Ducati XDiavel S Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

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When you hear the word Ducati, you instantly start picturising extremely fast superbikes which are gorgeous, rather than something else. Well, let me tell you, the Ducati XDiavel S (named after the devil in Bolognese dialect) is the Italian bikemaker's answer to the cruiser market.

Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

The Ducati XDiavel S, although positioned as a power/sports cruiser is not a true conventional cruiser. It's aggressive, sinister-looking and faster than any other ‘normal' cruiser on the market. It's packed with enough performance to scare the normal.

Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

Ducati says the 'X' signifies the motorcycle's crossover character - cruiser ride quality along with sportsbike performance. So, we spent some time with the new XDiavel S and here is what we have to say about it.

Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

At first glance, you will notice that it has got a completely modern design language, unlike any other motorcycle available in the market right now. It's long and low while also looking really muscular from any angle.

Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

At the front, the Ducati XDiavel gets completely adjustable 50mm upside-down Marzocchi forks. The full-LED headlamp+DRL cluster is placed right in between them and provides great visibility, even under the bright sun. The handlebars are adequately wide and provide good ergonomics.

Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

The 3.5-inch fully-digital instrument cluster is placed between the tank and the handlebar. For better visibility, the cluster is backlit in white (characters in black) and the colouring inverses at night. The unit also supports Bluetooth connectivity to let the rider know who's calling them.

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Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

From the side, the XDiavel S looks even more intimidating. It is packed with sharp-looking components including the exposed trellis frame. The bike's pretty side is the right, with the enormous rear wheel attached on a single-sided swingarm. Moreover, the polished gloss finish on the 18-litre fuel tank further accentuates its looks.

Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

The dual slash-cut exhaust pipes look great along with the large intake system which meets the new emission norms. The motorcycle gets a really comfortable rider's seat while a longer rear seat and backrest are optional. Though a pillion rider would find everything fine on short rides, the Ducati XDiavel will not be their ideal choice for long trips.

Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

Switchgear quality is top notch and gets a red backlighting which forms an 'X' on the left bar at night; pretty cool to say the least. The overall silhouette of the bike is certainly sporty and even on a standstill, the XDiavel S looks like it's ready to break into a sprint.

Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

Powering the Ducati XDiavel S is a 1262cc L-twin engine. This is the second motorcycle from Ducati's portfolio that uses the DVT variable valve timing system after the Multistrada 1200. The engine pumps out 153bhp and a peak torque of 126Nm, which kicks in at just 5000rpm.

Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

The XDiavel S is also the only one from the lineup which comes with a Kevlar-infused belt drive instead of a chain. The six-speed gearbox has tall ratios and feels light. Cruiser control is another thoughtful addition on the power cruiser.

Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

Cruisers are generally all about low-end torque but unfortunately, the XDiavel S doesn't like the revs to drop too low. The motorcycle is quite happy and smooth between 2000 - 4000rpm while not being so much below that range. It can accelerate from 0 - 100km/h in less than 3.5 seconds and can cross the 200km/h-mark with minimal effort. The fat 240mm rear tyre can easily take most of the performance abuse.

Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

The XDiavel S is one of the hardest accelerating motorcycles present on the market. To tame all that power, the company has introduced the Ducati Power Launch (DPL) - a three-stage launch control system that makes launching the behemoth, a little less scary. DPL allows the rider to keep the throttle wide open, smoothly release the clutch and let the electronics handle the rest.

Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

The Ducati XDiavel has three riding modes on offer: Urban, Touring and Sport. Urban mode reduces the power to 100bhp and offers milder responses, making the motorcycle quite easy to manage. Touring mode continues to offer a mild throttle response but gives the rider access to the full 153bhp. Meanwhile, Sport mode sharpens the engine and throttle response to the full potential, unleashing all its power. On each mode, the traction control and ABS functions change accordingly. Both can be switched off manually too.

Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

The suspension is on the stiffer side but both the front and the rear units can be adjusted manually depending on how and where you want to ride it. The Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tyres offer excellent grip at extremely high speeds. The XDiavel S also offers a good riding stance and will not tire you out. It heats up quite a bit in stop-and-go traffic but once you hit the open roads, heating would not be an issue.

Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

Though the XDiavel S has got a wet weight of around 247kgs, once you are on the move, none of it is felt. It actually feels very nimble and easy to handle even in the city traffic. The Ducati XDiavel S returned us an overall mileage of around 17km/l.

Ducati XDiavel S Road Test Review — A Badass Italian Power Cruiser

Promeet Ghosh Thinks!

The Ducati XDiavel S offers the best of both worlds - the performance of a litre-class superbike and the relaxed, laid-back attitude of a cruiser. But all of this does not come cheap at all. The motorcycle carries a price tag of Rs 19,00,000 lakh ex-showroom (pan India). The XDiavel S (or the regular XDiavel) is an outrageous and pretty-looking piece of engineering, for those who want something different along with a dual-character.

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Read more on: #ducati #review
Article Published On: Thursday, October 11, 2018, 16:37 [IST]
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