MV Agusta is putting its Smart Clutch System on its new Dragster 800 SCS and Brutale 800 SCS, allowing for semi-auto shifting on these naked bike platforms.
The new Dragster 800 SCS and Brutale 800 SCS models have a Rekluse-designed clutch pack. Pull up to a stoplight, and the clutch disengages as the engine’s RPMs drop. If you spin up the motor, the clutch re-engages as the RPMs rise, and you can ride away without ever using the handlebar clutch lever. You can shift up or down without using the clutch lever, too, because the bike has a quickshifter that works in conjunction with the Smart Clutch System.
Previously, MV Agusta had this system available for its Turismo Veloce model.
If riders wish, they can still ride the SCS models like a normal motorcycle, using the clutch lever at stops, and to shift through the gearbox. However, the SCS design means stop-and-go traffic is now considerably less miserable, and the bikes have considerably quicker acceleration, as there’s no need to clutch-in to shift while accelerating.
Rekluse has been designing clutches like this for dirt bikes for a long time now, and Honda’s old CT bikes and early ATVs used similar technology. However, these auto-disengaging clutches aren’t commonly seen on street bikes. It’s somewhat surprising it’s taken this long for this design to make it to a production motorcycle, as Honda’s been obsessed with building auto motorcycles for years, but Honda’s more interested in its DCT technology, it seems.
The SCS models also come in new paint offerings. What about Canadian availability, though? They should be available in Canada at some point, but frankly, MV Agusta’s got a long way to go rebuilding its global dealer network. Over the past few months, the company has said lots of things about plans to stabilize the business side of its operation. Will that mean more MVs available here? We’ll see.
I had a 2015 Stradale 800 with the regular quickshifter. Worked great going up the gearbox, not as well going the other way. Bigger problem was how much heat that triple generated. Even in light traffic, the cooling fan was always coming on. Never overheated, but your feet were always looking for the outside edges of the pegs. Always thought MV deserved a better fate – beautiful bikes that performed well, but let down by constant owership/distributor challenges, especially when it came to North America.