For many motorcyclists, Ducati is not just a bike maker. This Italian company represents much more than that. This is the company that makes the most beautiful bikes (sorry, MV Agusta) that don’t sacrifice sporty performance for the sake of that beauty. However, Ducati has a reputation problem: its bikes are known for being difficult to ride and expensive to maintain.
However, this has changed in recent times, especially with its more road-oriented models. If you still think Ducati motorcycles are difficult to own, there is one bike that will prove you wrong. This is a unique, fast muscle bike that will surprise you with its easy ownership and long-term reliability. Here’s everything you need to know about Ducati Its reputation suggests it’s easy to own.
Ducati has a reputation problem: expensive to own, difficult to drive
Born from Borgo Panigale, Ducati is a foreign motorcycle manufacturer known for producing brutal and beautiful motorcycles, many of which have become some of the most sought-after and influential motorcycles of all time. Even today, Ducati produces motorcycles that are among the most ambitious models on the market. But Ducati has a reputation problem; Its bikes are often considered difficult to own and expensive to maintain. This was certainly true at one time, but no longer so.
Buying a Ducati just got easier
Over the years, Ducati has refined each model to make it easier to buy. Of course, we still wouldn’t go looking for comfort on the luxurious Panigale V4 sports bike, but as far as its more everyday-oriented models are concerned, these are actually quite easy to keep and ride. Models like the Monster V2, Multistrada V2 and V4 and DesertX are excellent choices in their respective segments, mostly because of their capabilities and partly because of their practicality.
They’ve come a long way in reliability
In the old days, there was a saying in the community, “Look at the Ducati the wrong way, and it will break.” That’s no longer the case, with Ducati competing with other European manufacturers when it comes to dependability. Sure, Ducatis are still expensive to maintain and repair, but the manufacturer now offers extended service intervals, and many models have removed the desmodromic valve system. Now you don’t have to worry about dangerous desmo service.
Simply put, Ducati motorcycles are not as bad as some people make them out to be, especially the recent models. And no other bike does this better than this muscle bike that combines street-going agility and head-turning road presence. Looking at its specification sheet you would think that purchasing it would be a hassle, but the reality is quite different. Here’s how this Ducati muscle bike challenges the notion that owning a Ducati model is a headache. The bike in question is the Ducati Diavel V4.
The Ducati that looks cool, usable, and less intimidating than you’d expect
The Panigale V2 becomes a fast, gorgeous Ducati that’s actually usable and convenient even on a daily basis
The Ducati Diavel V4 is surprisingly easy to live with
The Ducati Diavel is a great example of what a power cruiser can be, thanks to its muscular design and sporty underpinnings. Powering it is a V4 GranTurismo engine that produces around 170 horsepower with tire-shredding torque throughout the rev range. It combines this performance with surprisingly sporty handling and everyday comfort, resulting in a bike that can put people on the road to shame while still being easy to ride in the city. And it is also proving to be quite easy to keep and maintain it for a long time.
The V4 GranTurismo is shared with the Multistrada V4 Adventure Tourer, and it has proven quite reliable there. In fact, German magazine Motorrad completed a 62,137-mile (100k km) endurance test on a Multistrada V4 S in 1,300 days, resulting in an official certification of reliability. In the end, the engine showed only minimal signs of wear and there was no loss in compression. Ducati says it has also conducted internal endurance tests at its limit, with a Multistrada even making it 124k miles (200k km).
The Diavel V4 not only benefits from that level of endurance testing, it is also much easier to maintain. It doesn’t use desmodromic valves, so you don’t have to worry about expensive valve clearance checks every other year. In fact, the bike offers an industry-leading 37,000-mile valve adjustment check, with a scheduled oil change every 9,000 miles or annually. This gives you more time to enjoy the bike on the road without having to worry about constant servicing or the infamous desmo service.
