Ducati Diavel: First Ride Review

When Ducati first introduced the Diavel, I didn’t know what to make of it. Ducati to me was a manufacturer known for sporty looking motorcycles that are scarily fast ever since I’d learnt of the brand. And the Diavel, at least going by its looks and Ducati’s focus on attracting cruiser buyers with it didn’t quite fit into that description. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that Ducati wanted to offer a motorcycle that could be shoehorned into the ‘cruiser’ genre of bikes. 

Never judge a sausage by skin though, as they say. Everything from the riding position to the imposing dimensions were in conjunction with my thoughts above, but the handling and performance? They were an absolute revelation. I still remember the smile that crossed my lips after riding the Diavel the first time, around the same twisties where I’ve been revving the nuts off sportsbikes and nakeds for years. I was convinced that if the Diavel is a cruiser, it is the most badass one. It didn’t feel very different from streetbikes, and with its agility and gut-wrenching performance it seemed to even mock at sportsbikes.  

And then Ducati updated the Diavel in 2014. When the guys at Ducati upgrade a model, they do it bloody right. In its current form, the bike looks more smashing, and of course more devilish. It’s a design that turns heads and inspires awe. It’s almost out of this world looking – unlike the Monsters and the faired Ducati sportsbikes you wouldn’t call it gorgeous. But there’s something about the design that makes you stop and soak in the looks of the bike.  

The headlight – now an all-LED unit – looks it is out of Star Wars or something. It’s so distinctive it is almost impossible to not recognise the bike even from a distance. And the bike’s beauty is its attention to detail. Be it the retractable rear grab handle or folding pillion footrests, single-sided swingarm and single-sided rear number plate mount or the little knobs to adjust the front forks, it’s all worth soaking in. Then there’s the tank extensions and super-wide fuel tank that make the riding position look like a stretched one but in reality the posture is comfortable and relaxed. 

The exhaust manifolds emerging out of the massive L-twin motor and trellis frame add to the unique appearance. The seat seems to end abruptly but when you look at the bike from behind is when you appreciate the design, thanks to the massive 240-section tyre, slashed exhausts and unique, twin LED stop lamps. 

The Diavel thus comes across as one bulky looking motorcycle, but even the shortest of rides will change your perspective about it. And you really have to ride the bike to believe the fact that it can smoke the holiest of sportsbikes in a straight line. It is easily the most mental and one of the most athletic motorcycles I’ve ridden this side of 200PS litre-class superbikes. Thanks to the latest updates, it now offers a staggering 164PS and an equally mind numbing 130Nm of torque. That, for the record is what most litre-class superbikes made till just a few years go. 

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And why not. Powering the Diavel is the 1198cc V-twin from Ducati’s 1198 superbike, its flagship motorcycle before the 1199 Panigale. That shouldn’t leave any doubts as to why the Diavel is wet-your-pants quick. It will accelerate to 100kmph from standstill in just about 3 seconds. And should you not run out of road, clocking 200kmph isn’t a task. Another gain from the updates is that peak power and torque are now made lower down the rev range, making the meat of the power more useable. It’s easy to see why – unlike a track focused superbike that has its tachometer banging at the limiter, the Diavel is going to be ridden in the city and on open highways. And the bike is equally at ease in either environment. You can ride it sanely in the city, pottering around at 50kmph if you like, but should feel like putting the 164 ponies to use, the Diavel doesn’t need to be coaxed. 

The electronics suite of course makes it all seem like child’s play. It’s there to save your skin on this 240kg beast, and also make sure you enjoy your time in the saddle by doing a lot of hard work itself while making you feel like a hero. There’s three riding modes on offer, Sport, Touring and Urban. Sport and Touring are full power modes, though power delivery is softer and less in your face in Touring. Sport is where the 164 horses ensure your neck snaps with the fierce acceleration, while intrusion from DTC (Ducati Traction Control) is minimum. I didn’t really feel like trying Urban mode but I do know it drops the power figure to 100PS and makes the bike virtually idiot proof with maximum intrusion from the electronics and super soft delivery. 

All this information is conveyed via a nice looking colourful display on the tank, while a similarly sized monochrome unit sits on the handlebar displaying the tachometer, speedometer, clock and temperature; and has an array of colourful tell-tale lights above it. The sublime handling coupled with the aggressive power delivery in Sport mode made the Diavel a delight around switchbacks. The bike stayed put through curves, with barely any twitch even around undulated corners. Credit that to the brilliant chassis design, 1580mm wheelbase, perfect weight distribution, the suspension setup and of course the specially developed Pirelli tyres. With its kind of performance I really doubt if the Diavel’s fat rear tyre would even last 5000km, but that’s not something you think of when you are behind its handlebars. 

At that time you only want to wring the throttle open, leaning the bike onto its massive rear tyre corner after corner. Thanks to the retuned delivery, corner exits are super quick as the Diavel displays a sportsbike like urgency the moment you open the throttle wide. The Brembo brakes come compliment the performance equally well, offering loads of stopping power, especially from the twin 320mm, semi-floating discs upfront and their radially attached, Brembo Monoblock 4-piston calipers, and the ABS doesn’t intrude much either, going about its job without letting you know a thing. 

The Diavel is a fantastic package as it has the heart of a superbike with the convenience and comfort of a cruiser. And one that does not come with the cumbersomeness of being unrideable in city. Of course, the heat from the liquid-cooled engine can get bothersome but it never threatens to roast your legs, and with a seat height of just 770mm the Diavel is certainly accessible to riders of varying heights. For a starting price of Rs 18.15 lakh ex-showroom New Delhi the Diavel is priced in the same league as Japanese litre-class superbikes that may even threaten to break your back and roast your legs. Of course, The Diavel has a lot more panache to offer than a superbike too, with its head-turning design. And that’s besides the fact that the pillion seat is a lot more accommodating than any superbike in the world, despite an equally thrilling ride experience if not better.