D
ucati released the Diavel a few
years ago as a part cruiser, part
performance machine, and “released”
is the right word. But despite its
thinly-veiled aggression, the original
Diavel was just a stepping stone. The
factory’s full-on attack on the cruiser
market has now been released with
the introduction of the X Diavel and
X Diavel S – proper cruisers, but not
as you or I know cruisers, Jim...
Ducati markets the X Diavel as “the
gentleman and the bastard”, meaning
that you are a gentleman off the
machine and ride like a cut bastard
on it. I assume. For the launch we
were utter gentlemen by suiting up
and dining at Ducati ambassador
Matt Moran’s, Aria restaurant.
Demonstrating the other side of the
bike’s personality, even Matt couldn’t
resist the inner ‘bastard’ coming out
and started his shiny new X Diavel S
in the middle of the restaurant. I’m
sure a number of guests in the other
dining areas would have been... well
surprised to put it mildly.
There are three major design
features of the new X Diavel that
shift the Diavel platform right into
the cruiser market. They are the
forward pegs, belt drive and the
torquey, stump pulling motor.
The engine is no longer a donation
from one of Ducati’s sports bikes.
It is still an L-twin, of course, but
LAUNCH
“TORQUE HAS BEEN
SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASED OVER THE
PREVIOUS MODEL AND
YOU MIGHT NEED TO
CUFF YOURSELF TO
THE GRIPS TO GIVE
YOURSELF A CHANCE
OF KEEPING THEM ON
THE HANDLEBAR”
Yes, Matt Moran is a happy
chappy having just taken
delivery of his X Diavel S!