After riding the 2025 Ducati XDiavel V4 for a month, it reminded me why my longtime love affair with Ducati only grows stronger. The 2025 model revives the XDiavel lineage with a full-blooded 1,158 cc V4 Granturismo engine that delivers 168 horsepower at 10,750 rpm and 93 foot pounds of torque at 7,500 rpm — numbers that transform the cruiser formula into something electrifying.
The bike touched down on American soil at the 2025 US MotoGP round in Austin, Texas. I remember when Jason Chinnock, Ducati North America’s CEO, unveiled it in the Ducati VIP suite at COTA. When the covers came off, and the immediate crowd dissipated, I eyeballed and investigated that bike like it owed me money. I was looking for a progression, an evolution from the Gen 1 XDiavel that was launched in 2016, AKA, the Gentleman Bastard.
For the last decade, a 2016 Ducati XDiavel S has been my daily rider, so I knew what I was looking for. Months later, after taking delivery of the latest Italian cruiser expression, followed by a battery of comprehensive back road excursions, mixed with aggressive highway pulls plus a tad of around-town jawnts… I found it.
XDiavel V4: Granturismo Power Meets Cruiser Attitude
The throttle response on the 2025 Diavel V4 is immediate and smooth, thanks to the ride-by-wire throttle bodies and the Twin Pulse firing order, giving a torque curve that feels muscular even down low and explosive when you open it up. The XDiavel V4’s counter-rotating crankshaft — a technology borrowed from Ducati’s MotoGP DNA — further sharpens the handling by countering gyroscopic inertia and making the 505 pounds wet weight feel far more manageable than it reads. It’s terribly well-balanced and offers a heap load of “get the hell outta Dodge” when necessary.
There’s a power delivery that belies the bike’s cruiser stance. Acceleration is a rush. In theory, a cruiser is not expected to perform as the XDiavel V4 does. But it does. The V4 Granturismo engine platform deserves all of the high praise. Even at lower speeds and rpms, the engine remains tractable and smooth — a balance that few bikes in this class can claim.
XDiavel V4: Tech, Comfort, and Rider Experience Upgraded
Where my 2016 XDiavel S always felt like a beast with curb appeal but few modern comforts, the XDiavel V4 turns that comparison on its head. The 6.9‑inch TFT dash is crisp and intuitive, with full-LED lighting, a “Welcome” effect when you turn on the bike (see video below), dynamic turn signals integrated into the side panels, and easy-to-read instrumentation.
The chassis uses an aluminum monocoque frame, complemented by a fully adjustable 50 mm inverted front fork and a cantilever shock at the rear. Raked lines, forward-mounted foot pegs, a low seat height of 30.3 inches, and a relaxed riding posture reinforce the cruiser vibe. The seat is wider, offering more comfort for both rider and passenger.
On Pennsylvania’s unpredictable back roads, the XDiavel V4 remained steadfast and confident throughout varying road conditions. Of the four ride modes (Wet, Urban, Touring, Sport), I found Touring to be the most all-around setting for its smooth delivery of power. If you’re looking to ride the bull in all of its unbridled glory, you will find more than joy in Sport mode.
Braking is handled with authority: the Brembo-equipped package inspires confidence whether etching the back roads or stopping at intersections. Switching gears is like slicing through butter thanks to the second-generation Ducati Quick Shifter. The transmission feels complete and precise — a huge upgrade, one of many, over my 2016 XDiavel S.
XDiavel V4: Why It Outclasses the Old, and Why I Wish It Came in Black
Having spent years on a 2016 XDiavel S, I appreciate just how far Ducati has come. The old model delivered cruiser comfort and a beloved, violent, throaty twin‑cylinder sound, but by today’s standards it feels like a dinosaur — heavy, limited in electronics, and dated in ergonomics. The 2025 XDiavel V4 resets the benchmark. Its fusion of sport‑bike performance and cruiser comfort is complete. The ride is thrilling, the tech is modern, and the bike feels alive in a way the 2016 never did.
What was I looking for when I first saw the 2025 XDiavel in Austin? I was looking for the “new next”. This motorcycle is exactly that.
However, I do have one fairly major critique — and it’s personal. For a motorcycle that nails style, performance, and desirability, I’m disappointed, ever so slightly, that Ducati doesn’t offer a black-on-black or stealth colorway. The color options, Black Lava and Burning Red, look sharp, but a true black option would complement the aggressive lines and allow owners to further personalize their machine to match that muscular, minimal aesthetic many riders crave. A murdered out color option would transition the XDiavel from the “Gentleman Bastard” to the “Gentlemen’s Bastard.”
That said, the XDiavel V4 is a revelation and a must-ride. For Ducati and the entire cruiser class, it is an entirely new saga for how the class of “cruiser” is defined.
Riding Images of 2025 Ducati XDiavel V4: Bryan Hoyos
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