DUCATI DIAVEL (2011 - 2019) Review

Version: Black

Year: 2016

The bike is fantastic in every way, town tick, mad 1/2 hour tick, looks tick, engine fun fast and economical (for sensible touring) horrendously thirsty otherwise. Seats a bit firm but ok for 3 hours. Best bike I’ve ever owned can’t see me wanting anything else. I’m 6.6 and 135k so there is not many bikes I can say that about.

Version: Carbon

Year: 2012

Headturning grunt machine

Buying experience: Bought from Colwins in sittingbourne. Fantastic service couldn’t recommend enough

Version: Black

Year: 2016

Only had the bike 6 months but can not find anything I don’t like, maintenance may become expensive but I just need to put money away. Absolutely love the bike.

Buying experience: Dealer.

Year: 2011

Annual servicing cost: £500

Such a great sporty "cruiser" for those who are just getting to old for super sports.

Version: Carbon

Year: 2017

Annual servicing cost: £240

Good spread and plenty of power, a little snatchy at lower revs, very comfortable but expensive to maintain

Buying experience: I bought used from a dealer, the customer service was rubbish, once they had my money they didn't answer any of my emails when I asked questions

Version: Carbon red

Year: 2015

Annual servicing cost: £800

Handling,power,fuel range good

Buying experience: Dealer,9500,paid,9200

Version: 1198 dark

Year: 2019

Annual servicing cost: £200

Great speed and although it’s heavy it deals with most types of roads with no problems... acceleration is great. Not so good at low speed roundabouts - but you do learn to deal with it and enjoy the experience. A real head turner.

Buying experience: Great experience

Version: Dark

Year: 2017

I love all types of bikes but I'm definitely NOT a cruiser rider (more into sports bikes) but I wanted something interesting that I could also tour on with my wife and I've now had 2 Diavels and absolutely love them. I've also test ridden the latest 1260 model and although the 1260 feels a little more responsive in the midrange and is more refined as a riding experience, I still prefer my 2017 model overall. This model offers a more visceral experience in my opinion. It's slightly edgier and a bit more of a hooligan. It's also such a fantastic all round road bike to live with. I have clocked up around 40k miles on the 2 I've owned. This has been touring 2 up with full luggage and my wife across the best roads in europe, scratching around with mates around the UK and sometimes just riding to work. The Diavel is simply a fantastic piece of engineering genius and totally belies it's looks. Although not a super light superbike, I regularly outride and out corner people on such bikes...even 2 up. The quality and finish is excellent, my bike still looking great after 4 years of all weather riding. The engine and power delivery just make me laugh every time I go out on it. Now the negatives: I part-exed my previous Diavel for a nearly new version (1500miles) because at 18k the dreaded big service arose and with it came some very high cost fixes. The service itself being about £1400, plus the need for a new chain and sprockets (another £400) plus (and most annoying/concerning) the rear shock linkage had some play in it. Apparently, this can't be fixed without replacing the whole shock. SO all in I was facing a bill of about £3.5k +. The new bike has already had aftermarket race suspension and fork internals fitted, so I'm hoping to avoid a repeat. Also, another common fault I experienced was a broken fuel gauge sensor.

Version: Carbon

Year: 2019

Annual servicing cost: £200

A real wolf in sheeps clothing, never had so many people wanting to take photos of it. Comfortable, easy to ride, great handling and monster acceleration, massive torque. Fine to potter around and really push on on B roads. On the minus side, throttle can be a little snappy until you refine your input. Battery in the belly pan, bit of a pain.

Year: 2016

Fast and stops well but too long wheelbase that not only squares off front tyres in under 1500 miles if ridden 'quickly' but heart-stopping under-steer moments guaranteed. Not a bike for those who cannot muscle the thing thru bends!

Year: 2013

Annual servicing cost: £634

strada. 2013. 9k miles when purchased from ducati dealer. 6 months after having bike rear linkage replaced under dealer warranty. now got 24k miles after owning for 3.5 years. last service cost £1580 plus £230 for tyres. also broken side stand which cost £154. now suspect bbs (black box) might need replacing (£220 + workshop labour) as i get gear position errors and tail light errors from time to time. i love this bike but looking around for alternative v-twin but nothing comes close within my budget. other bits fitted: sargent seat (brilliant), zard exhaust (beautiful), lower pegs and a few carbon bits

