fit the $300 extra mid-mount controls, or
else I'd be taking the bus back to the hotel.
This put the XDiavel V4 back into the same
ride position as the Diavel V4 I tested in
Dubai and transformed the machine from a
fast but sluggish-steering steed into a bruiser
naked bike, one where I could get my weight
over the front-end and make it steer with
a bit more speed and a lot more precision.
It also took 70 percent of the weight
off my lower back, making the ride a lot
more comfortable. If I had access to the
taller seat, I think I'd have hit the riding
position sweet spot.
That being said, the handlebars are 0.8
inches lower and 0.6 inches closer to the
rider than previously, so the reach to the
handlebars is comfortable regardless of
what feet position you have chosen.
The suspension setup features a 50mm
inverted fork up front and a fully adjustable
monoshock at the rear. In standard setting
for a 200-pound rider such as myself, the
ride is composed and pretty comfortable
(once you've got your feet position sorted),
although you will get a bit of a shock up
through the seat if you hit square-edged
potholes at any decent speed.
In faster corners, the big ol' wheelbase
of 63.8 inches and the 240-section rear tire
make for a bit of a sluggish initial turn, but
P102
RIDE REVIEW I 2025 DUCATI XDIAVEL V4
You're sitting quite low at 30.1 inches
seat height (Ducati has an aftermarket
seat that will give you an extra inch of
leg room and trust me, if you're over
5'10" tall, you're going to want it), and
the XDiavel V4 comes standard with
forward-mount foot controls in the tradi
-
tional cruiser style. This, however, proved
incompatible with me after 45 min-
utes on board. The combination of the
forward foot controls and the extreme
curvature of the seat put an uncivilized
amount of pressure on my lower back, to
the point where I'd demand that Ducati
(Top) Those four exhaust cannons sound awesome and
give the XDiavel a real nasty look. (Middle) Mission control is
the Panigale-derived 6.9-inch TFT. (Bottom) Fit and finish on
the XDiavel is superb. We could look at this bike all day.
