First ride: Ducati Diavel Strada

What a difference a few days makes in the world of Ducati testing. I’ve just handed back the Diavel Dark – the “base” model of the four-bike family, in terms of price and equipment. But it’s not base in any other measurable way. It has the purest look of the bunch and offers the rawest experience. And, in its matte black comic book clothes, it stops traffic like a fallen bridge. Fantastic.

And now I have the Diavel Strada which, with just a handful of additions, has a completely different look and attitude. A friend asked me what was the difference between the two? The best I could offer was that the Dark was a supermodel. And the Strada was that same supermodel, but now she’s rocking a moustache. Nice.

The looks are the only thing you know about the Diavel before you ride it, and the Strada does look a little awkward from certain angles. The front of the bike is dominated by the fixed screen, while the rear’s panniers and backrest dominates the silhouette. But beauty’s in the eye and all that, so how do these changes alter the ride?

As soon as you get behind the bars, you’ll know your hands have a different perch from the Dark. They’re much higher and their rubber mounts are more noticeable under the weight of your hands. The effect of this extra height is to push the rider backwards and their torso even more upright (you’re pretty much bolt upright on the Dark already) and this puts more emphasis on you rump. As the standard saddle on the Dark (there is an optional higher seat for taller riders) isn’t the most sumptuous seat for long distances, it’s clear that something had to be done for the touring Strada.

While it is better, there are better seats in the long distance house. More so than the physical changes that this bar and seat offer, it’s the change in rider attitude that defines the bike. Even though the engine and rolling chassis are the same as on the Dark, the laidback seating position makes you take things easier. It’s as stark as the difference between driving to pumping heavy rock music or a country and western ballad (about how your wife left you for a neighbour’s sheep).

So the Strada panders to your milder side but it can rock, too. With the same engine power, ignition modes, suspension and Brembo brakes, the Strada knows how to get its funk on. And, ironically, this stretched back riding position makes the bike keener to lift the front wheel under hard acceleration in the first two gears. Throw on a pillion and you nearly need a unicycle category on your licence to ride it.

Acceleration-wise, it doesn’t feel as in-your-face as the Dark does. And that’s no bad thing for a bike that has aspirations on new states rather than old neighbourhoods. With that smooth, monster power underneath you, the only drag in getting anywhere is from the air around the top of your helmet. Especially noticeable for the taller rider, this might be a concern if you like to ride in an open-faced lid with no earplugs. As always, a test ride will determine exactly if this buffeting is going to be part of your Strada story.

The soft shell panniers come with waterproof inner liners and are separate-key-locked (the ignition is a proximity fob) to the rear subframe. A great touch is that you don’t need the key to reattach them to the bike, saving awkward fumbling when leaving last night’s swanky hotel. Just click them back in and hop on. And it is a hop with the panniers in place. Best start practicing that Roundhouse kick now…
If you can wake your pillion from the deep slumber that the rear saddle and backrest offers, then they’ll confirm that it’s nowhere near the worst way to travel.

Up front, you’ll be glad of the heated grips when the temps drop and your relaxed style and pace will hardly notice the front wheel’s lightness when cranked over two-up. With both of you further back on the bike, it’s to be expected and accounted for.

So who is the Strada aimed at? That’s actually a hard code to decipher. Obvious candidates are Harley riders looking for more of a sporting edge (in engine performance, handling, cornering and braking…) who like to share the ride with someone. I couldn’t help feeling that Ducati’s other Strada (of the Multi type) is a better alternative as a high-quality all-rounder. Sure it doesn’t have the Dark’s good looks, but then neither does the Diavel Strada. Well, not to the same extent. But it’s a useful bike that serves a purpose. Wether that purpose is worth $26,990 is a question only a potential buyer can wrestle with.

Diavel Strada in Bike Showroom

SPECS: DUCATI DIAVEL STRADA
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