Ducati Diavel V4 – First Look

V4 power meets the Italian Devil for a new generation of power cruiser, the 2023 Ducati Diavel V4.

In a move that has been mooted for quite some time now, Ducati has finally granted their Diavel power cruiser the use of the V4 Grantourismo motor, doing away with the L-twin design that has been the bike’s heart since the Diavel’s inception in 2011.

Starting with an MSRP of $26,695 in Ducati Red or $26,995 for Thrilling Black and still sporting that muscular, ultra-low stance from the aluminum monocoque chassis that has made the machine such a class standout, the new Ducati Diavel V4 will produce a claimed 168 horsepower and a massive 93 pounds feet of torque, those spent gasses exiting from the four outlet four-into-one exhaust that’s one of the nastiest looking pipes this side of MotoGP.

All that power and torque is pushed through the trademark 240-section rear tire that looks more at home on a car than a motorcycle, the tire wrapped around a stunning five-spoke alloy wheel with chrome machined surfaces that is one of the many visual highlights of the new Diavel V4.

Like the Multistrada V4 from which the Diavel’s motor draws its heritage, the new Diavel V4 will house a six-axis IMU that commands the four riding modes of Sport, Touring, Urban and the new Wet weather mode, Cornering ABS, and up and down quick shifter, Traction, Wheelie, Cruise, and of course, Launch Control, for all those drag starts you’ll be doing…

To that end, Ducati claims the new Diavel V4 will go from 0 to 60 mph in less than three seconds, which is doubtless down to the skill of the rider and their clutch control. Still, it’s a nice little tidbit on which Ducati is keen to sprout.

A massive 50 mm, fully-adjustable fork sits up front and is mated to a similarly adjustable cantilever-style monoshock at the rear — its wheel travel extended by a handy 15mm over the outgoing Diavel 1260 — while the braking is taken care of by twin 330 mm discs, Brembo Stylema R four-piston calipers and Bosch Cornering ABS.

Despite the addition of an extra cylinder, the Diavel V4 has lost an impressive 28.6 lb over the old 1260 model — 11 pounds in the engine and 17.6 pounds in the chassis/running gear with Ducati claiming a curb weight without fuel of 491 pounds.

The ergonomics have been tweaked somewhat, with the seat height raised 0.4 inches to 31.1 inches, and the handlebar moved 0.78 inches closer to the rider for better slow-speed maneuvering. The style of the Diavel remains as imposing as ever, but there are still neat little additions like the passenger footrests folding under the seat and a telescopic rear grab handle ensuring they won’t fly off the back when you gun it at the lights. Both the footrests and the grab bar are pretty much invisible in their retracted positions, making for an ultra-clean, lean and mean look as a single rider machine.

Aesthetically, the Diavel V4 hasn’t changed enormously from the outgoing Diavel 1260 with those huge intakes flanking either side of the LED headlight still present. The headlight itself houses a Daytime Running Light changes shape, with a double C profile a feature carried over from the 1260.

A new feature, however, is the integrated turn signals that sit high up on the handlebar, the trademark turn signals that were crafted inside the edges of the side bodywork are now a thing of the past.

Ducati will also be producing a number of dedicated accessories with the Diavel V4, including a large screen for touring, luggage options, billet aluminum controls, and carbon fiber add-ons, forged wheels and different color brake calipers, and a full racing exhaust system crafted in what Ducati calls the “Spitfire” design, one that will increase power to a claimed 180 hp.

Expect to see these V4-powered devils in dealerships by the spring of 2023.

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