RIDE REVIEW I 2023 DUCATI DIAVEL V4
P80
ners to be impeccable. After all,
this is a cruiser, right?
Err, not really.
Focusing on the sportier side
of life, the Diavel V4's motor
absolutely shreds anything I can
think of that can be considered
a class competitor. With such
velvety force on tap, the V4 can
pull almost any trick in the book,
from sport-bike style thrashing to
simple, low-gear cruising. (I did a
few runs exploring that, I promise.)
But it's the midrange rev perfor
-
mance I found the most impres-
sive. Third- and fourth-gear rides
between 5-8000 rpm offered such
a broad range of performance I
hardly needed fifth gear unless I
was really sending it in an attempt
to hang with Ducati's renowned
test and development rider, Ales
-
sandro Valia. Should you wish
to carry out your Pecco Bagnaia
fantasies, the Diavel V4 will oblige
but only until the point where the
chassis reminds you that, yes, it
really is a cruiser—albeit a very
sporty one.
There's still a huge 240-section
rear tire and a chassis that boasts
a 26° rake and 62.7-inch wheel
-
Night riding in Abu
Dhabi hits a little
differently.
