Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1474448
RIDE REVIEW I 2022 MV AGUSTA DRAGSTER RR P96 response to the more ponies put out by the 999cc four-cylinder motor. The Dragster's taut suspension is both a help and hindrance, as there's only so much you can tune out before you just must put up with it and get on with the ride. For the most part, the fork offers a comfortable ride, but the rear Sachs retains that initial shock on the high-speed compression circuit that's almost impossible to tune out. Under acceleration, the Dragster will track strong and true while cranked over, again, a product of the sporty na- ture of the machine, but if you're looking for something a touch more comfortable for everyday use, perhaps the Tourismo Veloce would be more your style. Criticism must be labeled at the front brake, which allows the ABS to kick in far too early for my liking. If you're sedate on the lever, this won't affect you too much but give the brake a good squeeze, and you'll be met with the dreaded pulsing at the lever many other manufacturers seem to have all but eradicated. I feel this has more to do with the master-cylinder setup than anything else, and for the price, I'd have preferred a nice radial Brembo setup on board to complete the picture. Despite this, I gave the MV Agusta Dragster back after a month, thoroughly pleased with it. This bike delivers good times in spades—it looks the part, sounds like a high-spec rally car, and doesn't suffer from the dreaded MV flat spot like its four-cylinder brothers. If MV could scale this quality up into the four-cylinder Brutale range, those machines would indeed be worth their sticker prices. But for now, I'll take the Dragster and retain no interest in the ego-driven 200-horsepower naked-bike game. CN SPECIFICATIONS 2022 MV AGUSTA DRAGSTER RR ($23,398) ENGINE Inline 3-cylinder 4-stroke VALVETRAIN DOHC, 12-valve DISPLACEMENT 798cc BORE X STROKE 79 x 54.3mm COMPRESSION RATIO 13.3:1 POWER (CLAIMED) 140 hp at 12,300 rpm TORQUE (CLAIMED) 64 lb-ft at 10,250 rpm EXHAUST 3-1-3 TRANSMISSION 6-speed with quickshifter CLUTCH Multi-plate wet clutch with mechanical slip system ELECTRONICS 8-level traction control, ABS with race mode, cornering lights, cruise control, four engine maps (Rain, Road, Sport, Race), Continental IMU CHASSIS Tubular steel trellis FRONT SUSPENSION Marzocchi 43mm inverted fork, fully adjustable REAR SUSPENSION Marzocchi monoshock, fully adjustable FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 4.92 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 5.12 in. FRONT BRAKE Brembo radial 4-piston calipers, dual 320mm discs, Continental MK100 with RLM (Rear Wheel Lift-up Mitigation) and with cornering function REAR BRAKE 2-piston Brembo caliper, single 220mm, Continental MK100 with RLM (Rear Wheel Lift-up Mitigation) and with cornering function FRONT TIRE 120/70 – ZR 17 M/C (58 W) Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP REAR TIRE 200/55 – ZR 17 M/C (78 W) Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP WHEELBASE 55.12 in. SEAT HEIGHT 33.2 in. FUEL CAPACITY 4.36 gal. WEIGHT (DRY, CLAIMED) 385 lbs.