Ignite The Senses
If there’s one motorcycle brand that ignites all the senses, it has to be Ducati.
Not only do Ducati motorcycles always turn heads with their stylish designs and thrilling exhaust notes, but they also deliver an unparalleled riding experience.
Here at LTR, we’re beyond excited to dive into the world of Ducati.
And what better way to start than with the Ducati Diavel V4—a modern cruiser that carries a legacy of innovation and unmatched style.
Diavel History
The Diavel first made its debut in 2011, becoming Ducati’s second cruiser after the Indiana model from the late ‘80s.
Back then, I was working for Two Wheels magazine and had the incredible opportunity to be among the first to ride the Diavel in Australia.
It was a transformative experience.
I’d previously tested several Ducatis, including some Monsters, but the Diavel was a different beast altogether— with more punch than a feral kangaroo!
It really was a revolutionary motorcycle for Ducati when it was first released, and has remained one of their popular models here in Australia ever since.
Originally, the Diavel came out with a returned version of the powerful 1198cc Testastretta engine from the Ducati 1198 Superbike.
Styling for the Diavel was developed in-house, although the project began under the leadership of Ducati’s previous design chief, Pierre Terblanche, who commissioned Glynn Kerr, freelance designer and design columnist for Motorcycle Consumer News, and also a monthly columnist for Two Wheels, to produce the initial concept Sketches.
Since then, the Diavel has seen several updates and special editions over the years, including the AMG Edition, Diavel Chromo, Titanium Edition, and the collaboration with Diesel.
And in 2016, Ducati introduced the XDiavel, featuring forward controls and a belt final-drive.
Again I remember attending the Australian launch in Sydney, although the XDiavel didn’t hit the mark Ducati were hoping for.
Then in 2019 we were introduced to the Diavel 1260, which featured the Testastretta DVT 1262 engine.
Notable collaborations include the limited-edition Diavel 1260 Lamborghini in 2021 and the Diavel for Bentley in 2023, showcasing Ducati’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of design and performance.
From its inception to the present day, the Ducati Diavel continues to evolve, and now we’re throwing a leg over the Diavel V4!
In the case of the Diavel V4, Julien Clément, who previously designed the Scrambler, the SuperSport, and the Panigale V4, were responsible for the design.
Clément has since moved on to become the lead designer at the revitalised Norton Motorcycles.
Diavel V4
And just standing here looking at the Diavel V4, it’s no surprise to hear that it was recently awarded ‘Best of the Best’ in the Product Design category of the Red Dot awards, which is an award among the most illustrious at the international level, and celebrates excellence in the world of design.
This comes on the back of the prestigious Good Design Award, the oldest global recognition in the design sector, as well as a Special Mention at the German Design Awards this year along with ‘Most Beautiful Motorcycle of Show’ at Eicma back in 2022.
It really does look trick and appears like it’s doing 100mph just parked on its sidestand. And how good does the four-outlet muffler look?
Engine
But without a doubt, the biggest change we’ve seen on the Diavel since it was first released is the step up to the V4.
Not only has it lost that iconic L-twin motor, but also the trademark steel trellis frame which has now been replaced by an aluminium monocoque unit.
This resulted is a decrease in weight by up to 13kg, naturally increasing the Diavel’s agility, but the biggest standout is the new motor.
And even though it now has two more cylinders, the 1158cc V4 motor is actually smaller than the previous 1262cc L-twin.
Having said that, power has increased from 162hp to 168hp, reaffirming that this isn’t a motorcycle for the faint hearted.
It’s a motorcycle designed for those who seek the thrill of the ride, the rush of speed, which it delivers in spades.
I did notice that it doesn’t have that deep growl of the old 1260cc Testastretta V-twin, but the 1158cc Granturismo V4 spring valve motor (taken from the Multistrada V4) is much more flexible, and with the reduction in overall weight, there’s definitely a noticeable increase in performance.
Cylinder Deactivation
The Diavel V4 isn’t just about raw power and striking design; it’s also packed with some serious tech.
One of the most innovative features of the new motor is the cylinder deactivation system.
This ingenious technology works by cutting the fuel and spark, effectively shutting down the rear cylinders to reduce heat and save fuel at idle or in gears 2nd to 6th when the engine drops below 4000rpm.
And the system operates so smoothly that you can barely feel the transition, with the only clue being a subtle change in the exhaust note, a sophisticated whisper that something extraordinary is happening beneath you.
It’s a marvel of engineering, designed to enhance efficiency without compromising performance.
You’ll really notice this innovation when you pull up in traffic.
Previously, the heat radiating up between your legs could be quite intense, but now, thanks to the cylinder deactivation system, it’s significantly reduced.
