2020 Ducati Diavel 1260 Review

The Ducati Diavel 1260 is a strange concoction. Like the love-child of a hyper-naked and a power cruiser, it is a genre-bending machine of Mad Max proportions. Its menacing, futuristic appearance is enough to strike fear into the boldest of hearts – and that’s without mentioning the ridiculous performance figures. It’s no coincidence that Diavel is Italian for Devil.

Many bikes blur the lines between segments these days, but the Ducati Diavel 1260 completely throws the rules out the window. It won the 2019 bikesales Cruiser of the Year award, but the truth is that it’s not a cruiser…or anything else for that matter. It screams individualism and refuses to be categorised. It’s not a bike that will help you fit in – it’s a bike that will make you stand out.

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History Lesson

The Diavel moniker was introduced in 2010 in an attempt by Ducati to put its own spin on the cruiser segment. It wasn’t the first Ducati cruiser – that title belongs to the Ducati Indiana – but it was definitely a first of something. The Diavel used a retuned version of the 1198.4cc Testastretta engine from Ducati’s 1198 superbike and packed it into a post-apocalyptic-inspired cruiser.

Over the next 8 years, the Ducati Diavel went through a number of generations and special editions, with many people praising its perfect balance between style and substance. It was a cruiser-like machine with superbike performance and a whole lot of attitude. But its sporty persona was reportedly let down by cruiser-like handling. Put simply, it was a beast in a straight line, but not so much in the twisties. And that’s when the Diavel 1260 stepped into the frame.

Launched in 2019, the Ducati Diavel 1260 is a complete reinvention of the Italian manufacturer’s power-cruiser. Ducati replaced the previous XDiavel’s belt drive with a conventional chain, upped the Testastretta’s capacity to 1262cc, and enhanced the geometry for better handling and manoeuvrability. When bikesales tested the Diavel 1260 in June 2019, the reviewer said that the bike was ‘quicker and lighter to turn.’

At this point I should mention that, prior to this review, I had never ridden a Ducati. I know, I know – I’m an imposter, a fraud, a fake. How can I even call myself a motorcyclist? But the opportunity to ride a Duke never came up. Luckily there is a first time for everything, but not all first times are like this. I was eager to see if the Diavel lived up to its fanfare, but I was also a little nervous. Remember all that about Diavel translating to Devil? Yeah…

The devil inside

When I walked into Mornington Ducati to pick up the Diavel 1260, my nerves were quickly replaced by pure fear and adrenalin. The 1260 is an intimidating beast. It looks heavy, maniacal and hard to tame, but nothing prepared me for the experience of riding it.

The Diavel 1260 is powered by a 1262cc Testastretta DVT L-twin engine that puts out 159hp at 9500rpm and 129Nm at 7500rpm. But don’t get caught up in numbers, because the Diavel powerplant is all about feel and emotion.

Like a bull at a gate, it gurgles and splutters like a living, breathing beast. Many motorcycles feel mechanical, but the Diavel feels alive. It’s something that Ducati does really well – they don’t just make motorcycles, they make animalistic creations that you need to tame, not ride.

But the Diavel 1260 also has heart, and it can be quite endearing when you do tame it. As is standard for Ducati, the Diavel 1260 combines Italian passion and quality with stunning looks and incredible performance. Yes, it’s possible to find beauty in the beast.

Despite the significant power figures, the Testastretta is an extremely versatile engine. You can plod along at slower speeds and feel the breeze in your hair, just like you would on a cruiser. But as quickly as you can say ‘bonkers’, the Diavel can explode into a fiery rage that will send you rocketing along like you’re on the highway to hell. Ducati’s racing DNA is very evident, and the engine feels super sporty with power available right through the rev range.

Steering game

Of course engine performance is great, but a bike is only as good as its handling ability. Some people might be put off by the ‘cruiser’ tag, but the Diavel 1260 handles like a sportsbike. If there were any issues with previous version, they are well and truly gone now.

Despite the Diavel’s unusual ergonomics, the feeling of flying into a corner, tipping it in, and then exploding out the other side is an experience like no other. The bike feels easy to steer, with the adjustable suspension keeping the bike nice and balanced on the road. If you spend a little extra for the S version, you’ll also get premium Ohlins suspension, which takes suspension capability up an extra notch.

The Diavel 1260 does feel a tad heavy, especially at slower speeds. That probably has something to do with the 244kg wet weight, as well as the fact that most of the mass is further towards the front of the bike. It's by no means a deal breaker, but it will be noticeable to those not used to heavy bikes.

Comfort surely wasn’t a priority when Ducati designed this machine, but its unusual stance is actually quite inviting. The big bucket seat is like a couch, but it also helps you sculpt your legs around the bike, giving you the feeling that you are strapped in, and one with the machine.

I probably wouldn’t be looking at doing mega kays on the Diavel though. The ergonomics are somewhere between cruiser and sportsbike, and it just doesn’t feel normal. Still, long commutes are certainly possible, especially if you can add some wind protection.

Techno wizard

Electronically, the Diavel 1260 gets the full treatment. Multiple ride modes, a 3.5-inch TFT dash, cornering ABS, cornering traction control, wheelie control, launch control, cruise control, handlebar-mounted switch blocks, full LED lighting, self-cancelling indicators, and a quick shifter are all standard on the bike.

Every electronic feature does its job well and provides no added distractions. Perhaps that is why the colour TFT dash feels so small – it doesn’t fight for your attention and lets you focus primarily on riding the bike. There is a good range of adjustability for things like ABS, traction control, and wheelie control. There are three ABS options, eight levels of traction control and eight levels of wheelie control.

All of this techno wizardry makes the Diavel 1260 feel extremely safe, although the crazy performance does a good job of convincing you otherwise. In wet and slippery conditions, the bike was a handful but each function did its job well and kept me upright.

At $29,800 ride away, the Ducati Diavel 1260 is not cheap (the S version adds $5600 to the price tag). But a quick look at the standard equipment list goes some distance to justifying the rather high cost. This is a bike of substance, with more features than you can poke a stick at.

The verdict

There really isn’t much to complain about with the Ducati Diavel 1260 – it is bordering on perfection. But the problem is that it is very much in no-man’s land, and I struggle to see what purpose it serves. It’s not a cruiser, and it’s not a sports bike. It’s certainly not a tourer, and don’t even think about gravel roads. So where does that leave it? Who will buy this bonkers machine?

Unlike anything Ducati has produced before, the Diavel 1260 is so radically different that I’m not sure I can count it as my first Ducati experience. That said, it combines everything that makes Ducati such an iconic brand – style, passion, performance, and that famed Italian quality. And most notably, it stirs emotion in the rider, something that only exceptional motorcycles can do.

And maybe that’s where the Diavel 1260 does fit in – it is a pure motorcycling experience that doesn’t deal in categories or purposes. It simply deals in passion, joy and excitement. It makes you forget everything else, and places your focus on the road ahead. And that is the type of bike that I like.

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 7500 rpm

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: $29,800 rideaway
Colors: Sandstone Grey, Dark Stealth
Bike supplied by: Ducati Australia
Warranty: 24 months unlimited kilometres