Buying experience: 2nd hand from ducati dealer with 9k miles

Version: Carbon Black

Year: 2011

Annual servicing cost: £3,000

If I was just reviewing the bike without considering the massive amount of money I have spent and my extended warranty, thank God I decided to buy it! It has paid over $4,000 of the $8,000+ my bike required at the 15,000 Desmo service, Had I not had the extended warranty I would have had to pay over $8,000 to service my $10,400 bike I bought 2 years ago with 13,000 miles on it. $8,000 divided by 2000 miles = $4 a mile. The Desmo tune was $2,200 plus $600 parts, I had 2 tires, 2 sprockets, a new chain and new battery and it was over $,4,000, during the 3 months they had the bike they found a previous repair on the wire harness around the steering neck as the wiring harness was too tight and was kicking, they wanted to install a new harness for $3,000, during this they found the clutch slave cylinder leaking and did this and also the gear position sensor and all together it was over $8,000 between me and my warranty company. I have had it for sale for a slow as $8,500 and had no buyers, I think Ducati made a error routing there harness.

Buying experience: Bought from a Yamaha dealer on consignment for $10,400 with 13k miles

Version: Carbon

Year: 2011

Annual servicing cost: £1,500

This bike is the cutting edge of motorcycle technology, with 8 levels of ABS and traction control, 8 being the "rain" setting where maximum interference is required regarding wheel spin or skidding.

Version: Dark

Year: 2016

There's no perfect bike, but this comes pretty close in many areas. It's darn good looks and the mighty engine retrieve most of its weaknesses. Diavel's raw twin engine is at it's best on curvy country roads and it's modern looks draw admiration on city boulevards.

Version: Carbon

Year: 2015

Annual servicing cost: £300

Redefines the 'Cruiser'class of bike. The Diavel is much nearer a Sports Bike than a Cruiser

Buying experience: Brought New from a Dealer

Version: Carbon Black

Year: 2011

Quite simply the most outstanding road bike you can buy. I challenge anyone to ride one and not be blown away and completely converted. This bike is accomplished at everything, has a huge amount of character, massive grin factor and turns heads wherever you go. Kids give you thumbs up, old boy Jaguar drivers wind down their windows and gawp, dogs bark or run in terror. Nothing else has this much presence. Goes like a stabbed rat, sounds like armageddon.

Buying experience: Bought privately, and immaculately presented and well cherished bike.

Year: 2015

Nice bike, on smoth roads. Very expence for the quality presented, lot of vibrations at low revs.

Year: 2011

great bike

Year: 2015

Best thing about this bike is it puts a smile on your face.I have been riding very sensible bikes for a few years now, BMWs RTs but at 63 I needed a bit of fun. Smiling all the time so much fun.

Buying experience: Great price from SMC Sheffield Tony

Version: Carbon

Year: 2012

Annual servicing cost: £400

Having had enough of killing my arms on my 748 i decided it was time to get something a bit more comfy and also something the wife could get on the back of, I test rode one the Thursday before last and returned to the dealer and ordered one, the bike handles very well for its size it pulls like a train and the wife had enough room to be comfy, i also ordered a tail tidy and venture shield, in the end we plumped for the carbon white,, its not a pretty thing in my opinion but it looks great from the side and the rear, i must admit i did think twice as the price is quite scarry but after picking it up friday i am well chuffed it rides so well for a big lump,

Obviously I took too long writing the review underneath! P.S: The mph figure mentioned should have read 100.

Took one on loan for the day while my 1100 Monster was being serviced, covering about 50 miles. First thing to strike me was how surprisingly smooth & easy to ride it was. It turned in to corners eagerly & exceeded expectations all round in terms of handling. Engine wise, I have to say I was a teensy bit disappointed: Sure, it's plenty fast, but not breathtakingly so & you have to rev to get at the power, which tends to mean changing down. I can honestly say that my Monster feels like it has more grunt, plus the power is much more readily accessible & delivered in a more pleasing way. Obviously the Diavel would streak away at much over mph but who wants to do that regularly on a naked? Maybe the Strada version with the screen would be the one to go for. I found the riding modes utterly pointless: The bike is smooth & well mannered enough not to need any cap on peak power, & switching between modes is far too complicated to be realistic on the move without being dangerously distracting. I loved a lot about the Diavel but the best thing was that it convinced me that I don't need to change my own bike any time soon. If I was rich I'd have one in my garage in the lovely new blue with white wheels & stripes) but to anyone who isn't, I would say get a Monster Evo instead & with the change buy a used Fireblade! :-)