There’s still a bit of warmth, but it’s nothing like the heat you might have felt before.
The Diavel V4
has been tamed, offering you a cooler, more comfortable ride without sacrificing the thrill and power that defines it.
Suspension Upgrade
Now as the roads here in Australia are nothing like the smooth roads you find in other countries, it’s great to see there has also been a suspension upgrade.
The V4 no longer features the Ohlins set up from the 1260 S, but now instead has the new Marzocchi/Sachs system, which like before, is fully adjustable and still has 120mm of travel in the 50mm USD fork, but the rear now has 15mm more travel, increasing it to a total of 145mm.
It feels a lot better too and absorbs all the rough stuff with ease.
And with that traditional upright and aggressive riding position, you can really lean into it and have a red-hot go, made even more comfortable with the bars now being slightly closer.
The wheelbase and trail have also both been reduced while the steering rake angle is a steeper as well, all further contributing to the slick handling.
And those Brembo Stylema brakes with dual hydraulic disc front brakes and hydraulic disc rear brakes will have you stopping on a ten-cent piece.
Most would agree that when it comes to brakes on a Ducati, they’re top class.
Tech Stuff
As expected, there’s the usual array of Ducati electronics including four ride modes; Sport, Touring, Urban and Wet, which alters the power modes between high, medium and low.
The Sport and Touring modes feature full power but with a slightly different delivery while the power cuts to 115hp in Urban and Wet modes.
It also has top-level Traction Control, Wheelie Control, Launch Control, ABS and Cornering ABS.
Also bear in mind that unlike on the Touring setting, cornering ABS is disabled in Sport. Further increasing performance is the Quickshifter, which is bi-directional, obviously meaning that it works in both directions – upshifts and downshifts.
Let’s just say that with all these additions, the Diavel V4 isn’t turning up to a Sunday afternoon barbecue with a pack of Vegan sausages to fry.
The TFT display has also been increased to 5-inches, and is much better than the previous screen and extremely easy to navigate through the various settings, while the seat height at 790mm, makes the Diavel accessible to a variety of riders of different heights.
How Does It Handle?
We’ve been testing the Diavel V4 for just over a week now with some very impressive results.
As soon as you give it some stick, you can feel just how agile the latest Diavel is, with much of this coming from reduction in weight as
mentioned before.
Not only is the motor smaller and 5kg lighter, the new chassis comes in 8kg lighter while the wheels also save another kilo.
And although it’s still far from a lightweight tipping the scales at 236kg fully fuelled, you don’t feel any of that weight when you’re cruising.
And when the tight stuff rolls in, that’s when V4 Diavel really shines, especially with the Quickshifter doing its thing.
The power delivery in Sport is off-tap, and in that setting, it pulls hard like a freight train out of the corners.
The throttle response is quite instant though, so it can get a little snatchy if you’re heavy handed, but as mentioned, if you’ve got it in Your setting, the throttle and power delivery is much smoother.
And if you’re heading out for a ride two-up, as you can see, the footpegs simply fold down, and then back up again fold neatly and almost out of sight keeping those smooth lines of the bike flowing when riding solo.
Accessories
I will say it’s not the most comfortable long-distance cruiser, with quite a fair bit of buffeting when you pick up the pace, especially out on the open highway.
With that said, there are some items in the accessories range to sort that out – like screens, semi-rigid side panniers, heated hand grips and even a rear passenger backrest.
It doesn’t end there either, with quite a huge range of performance and aesthetic accessories available too, made even easier with various packages you can buy, like the Sports Package, Touring Package or Style Package, grouping certain parts together.
Final Say
The only other criticism I probably have is I did think that with the price it comes in at, the Diavel V4 might have been fitted with semi-active or high-spec Ohlins suspension, but as previously mentioned, both the shock and fork are fully adjustable and feel more than adequate.
Alright, one question I was frequently asked, is where does the Diavel V4 fit into the market?
Well, after spending a few days riding it, I’d have to say it seems to be in a class of its own.
It’s not really a naked cruiser, it’s not a sports bike or a roadster, instead the Diavel V4 is probably best described as a fire breathing
Muscle Bike.
It will set you back north of $40k, which agreeably is a big investment, but trust me when I say, you’re getting a serious amount of bang
for your buck!
In the time we’ve had it so far, we’ve immensely enjoyed our time testing the Diavel V4.
It really is a serious motorcycle, and if you feel like stepping over to the wild side and upgrading to a beast on two wheels, this could be just the ticket!
Slick design, top class electronics with some serious power to burn, the Diavel V4 is ready right now for you a test ride at your nearest Ducati dealership!
So get cracking and we’ll see you out there on the road.
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