As I said in another thread, I've been checking out "power cruisers" in an effort to have something else parked in the garage to roll on when I'm not in go fast mode... Of course the 14 is a great all around bike, but sometimes one wants to be able to ride in a more relaxed riding position on a machine that isn't always taunting you to grab a handful of throttle and let her rip for no other reason than the fact that you can! So, this time thru the US, I set up test rides for the HD V-Rod Muscle and the Ducati Diavel, Duc's entry into the "cruiser" segment.

First off, I wasn't to sure about this one when I first heard about it and when I saw he first images, I really had to wonder what Duc was thinking?! It looks kinda like a street fighter mated with a cruiser or more like it was designed with Batman in mind. I figure if it would have been featured first in a Batman movie, you wouldn't have placed it as a real production motorcycle. I will tell you, first impressions can often be wrong...

I didn't really know what to expect when I pulled up to the local Duc dealer, but when I saw a couple of CBRs and a Gixxer where the employees park, I felt a little more at ease. When I walked inside, it was a little bit of a different atmosphere, but when I mentioned to the receptionist that I was there for a test ride on the Diavel, she got the owner and his wife... They both were very knowledgeable about the bike and proceeded to present me with a hard cover Diavel brochure, a Ducati Diavel bookmark (like I read that much), a set of cards which had detailed specifications for all Diavel models and offered me a cup of java while they proceeded to tell me about the bike. Never get that kind of treatment at a Kawi, Honda, or Suzuki dealer! Starting to be a little impressed...(not really).

Anyhoo - they give me all the usual details and sales pitch, but never try and pressure me. I like that. They take me out to the parking lot and aim me towards a black and red Diavel Carbon, which was pretty impressive, since that's the higher priced of the two models! They show me the key fob and associated features (keyless start), but it goes a step further than the HD's - this one lights up the dash displays if the bike is not left in the completely off mode, which only requires that you slide a switch one notch to get the same thing to happen. They showed me the other features, hideaway passenger pegs and grab handle, passenger seat cowling, lighting, trick adjustable front Marzocchi/ rear Sachs suspension (on a cruiser?!), single side swingarm, brembo brakes (front) and cool looking Marchesini forged wheels in contrasting black and silver colors (Nice) - I was starting to think that this thing's pretty nice! Then I was handed the biggest shock when the owner looked over to my 14 and said "is that your ZX14?" and then told me that it was a beast and even told me that the Diavel didn't have that type of acceleration, but that it was fast, especially for a "cruiser". With that he handed me the fob, ask if I had any final questions and asked me to try to be back in about 30 mins or so.

I sat on the bike and first thing that I noticed is that you really reall sit IN the bike more than on it and in true Duc fashion, it's also a very narrow bike, the other wierd thing is that it has TWO radiators and they are mounted on the front/sides of the bike. The seat wraps around you pretty close, or maybe that just my fat ass???? It was pretty confortable and broad and very good quality leather, nope, no vinyl here... The dash display (both screens) are really trick color units with the top one being a color LCD display and the bottom one a TFT unit (I thought they both were LCDs, but the owner quickly schooled me on the difference); both are very bright and adjust themselves from either a black or white background according to the level of light around them, the upper one, mounted between the bars, displays speed, RPM, water temp, warning lights and time, while the bottom display shows gear selection, performance modes, traction control and ABS information - while at a stop, this display is your control panel for the DTC functions. The tank cover and bodywork on this model (the Carbon) is made of carbon fiber with an excellent paint and clear coat finish on it. The exhaust system is a work of art in it's stock form and very beefy for a stock setup and sounds pretty good once you get the thing going. The other surprising thing is that despite it being low and long, it's very light - it actually weighs in a lot less than the 14 at about 460 lbs wet! It has a pretty quiet thumping v-twin engine note and vibration that smoothes out as soon as you give a little throttle and with v-twin torque it moves away very easily.

From the first standing start from a stop light, I found that the Diavel can be a Devil! It moves away with authority when you push it and you can call up a wheelie pretty easily with the DTC turned down to it's lowest settings! Shhhh - they weren't supposed to know how much fun I had on their 19k demo bike! Anyway, it reminded of a really strong sportbike the way it gained speed and came onto the highway with a vengeance! It shifts thru it's 6 speed tranny pretty smoothly and clutch pull is not heavy. Did I mention that it has a slipper clutch? I found that out when diving off the highway and using a turn around at speed, I down shifted one gear too many and released the clutch quickly tand was met with the clickety clack of the slipper making up for my clumsy downshifting - no skipping tire! The DTC allows you to change settings on the fly using controls mounted inboard of the left hand controls. The bike handles more like a sportbike that a cruiser, so in many ways it's in a class by itself. It really has no business being put up against the likes of the HD V-rod. It leans very easily and with the side mounted radiators, there's plenty of wind protection for your legs, your uppoer body can be protected by an optional windscreen, but to me it looks much cooler without it. The more that I rode the Duc, the more it grew on me! Speed, power, handling and cool gadgets make it one of my favorites and more than likely, the one that I would pick as a garage mate to the 14 and at an entry price of a little over 16k and an advertised 15k miles between major service events (valves), it puts the V-Rod Muscle at 17.5k, outside of the box in every category. And besides, who else has one??? I am sure that if I did eventually get one, there wouldn't be another one for at least two or three cities distance! Now, if I can only keep from plunking down on a new 14, I might just go ahead and make the plunge into Duc-dom. And for you Devil haters out there, try one, you might just walk away liking it!

bigwilliezx, hope your safe over there big guy, Have a mate who took a Ducati Diavel black for a test ride and has placed an order.
Here in Auss they are 24k plus 5k extra for the Carbon, order placed this week will see delivery about January 2012

Hope yours is a bit cheaper and sooner

He test rode a busa and went Duc,

Look forward to getting a ride one day

Good luck,

A buddy of mine picked his Diavel Carbon up two weeks ago. I must say they look better in person. I can't wait to ride it once he has it broken in, that or his S1000RR!

Thanks Ethin', I'll have to say, the Duc is a nice one! A nice ride also. I think worth the price of admission even the Carbon when you think of it, because who leaves a bike alone anyways? One of the first things I look for is wheels of some sort, lighter or prettier than stock, but the Carbon has that one covered already! Now, if I can only decide between that or the new 14... hmmm... choices, choices!

Jeff', if you ride it, you'll like it! And they DO look better in person - kinda grows on you the more you look at it!

I saw one go by on a side profile. It's about the stupidisilhouette dove all. It's even more ugly up close. Like out of a movie. Big fat wheel. Turret guns up front. Future space movie buffs would like it. That is why duc is for sale.

On the other hand, what is worth saving it [we all chip in] is that square 4. Nice piece. I think the designers came in sober that day... Not the day they pen'dove all [things]!

No, what you do not read are the huge mm fork tubes made out of aluminum. Shewow-wow! Now that is taking metal to the future.