Ducati Diavel Review (2011)
What Is It?
The Ducati Diavel is a premium modern cruiser style bike and is powered by a Euro 3 compliant liquid cooled 1,198.4 cc V-Twin Testastretta engine, producing 159.6 bhp at 9,500 rpm and maximum torque at 8,000 rpm. It's the engine from the 1198 Superbike de-tuned for loads of low down torque rather than top end power.
Specs
- Seat Height: Low (770 mm / 30.3 inches)
- Weight: Heavy (239 kg / 527 lbs)
- Economy: Poor (35 mpg / 8.1 l/100km / 12.4 km/l)
- Range: Average (130 miles / 209 km)
- Power to Weight: High (0.669 bhp/kg / 0.499 kW/kg)
- Top Speed: Very high (168 mph / 270 km/h)
Pros
- Loads of low down power
- Intricate details
- Build quality
- Handling
- Low seat
Cons
- No fuel gauge (pre 2015)
- Seat comfort
What Is It Like?
Ducati Diavel Red Stripe 2013
About me
I'm a 64 year old male, 5' 8", with 47 years biking experience. I currently have 3 bikes on the road and have owned too many bikes to count!
Why did you choose it?
I've developed an affinity with Ducati.
What is good about it?
It is unashamedly an out and out muscle bike.
What could be improved?
Servicing costs.
What's the economy like?
I've not owned it long enough to get a true average but my initial 'nervous' rides are indicating 45mpg+, I'm sure that will come down in time.
Any mods or upgrades?
It has a few nice carbon bits, otherwise standard.
How is the engine?
It pulls... and wants to pull your arms off... but it also cruises. The sound and vibes are just right, lets you know it is alive.
How does it handle?
With that HUGE rear tyre? As others have said, it handles better than it should, no complaints at all.
What are the brakes like?
You would be hard pushed to find better.
Is it comfortable?
Yes, especially at my height where I can comfortably flat foot the bike at a stop. The bars are in perfect reach with no wind buffeting at legal speeds.
How reliable have you found it?
It's too soon to say. I'm prepared to accept that faults can and will develop but at 13,000 miles those should have already been sorted.
To sum up
I had an Indian FTR1200S which was not too dissimilar to the Diavel, the Indian was a blast without doubt but the Diavel is a blast and a half.
I never really gave the Diavel much notice in the past, I assumed it wasn't for me based on it's initial press 'cruiser' image, but it isn't a cruiser, it sits in the same niche as the V-max, or the new Rocket 3.
- Mark M, 2020
Price Guide
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Do you own this bike? We would love to hear anything good, bad, unexpected or that you have changed plus anything that a prospective new owner might find interesting or useful.