draconian emissions laws we have to
abide by in the U.S.—I know this because
the European-spec Diavel V4 I rode back
in 2023 did not have this throttle issue.
However, the clutch issue was a new
one, as I didn't remember experiencing
it on the Diavel in Dubai. The take-up
point is quite far into the lever travel, and
a few testers at the launch experienced
repeated issues with the XDiavel V4
stalling in low-rpm situations.
This is only a problem when pulling
away from a stop, because once you're
underway, the clutch is superfluous
P98
RIDE REVIEW I 2025 DUCATI XDIAVEL V4
thanks to the up-and-down Ducati
Quick Shift 2.0 system (DQS).
That brings me to another point: the
DQS's engagement is not as smooth as I'd
have liked, especially at low rpm. I had to
keep reminding myself that this is a super
-
bike-derived motor, and as such, low rpm
is not its forte—it prefers mid- to high-rpm
shifts with all the engine internals work
-
ing at a rapid pace. It'll still do slow-speed
shifting on the DQS, but I found using the
clutch for sub-40 mph made the ride far
more comfortable. And Ducati's rear cyl-
inder deactivation in traffic also helps the
ride comfort by reducing heat from the V4
getting into your nether regions.
Like its less swanky Diavel V4 brother,
the XDiavel V4 comes with four riding
modes (Wet, Urban, Touring and Sport),
as well as three power modes (High, with
168 horsepower; Medium, with 168 horse
-
power but a smoother throttle response;
and Low, with 115 horsepower and a
sedate throttle response). There's also the
usual Cornering ABS and traction control,
wheelie control, power launch, LEDs front
and rear, cruise control, and turn-by-turn
navigation as standard (nice job, Ducati).
These systems are managed through
a sharp 6.9-inch TFT display—the same
one used on the Panigale—that presents
information in a clear and intuitive layout.
(Top) The hallmark of the Diavel/XDiavel has always been
that massive 240-section rear tire. (Middle) The seat
looks great, but Rennie found the shape uncomfortable
after an hour.(Bottom) Nearly 170 horsepower from
a V4 in a muscle cruiser? Yes, please.
