VOLUME 56 ISSUE 35 SEPTEMBER 4, 2019 P95
D
ucati's introduction of the aptly named Diavel
power cruiser back in 2011 represented an unex-
pected visit to the dark side for many dedicated
Ducatisti, who, at first sight, scorned what they saw as
the famed Italian sportbike manufacturer's attempt to
cash in on the rampant global cruiser cult.
But that was before they rode it, at which point it
became evident that, in living up to its name (the Italian
word for devil, Diavolo, mutates to Diavel in the distinc-
tive dialect of Bologna, Ducati's home town), this was
one of the most successful examples of two-wheeled
original thought to hit the marketplace this century.
It was a completely new take on riding, a blend of super-
bike performance and custom cool that was totally irratio-
nal, and gloriously addictive. And thanks to the introduction
of the updated 2019 remake of the model, it still is.
BY ALAN CATHCART
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MILAGRO, MARCO ZAMPONI
Devil
Sweet
THE
DUCATI'S MOST UNIQUE
MODEL HAS BOTH THE MUSCLE
AND THE MANNERS
