With one week to go until the EICMA in Milan, MV Agusta has announced a Brutale 800, the motorcycle that according to the Italians represents the purest essence of MV Agusta’s naked DNA.
This new generation is the perfect gateway to the Italian manufacturer’s universe: a machine as agile as it is explosive, built with the kind of passion and perfection that can only come from Varese.
It’s actually quite remarkable. Ten years ago, the Brutale 800 was still the model just below the brutal one-liter violence from Varese. A compact naked with attitude, but far from a beginner’s bike. Now, a decade later, MV Agusta calls the same machine their entry-level model within the Brutale family.
Just for the record: the now presented Brutale 800 is not the completely new Brutale that MV announced at the beginning of this month – it will be officially unveiled on November 3 at the EICMA in Milan. This is simply an updated version of the Brutale that has been part of the MV lineup for years.
Well-known recipe, finely ground
In the front we again find the famous 798 cc three-cylinder, now adapted to the stricter Euro5+ standard. The engine delivers 113 hp at 11,000 rpm and 85 Nm at 7,500 rpm – not figures to really get excited about, but more than enough to enjoy playing on the street. And even on the track.
The counter-rotating crankshaft remains a unique feature. Counter-rotation significantly reduces the inertia, making the engine much easier to steer. The following also applies: the higher the speed, the greater the effect. It creates a playful character that has characterized the Brutale since day one.
The EAS 3.0 quickshifter lets you upshift and downshift without clutch, while the sound from the iconic triple exhaust reminds you why Italian three-cylinder engines are addictive.
Steel, style and steering feel
The steel truss construction of the frame has remained – and rightly so. It still offers that typical mix of stiffness and feel that makes the Brutale so agile. Marzocchi provides the suspension with a fully adjustable 43 mm upside-down front fork, while Sachs provides the rear with an equally adjustable monoshock.
Brakes are from Brembo (M4.32 calipers, 320mm discs), with Nissin pumps for constant pressure build-up. And of course: the single-sided swingarm has remained, because an MV without that work of art would not be an MV.
On Bridgestone S22s (120/70 and 180/55), the Brutale feels at home on both winding back roads and fast circuits.
Became smarter without becoming cold
The 2026 edition is completely up to date in terms of electronics. A 6-axis IMU manages traction control, cornering ABS and rear lift mitigation. In kale Dutch: preventing the rear wheel from being braked into the air. With four driving modes – Rain, Sport, Race and Custom – you can tailor throttle response and power delivery to your mood or road surface.
Via the 5.5-inch TFT display (with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) you get access to navigation via the MV Ride App, cruise control, telephone connection and a new Advanced Connectivity Device with GPS tracking, theft protection and emergency SMS function. In short: more high-tech than ever, but without the Brutale losing its raw edge.
Design: recognizable, muscular, Italian
Externally, the 800 is still unmistakably a Brutale: compact, muscular and elegantly aggressive. The drop-shaped LED headlight, open rear frame and three-exhaust layout remain iconic. The Rosso Ago Opaco (matte red) color scheme is new – a modern nod to MV’s racing history.
The machine looks more refined than ever, but without losing the swagger that once made it a street legend.
Final agreement with confidence from Varese
Every Brutale 800 is built in Varese, under the strictest quality standards – and MV underlines that confidence with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.
The 2026 version is not a revolution, but a refined finale of a model that once shook up the middle class. The new Brutale – which will be released in Milan next week – will undoubtedly pull out all the stops. But until then, this Brutale 800 reminds us why the original is still a legend.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.