Two Italian brands, MV Agusta and Pirelli have become permanent partners where the latter was selected as the sole tire supplier for the Schiranna brand a year ago, and to celebrate this agreement, MV Agusta had made a limited edition version of the Brutale 800 RR called the “Brutale 800 RR PIRELLI”.

Now, the same two companies have released another limited edition collaboration, but this time, it will be the newly updated Dragster 800 RR that will receive the Pirelli touch. In a pure exclusive visual treat by the folks who make “Motorcycle Art”, the Dragster 800 RR PIRELLI gets new paint schemes that showcase the partnership with the decals and new wheels that stick to new tires.

For the 2018 model, the Dragster 800 RR had already received styling tweaks like the revised bikini fairing design, new headlight, muscular fuel tank, and the revised tail section that now comes with a hollow see-through element for a polished look. Pirelli comes in and takes this to a whole new level.

Customized by the Castiglioni Research Centre in partnership with Pirelli Design, MV will launch two color variants in the limited edition series. The first more gritty black and yellow, the second most elegant white and blue. These options aim to enhance the lines with a matte black base, with glossy inserts painted to recapture the Pirelli institutional colors.

It includes a custom saddle with stitching that is colored to match each of the two available color schemes. The double texture and contrast stitching get the distinctive "flash" of the DIABLO embroidered to embellish the tail unit signed by Pirelli Design. A special black ceramic-based paint covers the exhaust silencer terminals, resistant to very high temperatures.

For the very first time, MV and Pirelli have given the tank slider and the fairing a wee bit of rubber specially formulated by Pirelli’s Research and Development department. This keeps the surfaces resistant to scratches and rubbing and also helps prevent damages done due to atmospheric and chemical agents, such as the fuel.

A colored logo is also for the Pirelli brand on the sides of the tank, as well as for the DIABLO logo, identifies the range of high-performance Pirelli tires. Luckily, MV has kept the customized Kineo spoked wheels that looks both fancy and retro. The white rims also get a dash of color on the sides.

Speaking of which, they have a wider channel (6”) to see the DIABLO SUPERCORSA SP tires, the top-of-line rubber ever seen on production models, and they come with limited edition colored walls, but as an optional package just for this motorcycle.

Under all that new skin it’s showing off, there is the same three-cylinder architecture like before producing 140 hp and 65 lb-ft of torque but will now conform to Euro-IV emission norms. The engine gets optimized balance shaft and gearings along with new intake cam profiles and titanium valves. Thanks to the new EAS 2.0 electronic shifter, it now allows for more relaxed clutch action to operate the beasts like a breeze. New engine covers provide better protection during a fall and help reduce mechanical noise as well. All that said, the roar is never subdued.

At the technology front, this bike is laden with top class electronics and rider aids which gets few improvements for 2018. That includes the MVICS (Motor & Vehicle Integrated Control System) platform getting new Ride-by-Wire with personal mappings and revised 8-level traction control, Bosch 9 Plus system and RLM (Rear wheel Lift-up Mitigation).

Riding on fully adjustable Marzocchi upside-down fork at the front and Sachs suspension unit with spring preload adjustment at the rear. Braking is done by twin 320 mm front discs that are clutched by Brembo four-piston radial calipers and with a two-piston Brembo caliper and 220mm disc.

Pricing and availability are TBD.