Had the Diavel for two months and done 1000 miles and every one of them has been fun!!!!! Riding position is spot on for me (5'8) no aches or pains from the standard seat, only thing i changed is the exhaust to the Termagini full system fitted for £2500 and they sound amazing even though they are expensive. The power and speed of this bike is amazing and breathtaking it goes around corners as well. in my eyes 10 out of 10!!!!

had a test ride today of the Diavel. if you're in the market for a big bike that isn't a 'superbike' or a tourer, get yourself down to your Ducati dealer and try one of these - it's an absolute hoot to ride. i think chriswren has rather missed the point of this bike, it's all about good fun, not the nth degree in absolute engineering for the last millisecond around a track. having said that, the attention to detail on the Diavel is superb, with build quality to match. you can guess that i liked it! lol

Great bike Great mag. Seems your Mag is not posting my postings. Looks like were in censorship mode because i was criticle of your Biased testing.

It sums up the Diaval, a smile on my face everytime I ride ... unless it's raining (don't like rain!). I'm just approaching the first 600 mile service and am blown away by this bike, the 3 riding modes are brilliant, the ride is very comfortable, have done 3 hours in the saddle without stopping. The noise .. oh the noise .. like a grizzly bear with toothache!! £13k is a lot but the kit on the bike is justified, the brakes are amazing. Can't wait now to take the rev's to the max .. in sport mode !!

I'm at that age where riding with my arse in the air for too long requires the use of more drugs than should be legal to ride with. On the other hand at 50 I am still way too young for a Harley, and anyway there are too many tractors round here already. The Diavel is the perfect bike for me, most of the time. It’s comfortable enough to tour on, even with the poor tank range, but I haven’t worked out a luggage solution yet – but no doubt someone will soon. I have no idea how to program all the features, but the three default modes seem good enough to me. It handles way better than it has any right to with its length and rear tyre, and attracts comments wherever you park it. My head tells me I should have bought something more practical; my heart tells me it’s perfect. I guess that is the point, if you try and rationalise a Diavel it makes no sense, but it’s Italian, and you don’t buy Italian machinery with your head. It does mean I need to save up for something sensible for commuting and longer distance touring but I’ll buy that with my head, in the meantime the Diavel is the perfect Italian mistress.

The suspension needs work, the front is wooden and the bike likes to bounce over bumps instead of absorbing them. A lot of guys are swapping out the suspension for Ohlins that is sorting it properly or getting professional consultantion for decent settings (which helps but is not a real fix). The seat is too soft for long rides, I know this sounds mad but you end up with your trousers splitting your nads (might be OK if you are a 10 stone Italian but not if your 15 stone of Enlgish beef). The brakes are good, the stearing is pretty good (will be better once the front suspension is sorted) for this type of bike and it spools up pretty quickly but this is not a sports bike regardless of what the reviews say and although you might take a sports bike at the lights, your not going to leave them around the twisties or high speed filtering on the M25. It is good for taking your partner out for a spin, she is going to love sitting on the back of this instead of being perched 4ft off the ground on 2x2 inch square as you try to tuck behind the screen on your sports bike. This bike just doesn't make sense if you can only afford one bike, it is to much of a compromise just to look cool. You could tour on it but there is no decent luggage or places to strap stuff to, this is not a tourer and the range is just over a 100 miles. Oh by the way, the split screen idea is rubbish, when your riding you can't see the bottom screen which is where the gear selection is and why if it has all these features can't it tell you how many miles left you have in the tank??!? Saying all of the above, I still gave it 4/5 as it looks sex which is what this bike is about and the build quality is awesome. It gets noticed by boys and girls and it throbs between the legs. I don't regret buying it but I now need to save up for the Ohlins and also to swap most of the standards parts for everything from the Diavel section of http://www.rizoma.com

At last a Ducati you can ride some distance on and you can see pass your Elbows. Just had 1st 600ml service done and have enjoyed every mile. Just demo one, its Brill. Have had the new V. Max when it was 15000 Quid. A damned heavy bike. Plus 100klg. Thats why the Diavel will see one off plus out corner it. And you get lots of electrical goodies to play with. Will it Tour?? Am about to find out, Am off to Germany Swiss then Stelvio Pass Italy this Friday. Had a few probs finding suitable luggage. Tank bags a problem as it covers up the dam Instruments. Still will give it a try. So might change my opinion on return. Chow..