words by Clinton Pienaar
Ducati’s hugely popular muscle bike, the Diavel, receives a few updates, with the main one being the inclusion of the firm’s new 1198cc Testastretta 11° DS engine and an exhaust system, which boosts torque and smoothens the delivery.
Additional updates comprise of LED instrumentation, a new headlamp cover and mounting, a new seat, and new bar-risers; all this to compliment a raft of superbike technology such as traction control and riding modes. Although many would think that it’s too soon for Ducati to be updating a fairly new model, it is the firm’s philosophy to change models and update them at a fairly frequent rate. Being Ducati and being at the cutting edge of technology on all their products, it's in the firm’s interest to constantly strive to better already good products and add to the offering. Ducati is known as the connoisseur of technology's choice of motorcycle. If you think how the company has evolved over the last few years and the additional models it has added to its line-up, Ducati is on a roll and it would seem that the German influence has done the company’s R & D budgets the world of good. It's been only four years since the first Diavel broke cover and I, for one, would never have thought that it would have taken off the way it has. As a matter of fact it's the only Ducati model whose sales graph has just been increasing year after year. If it ain't broke why fix it, you might ask as the out-going model is still sublime, its faster than anything else out there in its class and out-corners all of them, even with the huge 240 cross section tyre.
But let’s start at the beginning. I was privileged enough to be invited to the world launch of the new Diavel in Monaco. What a fitting setting for such a bike, although I had heard of the switch back corners climbing towards the Alps and it did cross my mind why Ducati would want to showcase a big bike like the Diavel around tight little bends. It's more Hyper territory, I would have thought, but I’m sure Ducati had their plan.
Ducati already set the benchmark in the sport cruiser segment and you can just imagine what it must have been like the first time that this idea was presented to the board of directors. (Use your best Italian accent here please.) "I wanta sumting to be acomfortable like a cruiser, butta I want eet to be fasta like a superbike, nimble like a street fighter and eet musta looka mean like a devil". This must have been followed by a long silence as it's completely out of the Ducati mould, but the rest is history, as they say, and the Diavel was born in Bologna.
And now, a few years later it receives an update, but what are these differences? Well, the most significant update is the inclusion of the factories 11 degree 1198cc Testastretta engine. It's straight out of the updated Multistrada and the main difference is that it has dual spark plugs which enhance low down take up on the motor, takes away vibration and gives better fuel consumption. The pistons are also new 1198 Superbike-like crown-shaped to further enhance combustion. The motor still produces 162hp @ 9,250rpm but it's the torque curve which is immediately felt, again similar numbers but see attached diagram for more. Almost from idle the bike pulls harder and smoother than before; at around 5,000rpm it's about 15% better than the old bike which is significant. While we are discussing the motor, the service intervals have been lifted to 30,000kms between major services (valve clearance check), which is absolutely astounding.
The other major update is on the exhaust system which is completely new with its 58mm exhaust headers that enhance performance as well as appearance and run from two into one into two.
In addition to the motor and the exhaust system, the Diavel gets a completely redesigned new full LED headlamp, with day time running lights. It actually enhances the look of the bike from the front and adds to the aggressive stance. The rear still has twin vertical strips with integrated indicator lamps. Then the headlight cover and mounting are new, there are new ‘bar risers, new radiator covers and the riding position has been slightly improved. The switch gear is also very logical and, as with all bikes, it takes a while to work out the system but, once understood, it’s very easy to operate. And something that I love is that once you have chosen a setting, when you switch the bike off and remount, it stays in your desired setting, something most manufacturers don't do but really should. And, then finally, the Diavel gets a newly shaped, twin level seat which is slightly longer, improves comfort and most definitely improves the looks. Passengers also still benefit from the slender fold-out rear footrests as well as an ingenious fold-out t-bar at the rear to hold onto. 
Other features which make the Diavel such a complete machine are the 17 litre fuel tank which enhances touring ability and the newly shaped air intakes on the side of the bike also greatly lend a hand to the muscular looks. The number plate holder also is innovative in the way that it keeps the rear clean and neat but doubles as a mud/water guard.
Insofar as suspension goes, the Diavel uses 50mm black bodied Marzocchi front forks which are adjustable for spring pre-load, compression and rebound adjustment. At the rear it’s a horizontally mounted Sachs suspension unit which, again, is adjustable in spring pre-load, compression and rebound.
The Diavel runs on stunning custom made 14-spoke wheels with machine finished detailing. The front rim is 3.5 x 17 and the rear a massive 8 x 17. The Diavel Carbon has custom shop-finished, lightweight, forged rims, turned and milled from Marchesini. They are beautiful rims to behold and do not look like mass produced items but rather like rims from a specialised custom shop.
Braking is still taken care of by Brembo's monobloc callipers up front, gripping huge 320mm discs. At the rear it has a huge single 265mm disc, gripped by a two piston calliper. All of the braking is controlled by the compact Bosch-Brembo ABS system.
Now let’s move onto the split level instrumentation which is an absolute show-stopper. As you switch the bike on, the bottom display - which is a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) unit, shines up in full colour with a silhouette of the Diavel and sparks fly off it. Describing it in words does it no justice and to see it is to love it. Owners will never tire of this party trick. Both displays are easy to read and offer a host of information, from fuel consumption right down to riding modes, speed, revs, range, fuel gauge, time and much, much more.
The Diavel's ignition is activated by an electronic key in the rider’s pocket. This is quite handy as you do not have to fumble around with gloves on your hands, you can just hop on and go by flicking a switch. The steering lock works just as easily by turning the steering to full lock and pressing the engine off button for a second time.
All the usual technologically advanced systems - like RbW (Ride-by-Wire) which is linked to the three different riding modes of Sport, Touring and Urban - are still obviously available. The 100hp limit on the Urban setting actually made for fantastically smooth riding and I'd suggest that setting when you have a pillion on the back. DTC is also fitted as standard and has eight levels of sensitivity, at the least intrusive it actually allows some slide and it would take a brave man to want more.
The Diavel is offered in two variants, the standard bike and the Carbon. The weight saving on the carbon is 5kgs (205kgs and 210kgs dry) but significantly this is mainly from the rims which is unsprung weight and is the most important.
In summary, the Diavel does take a big step forward and it's all down to the engine torque. The other improvements are slight but the package as a whole is now a more refined, more comfortable one and current customers will be enticed to upgrade. Believe me, they are only one test ride away from signing a purchase agreement.
