2019 bikesales Bike of the Year: Ducati Diavel 1260

Name: 2019 bikesales Bike of the Year: Ducati Diavel 1260
Brand: Ducati

We weren't surprised it had plenty of poke, but the Diavel 1260 offers a whole lot more than just horsepower

There’s brawn, and then there’s power cruisers. We’ve seen some magnificent examples of the species over the last few decades with machines like the Yamaha V-Max, Honda Valkyrie and Suzuki B-King. All big and powerful, and with a massive visual presence.

Today, the Ducati Diavel 1260 is the pick of the crop, which is why it made the trek on our Bike of the Year extravaganza as the winner of our cruiser category.

Alongside the KTM 790 Adventure R and the BMW K 1600 Grand America and S 1000 RR M Sport, the Diavel 1260 was the other standout on BOTY, turning the notion upside down that a machine with a whopping 245-section rear tyre can’t get around corners.

Sure, there’s some resistance, as you’d expect, but the Diavel 1260 is certainly no form over function exercise – and that made it one of the most exciting bikes I have ridden in a long time. It was probably the biggest grin-inducer on BOTY, simply because it’s not really a cruiser in the true sense of the word – it’s perky, responsive and has a bonkers engine.

Its road-going presence is immense, and I just love the look of single-sided swingarms on power cruisers. The Diavel 1260 is a case-in-point, and the upcoming Triumph Rocket 3's rear end is also quite tasty as well. The Diavel’s twin air scoops are also very imposing – another cool element.

In fact, our Sydney-based scribe, Nigel Crowley, summed the Diavel 1260 up beautifully when he first rode the bike in April 2019: “This bike couldn't be further from a regular cruiser than a seaside donkey is from winning the Melbourne Cup.”

The 2019 BOTY judges agreed, and the Diavel 1260 delivered an instant attraction for the majority of them. It’s colossal, and just so brilliant to ride.

Unsurprisingly, the judges marks were consistently robust in the engine/drivetrain and fit for purpose categories. And this is only the standard 1260 Diavel – there’s also a specced-up S version!

However, both models are sportier than the previous Diavel – a conventional chain instead of shaft drive, shorter wheelbase, steeper rake, 10kg weight loss, more centrally mounted pegs and a taller sweat height – which has transformed the machine. Hence the earlier comment about its cornering ability…

Those changes put the rider in a more commanding position on the $29,790 ride away Diavel, which is vastly different to the normal feedback you get on a bread-and-butter cruiser.

Speaking of positioning, the scalloped seat on the Diavel 1260 is a beauty, but it leaves very little real estate for a pillion as it morphs into a steeped rise and a chopped rear fender.

Really, with no grab rails, it’s just easier to ride it solo… That way, you can take maximum advantage of a machine that rolls and turns so sweetly with a low centre of gravity, which means impeccable low-speed balance before the intensity rises at a phenomenal level – especially when the 1262cc variable valve-timed Testastretta L-twin is in Sport mode and reaching its 159hp (117kW) peak.

And, despite all that fervour, the Diavel was one of the better performers at the pump on BOTY, recording an average fuel consumption of 6.2lt/100km.

There are also two other riding modes on the Ducati – Urban and Touring – with Bosch cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control and throttle response all metered at different levels depending on what mode you are in.

Other electronics include a keyless fob, which one member of the BOTY fraternity failed to hand over to the next person on the bike rotation. It eventually twigged – after he was 50km up the road. Cue some unscheduled rest time under shady trees for the rest of us.

The engine is an engineering masterpiece, and is condensed in that tubular steel trellis frame with absolute millimetre precision. It just delivers ridiculous levels of grunt, and I’m surprised a quickshifter isn’t a standard feature to add more clamour and intensity.

The Brembo brakes are phenomenal too, completing, alongside the Pirelli Rosso tyres, a dynamic performance package.

The Diavel 1260 delivers massive-sized proportions everywhere you look, from styling to the pieces of the engine and chassis puzzle, and that’s what the BOTY judges gave a massive nod of approval to. It’s a vast machine, but one that’s so easy and fun to ride.

Specs: 2019 Ducati Diavel 1260

ENGINE
Type: Testastretta DVT, eight-valve, liquid-cooled L-twin
Capacity: 1262cc
Bore x stroke: 106mm x 71.5mm
Compression ratio: 13:1
Fuel system: Bosch electronic fuel injection with 56mm elliptical throttle bodies, ride-by-wire

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 159hp (117kW) at 9500 rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 129Nm at 7500rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Six-speed
Clutch: Slipper and self-servo wet multiplate clutch with hydraulic control
Final drive: Chain

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Tubular steel trellis frame
Front suspension: 50mm fully adjustable upside-down fork, 120mm travel
Rear suspension: Monoshock, preload and rebound adjustable.130mm travel
Front brakes: Twin 320mm semi-floating discs with radial Brembo monobloc four-piston M4.32 calipers, Bosch Cornering ABS
Rear brake: Single 265mm disc with twin-piston Brembo floating caliper, Bosch Cornering ABS
Wheels: Cast alloy, front 3.50 x 17, rear 8 x 17
Tyres: Pirelli Diablo Rosso III, 120/70 ZR17 front, 240/45 ZR17 rear

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Rake: 27 degrees
Trail: 120mm
Wheelbase: 1600mm
Seat height: 780mm
Claimed kerb weight: 244kg
Fuel capacity: 17 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $29,790 ride away
Colors: Sandstone Grey
Bike supplied by: Ducati Australia
Warranty: 24 months unlimited kilometres

2019 bikesales Bike of the Year: Ducati Diavel 1260

Specs: 2019 Ducati Diavel 1260

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