Ducati bookings started; deliveries by August

Along with the recent tide that has brought several performance and sports bike manufacturers to Indian shores, Ducati re-entered the Indian market in 2015 with a strategy according to the country’s changing demands. 

After the Panigale’s price was revealed at the India Bike Week last month, the bookings of two other Ducati beasts that had first debuted at the EICMA 2015 – the XDiavel and the Multistrada Enduro 1200, have commenced at a token amount of Rs 1 lakh, sources have confirmed to us. Deliveries though will be completed only after August this year, on a first-come-first-serve booking basis.

We had recently reported that the Italian manufacturer will now start producing these two bikes for India in its Thailand plant from July 2016; with deliveries expected soon thereafter. But the bookings kicking off still comes in as a little bit of a surprise, given there is still a good 4-5 months till the bikes are delivered.

Nonetheless, we are eagerly looking forward to these exciting machines from Ducati. Talking about the feebler cousin, the Multistrada 1200 Enduro adventure tourer, it is a more hardcore version of the Multistrada that claims better abilities off tarmac. 

Powered by Ducati’s tried-and-tested 1,198cc Testastretta V-twin pot that makes 160PS and 136Nm, the Multistrada 1200 Enduro is a fierier version of the previous one. Just to give you an idea of things, the peak torque produced is as much as the formidable Kawasaki Nina H2 superbike!

When launched, expect prices of the Enduro version of the Multistrada that is currently sold in India, to begin around the Rs 18 lakh mark. The Multistrada 1200 Enduro will face off against acclaimed adventure touring machines like the BMW R1200GS and Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer. 

On the other hand, the new XDiavel is charged by a 1,262cc mill, with variable valve timing, that makes 158PS of power and 128.9Nm of torque in the XDiavel. 

The 'Ducati Power Launch' allows the bike to be quick off the line too. As for the transmission, the new XDiavel will be Ducati’s first bike with a final belt drive, which has been developed by the manufacturer for safe transmission at high torque.

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The XDiavel is also set to come with a twin in the form of the XDiavel S that was also unveiled at EICMA last year. It is essentially the same bike with a tweaked suspension and added features – like the Bluetooth module, infotainment system, glossy black engine with machined belt covers etc.

Expected to be launched during the festive season in the country, the Ducati XDiavel could come with a price tag of a couple of lakh above the Diavel that starts at Rs 14.2 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi); and will lock horns with other mean machines like the Yamaha VMax and Harley-Davidson Nightrod in this range.