Diavel V4 pricing starts at $27,995
The Diavel V4 is a premium power cruiser, and it doesn’t like to cut corners. So, it comes with a price tag that justifies its performance, comfort and features list, starting at $27,995 for the Ducati Red livery and $28,995 for the Black Roadster livery. Since the V-Max is no longer in production, the Diavel V4 exists in a class of its own, with no real rivals to compete with. However, many will have to choose between this Ducati and the Triumph Rocket 3, whose price starts at $26,695. Both models offer a completely different flavor of performance, with the Rocket 3 focusing more on brute force from its inline-triple engine.
The powerful V4 GranTurismo is designed to thrill you and go far
Powering the Ducati Diavel V4 is the 90-degree V4 GranTurismo, a more street and touring-oriented derivation of the Desmosedici Stradale from the Panigale V4. The engine measures 1,158 cc, running on a compression ratio of 14.0:1, resulting in a power output of 168 horsepower at 10,750 rpm and 93 pound-feet of torque at 7,500 rpm. Ducati says this engine combines high performance with smoothness throughout the rev range, as well as the kind of character that is suitable for every occasion.
Engine tune plays a huge role in making the Diavel V4 easy to drive. It’s said to be smooth and well-fuelled at low revs, punchy in the mid-range and relentless at the top. Despite having two more cylinders, its character is no different from the old Diavel. It still sounds like a V-twin engine, thanks to its twin pulse firing order. It is mated to a 6-speed gearbox with Ducati Quick Shift EVO 2 bidirectional quickshifter, which uses lean angle information to maximize stability during mid-corner shifts.
Liquid cooling and extended cylinder deactivation keep things cool
Ducati motorcycles have been notorious for running hot, with many owners even experiencing second-degree burns from the older V-twin engines. That won’t be the case with this V4 GranTurismo, as it not only gets liquid cooling but also rear cylinder deactivation. Ducati V4s have had this technology for the past few years, but the Diavel V4 has an extended cylinder cut like the MotoGP prototype. Essentially, the engine runs like a twin below 4,000 rpm in every gear except first, and becomes a full-firing V4 after 4,000 rpm or when you ask for a boost of power. This results in a claimed fuel economy of 44 miles per gallon.
The Ducati that makes everyday riding extraordinary
This incredible supermoto appears to be designed entirely for rider interaction, giving us a more fun way to get to work
Sporty underpinnings and comfortable ergonomics complete the package
The Diavel V4 never ceases to surprise with its sporty underpinnings, led by an aluminum monocoque frame with a steel trellis rear subframe. The setup consists of a 50mm USD fork at the front and a monoshock mounted on a single-sided swingarm at the rear; Both are fully adjustable. Meanwhile, the engine’s counter-rotating crank cancels the gyroscopic force of the alloy cast wheels shod in sticky Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tyres.
Compared to the older Diavel, this model is significantly lighter due to lighter components and smaller dimensions of the engine, resulting in a curb weight of 492 pounds without fuel. And with 26-degree rake and 4.4-inch trail, the Diavel V4 is said to offer agile handling. Owners report that, despite its size and huge rear tires, it handles like a light sports naked.
The Diavel V4 also has brutal stopping power. The front-end features dual 330 mm semi-floating rotors held by radial-mounted Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers, paired with PR 16/19 radial master cylinders. A 265 mm disc held by a Brembo 2-piston floating caliper is present at the rear.
Neutral riding position for medium distance travel comfort
The Diavel V4’s seat is designed to provide longitudinal positioning, support under hard acceleration and freedom of movement during cornering. The seat is 31.1 inches above the ground, so even shorter riders will find the bike comfortable at lower speeds. Meanwhile, the wide and raised handlebar and centrally located footpegs should provide plenty of ride comfort and control.
equipped with lots of electronics
Being a premium Ducati model, the Diavel V4 also has all the electronic essentials you would expect. The cockpit is highlighted by a 5-inch TFT display running the Ducati multimedia system, and is ready for turn-by-turn navigation. The display lets you choose between ride mode and power mode. Safety is taken care of by Cornering ABS and Traction Control, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO and Ducati Power Launch (DPL) EVO. There is also cruise control for smooth riding on the highway. These features contribute to making this beautiful yet muscular bike easy to ride in a variety of conditions.
Source: Ducati
