Most motorcycle enthusiasts spent the 2010 year fantasizing about the Ducati Diavel. There were numerous leaks of the dark beast, but now that it's here, it's time to break down the Diavel to see if it lived up to the hype.
The Ducati Diavel was unveiled at the EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan. When the cover came off, there weren't too many people who were disappointed. The Ducati Diavel packs 162 horsepower, and 94 foot pounds of torque into a 456 pound package. Powered by this powerful Ducati Twin, dubbed the Testastretta 11, and still weighing in the featherweight division of motorcycles, the Diavel is as powerful as it is nimble.
The Diavel has an athletic, eloquent build "that looks like a power athlete on the starting blocks," explains the team at Ducati Design. "With the front wheel kept close to the Diavel's body and using the short tail of a sport bike, we were able to blend this muscular design with a chassis that matched."
Power and beauty are a great combination for a motorcycle, but the Diavel also has some top technology built in. The Diavel has three ride settings, so you can get the most out of the bike whether your commuting through the city, racing around the track, or taking it to the open road. The Diavel also has Ducati's Traction Control, a ride-by-wire throttle, and a hands free ignition system.
"The Diavel is, without doubt, the most exciting innovation in our 2011 line-up because it represents a new concept of motorcycle," said Ducati General Manager Claudio Domenicali. "It is a naked because it is essential, light and agile; a cruiser because it is imposing and also comfortable with a passenger; and a sports bike because it has a powerful heart, muscles, and levels of performance that take your breath away.”
The Diavel was one of the most anticipated motorcycles of the year, and it's hard to find anyone who was disappointed with it's arrival.
