New Diavel First Look

After bringing you an exclusive first look at the new Ducati Diavel on Wednesday. MCN can spread some more light on some of the bikes new features…

Swingarm
The enormous Diavel swingarm has been replaced with a more intricate looking lattice of cast parts more befitting a cruiser. The large belt-drive sprocket, and the plastic shielding for the drive belt is clearly visible, too. 

A new sound
Complete new system now exits on the left hand side of the bike to allow the feet-forward controls to be mounted. The header pipes then snake back under the new swingarm to exit from a new twin-port end can. 

Chain chucked
Gone is the Diavel’s beefy chain and sprockets in favour of a more maintenance-friendly belt drive – which will please the American market. The Harley-Davidson V-Rod family use belt-drive, as does Victory’s Hammer S and most other American muscle bikes.

Bodywork
The Diavel has been on a diet, with a smaller rad shroud for the now front-mounted radiator, flatter more traditional teardrop- shaped tank, and slimmed-down tail unit which appears to have no pillion provision at all. The new smaller headlamp also reduces frontal bulk.

Trellis frame
The wrap-around trellis now stops just short of the rear cylinder head, effectively just forming a bolt-on headstock and relying on the engine to do all the work of keeping the front and rear of the bike connected. The swingarm and seat units will bolt direct to the back of the engine.

DVT engine
Almost certain to be a new version of the 1198 Diavel motor, it’s likely to boast the Desmodromic Variable Timing system which debuted on the firm’s Multistrada this year, aimed at giving the rider the very best the engine can deliver at all times.

Monster moves
The fork stanchions look pretty familiar, but the yoke is completely different to the current Diavel, and looks more like those on the Monster 1200. Clamped to the bottom are some also familiar looking Brembo monobloc calipers, gripping identical discs to the current bike.

Wheels
The wheels on this test mule appear to be one of the four or more existing options for the Diavel. The 14-spoke items, bearing the trademark polished accent detailing, now mimicked by the cylinder head detailing.