The Ducati That’s Easier To Own Than Its Reputation Suggests
For many motorcyclists, Ducati isn’t just a bike manufacturer. This Italian company represents much more. It’s the company that makes the most beautiful bikes (sorry, MV Agusta), which don’t let go of sporty performance for that beauty. However, Ducati has a reputation problem: its bikes are known for being hard to ride and expensive to maintain.
That has changed in recent times, though, especially with its more road-oriented models. If you still think Ducati motorcycles are difficult to own, there’s one bike that will prove you wrong. It’s an unapologetic, fast muscle bike that will surprise you with its easy ownership and long-term reliability. Here’s all you need to know about the Ducati that’s easier to own than its reputation suggests.
Ducati Has A Reputation Problem: Expensive To Own, Hard To Ride
Born out of Borgo Panigale, Ducati is an exotic motorcycle manufacturer that’s known for producing brutal and beautiful motorcycles, many of which have become the most sought-after and influential motorcycles ever. Even today, Ducati makes motorcycles that are among the most aspirational models in the market. But Ducati has a reputation problem; its bikes are often considered hard to own and expensive to maintain. That was certainly true at one time, but it’s no longer the case.
Ducatis Have Become Easier To Own Now
Ducati has, over the years, refined each model to be easy to own. Of course, we still wouldn’t go looking for comfort on the stunning Panigale V4 sports bike, but as far as its more everyday-oriented models are concerned, they are actually quite easy to own and ride around. Models like the Monster V2, Multistrada V2 and V4, and DesertX are excellent choices in their respective segments, mostly thanks to their capabilities and partly due to their practicality.
They Have Come A Long Way In Reliability
Back in the day, the running gag in the community was, “Look at a Ducati wrong, and it will break down.” That’s no longer the case, with Ducati going toe to toe with other European manufacturers when it comes to dependability. Sure, Ducatis are still expensive to maintain and repair, but the manufacturer now offers extended service intervals, and many models have done away with the desmodromic valve system. You no longer have to worry about the dreaded desmo service.
Put simply, Ducati motorcycles aren’t as bad as some people make them out to be, especially the recent models. And no other bike proves this better than this muscle bike that combines the agility of a street naked and a head-turning road presence. Looking at its spec sheet would have you think it’d be a nuisance to own, but the reality is quite different. Here’s how this Ducati muscle bike challenges the notion that Ducati models are a headache to own. The bike in question is the Ducati Diavel V4.
The Ducati That Feels Exotic, Usable, And Less Intimidating Than You’d Expect
The Panigale V2 has become a fast, gorgeous Ducati that’s actually usable and docile even on a daily basis
The Ducati Diavel V4 Is Surprisingly Easy To Live With
The Ducati Diavel is a stunning example of what a power cruiser can be, thanks to its muscular design and sporty underpinnings. Powering it is the V4 Granturismo engine, dishing out nearly 170 horsepower with tire-shredding torque across the rev range. It pairs this performance with surprisingly sporty handling and everyday comfort, resulting in a bike that can shame street nakeds while being easy to ride in the city. And it’s also proving to be quite easy to own and maintain in the long run.
The V4 Granturismo is shared with the Multistrada V4 adventure tourer, and it has proven to be quite dependable there. In fact, the German magazine Motorrad completed a 62,137-mile (100k km) endurance test on the Multistrada V4 S over 1,300 days, resulting in an official certification of reliability. At the end, the engine only showed minimal signs of wear and no loss of compression. Ducati says it has also carried out internal endurance tests on its range, with one Multistrada even making it to 124k miles (200k km).
The Diavel V4 not only benefits from that level of endurance testing, but it is also much easier to maintain. It doesn’t use desmodromic valves, so you don’t have to worry about expensive valve clearance checks every other year. In fact, the bike offers an industry-leading valve adjustment check of 37,000 miles, with a scheduled oil change every 9,000 miles or annually. This gives you more time to enjoy the bike on the road without having to worry about constant servicing or the notorious desmo service.
