Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/298857
VOL. 51 ISSUE 16 APRIL 22, 2014 P41 of Bosch ABS as stock, so that however hard you squeeze, you won't lock anything up – though such was the grip of the Pirelli tires that in the dry it was only on a dusty section of tarmac lead- ing away from a quarry up in the hills that I could get the ABS or TC working, which both did to good effect. Add in that long wheelbase, and the result was great stability even stopping the Diavel from upwards of 75 mph into a downhill hairpin returning to the coast from our trip into the mountains. As before, the devil is in the detail on the Diavel, and not only in terms of the literally awesome performance package it delivers, but also the premium fit and fin- ish of the whole bike, including its numerous design touches which prospective owners will relish. Like the clever foldout passen- ger footpegs and retractable grab handle behind the seat, which ex- cept in use don't spoil The Look. Or the brushed aluminum radiator shrouds, cast aluminum mirrors (that don't vibrate and are very ef- fective), steel 4.4-gallon fuel tank, and so on. Ducati is justly proud that what you see is what you get on the Diavel in terms of materials, and there are almost no plastic parts on the bike. There are also the LED running lights set horizontally across the single headlamp, matched by the incredibly bright LED turn signals and strip of tail-lights under the seat, which are practically invis- ible when not illuminated. Or the so-distinctive single-sided alu- minum license plate mount with integrated LED that doubles as a minimalistic rear fender, while matching the cast aluminum sin- gle-sided swingarm it's mounted to. Or Brembo's integral brake and clutch master-cylinders cus- tom designed for the Diavel com- plete with milled reservoir tops; the weapon-like trigger-catch that slides down to cover the starter button when activating the kill-switch; the keyless Harley- type electronic security system actuated by a remote sender you keep in your pocket, which com- municates with the bike within a distance of some six feet - and also, after parking up, you can actuate an electronic lock on the steering simply by applying full steering lock, and pressing the ignition-off button a second time. The list goes on and on, for one way that Ducati has consid- erably exceeded its own expec- tations in sales volume of the Diavel – leading it to invest in this revamped EVO version – was that it made sure from the beginning that while showcasing the latest in performance technology, the Diavel is also tailored to entice older, more affluent customers in the premium cruiser sector, with- out at the same time straying too far away from its traditional sport- bike clientele. Nobody else could have done this, and nobody probably ever will. It's a true Ducati. CN SPECIFICATIONS DUCATI DIAVEL ENGINE: ........................Testastretta 11°, liquid-cooled L-Twin, 4 valve per cylin- der, Dual Spark, Desmodromic DISPLACEMENT: ...........................1198cc BORE X STROKE: .............106 x 67.9mm COMPRESSION RATIO: .................. 12.5:1 POWER: ...................162 hp @9250 rpm TORQUE: ............. 96.2 lb-ft @8000 rpm FUEL INJECTION: Mitsubishi EFI; Mikuni elliptical throttle bodies with RbW EXHAUST: 2-1-2 system with catalytic converter and two Iambda probes. Twin aluminum mufflers EMISSIONS: .................................. Euro 3 TRANSMISSION: ........................6-speed CLUTCH: ........... Wet, multi-plate clutch. Self-servo action on drive, slipper ac- tion on over-run FRAME: ....... Tubular steel Trellis frame WHEELBASE: ............................... 62.6 in RAKE: ................................................. 28° STEERING ANGLE: ..............................70° FRONT SUSPENSION: ... Marzocchi DLC coated 50mm fully adjustable fork REAR SUSPENSION: ............ Progressive linkage with fully adjustable Sachs monoshock FRONT WHEEL: . Marchesini forged and machined 9-spoke REAR WHEEL: ... Marchesini forged and machined 9-spoke FRONT TIRE: .......... 120/70 ZR 17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso II REAR TIRE: .......................240/45 ZR 17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso II FRONT BRAKE: ..................Dual 300mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted four-piston Brembo Monobloc calipers REAR BRAKE: 265mm disc, two-piston floating caliper FUEL TANK CAPACITY: ........ 4.5 gallons WET WEIGHT: ...................... 516 pounds SEAT HEIGHT: ......................30.3 inches HEIGHT: ................................ 50.4 inches LENGTH: ...............................88.9 inches MSRP: ......................Standard- $17,995; Carbon Edition - $20,995