you need about five. So in a quest to discover my five perfect bikes, I am on a quest to gain the kind of knowledge and experience you can only get by putting yourself out there and riding. I know, tough job 😉 Through both short demo rides and longer term flings, I will diarize my journey and maybe help you make up your own list. Comments and suggestions are always most welcome!