The Diavel V4 Starts At $27,995
The Diavel V4 is a premium power cruiser, and it doesn’t like to cut corners. So, it comes with a price tag that justifies its performance, comfort, and features list, starting at $27,995 for Ducati Red livery and $28,995 for Black Roadster livery. Since the V-Max is no longer in production, the Diavel V4 exists in a class of its own, with no real rival to compete with. However, many will have to decide between this Ducati and the Triumph Rocket 3, which starts at $26,695. Both models offer a completely different flavor of performance, with the Rocket 3 focusing more on brute force from its inline-triple engine.
Powerful V4 Granturismo Is Designed To Thrill You And Go Far
Powering the Ducati Diavel V4 is the 90-degree V4 Granturismo, which is a more road and touring-oriented derivation of the Desmosedici Stradale from the Panigale V4. This engine displaces 1,158cc, running a compression ratio of 14.0:1, which results in a power output of 168 horsepower at 10,750 RPM and 93 pound-feet of torque at 7,500 RPM. Ducati says this engine combines high performance with smoothness across the rev range, with the kind of character that suits every occasion.
The engine’s tune plays a huge part in making the Diavel V4 easy to live with. It’s said to be smooth and perfectly fuelled at lower revs, punchy through the midrange, and relentless at the top. Its character isn’t a departure from the older Diavel, either, despite having two more cylinders. It still sounds like a V-twin engine, thanks to its Twin Pulse firing order. It’s mated to a 6-speed gearbox with Ducati Quick Shift EVO 2 bidirectional quickshifter, which makes use of the information on lean angle to maximize stability during mid-corner shifts.
Liquid Cooling And Extended Cylinder Deactivation Keep Things Cool
Ducati motorcycles have been notorious for running hot, with many owners even experiencing second-degree burns from the older V-twin engines. That won’t be the case with this V4 Granturismo, as it not only gets liquid cooling but also rear cylinder deactivation. Ducati V4s have had this tech for a few years now, but the Diavel V4 has an extended cylinder cut, like a MotoGP prototype. Essentially, the engine runs like a twin below 4,000 RPM in every gear, apart from first, and becomes a fully-firing V4 post 4,000 RPM or when you ask for a surge of power. This also results in a claimed fuel economy of 44 miles per gallon.
The Ducati That Makes Everyday Riding Feel Extraordinary
This incredible supermoto seemingly designed purely for the sake of rider engagement offers us a more fun way to get to work
Sporty Underpinnings And Comfortable Ergonomics Complete The Package
The Diavel V4 doesn’t continue to surprise with its sporty underpinnings, led by an aluminum monocoque frame with a steel trellis rear subframe. The setup sits on a 50mm USD fork up front and a monoshock on a single-sided swingarm at the back; both are fully adjustable. Meanwhile, the engine’s counter-rotating crank cancels out the gyroscopic force of the alloy cast wheels shod in sticky Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tires.
Compared to the older Diavel, this model is also significantly lighter, thanks to lighter components and a smaller-dimension engine, resulting in a wet weight of 492 pounds without fuel. And with a 26-degree rake and 4.4-inch trail, the Diavel V4 is said to offer agile handling. Owners report that, despite its size and the massive rear tire, it handles like a lighter sports naked.
The Diavel V4 also has brutal stopping power. The front-end features dual 330mm semi-floating rotors gripped by radially-mounted Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers, paired with a PR16/19 radial master cylinder. A single 265mm disc gripped by a Brembo 2-piston floating caliper is present at the rear.
Neutral Riding Position For Medium-Range Touring Comfort
The Diavel V4’s seat is designed to offer longitudinal space, support under hard acceleration, and freedom of movement during cornering. The seat sits 31.1 inches off the ground, so even shorter riders should find the bike comfortable to maneuver at low speeds. Meanwhile, the wide and raised handlebars and centrally located footpegs should offer plenty of comfort and control on the ride.
Topped With Plenty Of Electronics
Being a premium Ducati model, the Diavel V4 also features all the electronic essentials you’d expect. The cockpit is headlined by a 5-inch TFT display running the Ducati Multimedia System, and it’s ready for turn-by-turn navigation. The display lets you choose between ride modes and power modes. Safety is taken care of by cornering ABS and traction control, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO, and Ducati Power Launch (DPL) EVO. There’s also cruise control for easy-going highway rides. These features only contribute to making this elegant yet muscular bike easy to ride in various situations.
Source: Ducati
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