2019 DUCATI DIAVEL 1260 S
R I D E R E V I E W
P96
For the Diavel, 1260 S, on which I spent a
wonderful early summer day scooting around the
Apennine Mountains south of Bologna along such
legendary roads as the Raticosa and Futa Passes,
is the very devil of a performance cruiser.
Indeed, more than ever, it's a devil in disguise
that's essentially two bikes in one. It looks like a
power cruiser, replete with macho muscularity
thanks to its revised uber-butch superhero styl-
Dancing with the devil
The Diavel's enjoyed undoubted commercial success,
with 70,000 examples sold so far since production
began eight years ago. But unlike with some other new
Ducati models, sales of this dark-side desmo didn't
boom initially, only to fall away in succeeding years, but
have instead flatlined year after year as more converts
to the cause switched to this bike.
The Diavel's new aesthetic is even more muscular
than before, but it's also more refined.
(Above) Just like
the Panigale V4,
the Diavel's seat
unit is ever so
sweet. (Right)
Ohlins provides
conventionally
adjustable
suspension for
the 1260 S.
