His name is a mispronunciation, a dialect term that has to do with the devil, but the Ducati Diavel V4 Granturismo is probably the closest thing to the divine on two wheels there is. A consideration developed during our road test of this splendid Ducati which dominates the cruiser segment, interpreting the modern road bike in every way.
How it’s made
In an era in which added technologies improve the usability of the latest generation motorcycles, on the Diavel V4 the engine is more than ever at the center of the high riding quality of this Ducati. The 1,158 cc V-four is packed with horsepower (168), but it manages to express them at its best thanks to a practically perfect design and even during the test it was smooth and regular despite the power released being literally impressive. The V4 Granturismo, a direct descendant of the Panigale V4 and Streetfighter V4, is light, compact and optimized for the pleasure of driving on the road and on long journeys.
The adoption of a counter-rotating crankshaft reduces gyroscopic effects, increasing agility, while the extended deactivation of the rear cylinders when stationary and below a certain speed reduces consumption, emissions and the heat perceived by the driver. This system regulates the power that is not needed at low workloads, and then delivers it properly with all four cylinders in action. Lovers of engine sound are undoubtedly satisfied by one exhaust system which enhances the tonality and if at idle, the two cylinders sound more guttural, with the engine in full phase the sound wave levels out and what comes out of the pipes is a full, pleasant tone that conveys substance.
An aesthetically and technically very cutting-edge motorcycle is developed around the thermal unit, which starts from a monocoque frame and a single-sided swingarm both in aluminium, which give lightness and great comfort thanks also to the aid of adjustable suspensions with front fork from 50 mm and monoshock with separate reservoir. It features 17′ diameter rims, with Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tires measuring 120/70 at the front and the mammoth 240/45 at the rear.
The riding position is so comfortable that at first glance it doesn’t seem to give the right attack for an agile and reactive ride, but that’s just an impression. The height of the handlebars that meet the arms, the driver’s seat and the height of the slightly advanced footrests are calibrated to the millimeter and do not take anything away from precise maneuvers and in total control. Providing braking power is the system with 330 mm discs and Brembo Stylema calipers at the front which guarantee performance at the highest levels of the range. With the Diavel V4 Granturismo you could easily take to the track for a couple of laps which would be as exciting as a sports car. The electronic controls are based on parameters associated with four maps divided into Sport, Touring, Urban and Wet. Each of these riding modes proves to be up to the task for which it was designed and the bike switches radically from one mode to another with a simple selector and confirmation click with the throttle closed.
How’s it going, stable in the wet
After leaving the Borgo Panigale gate, he immediately put me at ease by telling me that he had a motorcycle in his hands that was full of power and performance, but with which it was easy to become familiar and already in traffic and along the Bologna ring road I discovered how intuitive it is. A value that enriches the high standard of a vehicle with attention to the smallest details and which only otherwise would not have these effects. Out of the city and onto the SS 253 which connects the Emilian capital to Ravenna, after a few kilometers I encountered a storm worthy of testing. Switching to “Wet” mode, the Diavel V4 Granturismo it proved to be very stable on wet asphalt, both during acceleration and braking and with a correct lean angle when cornering. The front end felt like granite and you never had the feeling that the rain was a problem while driving. You can keep the pace permitted by the highway code and as happens in these cases, continuing outside the area of precipitation, you dry out in an instant.
The challenge: from Romagna to Terni and back
The ideal configuration to get to know the Diavel in the first outings and learn all its secrets is certainly the “Touring” and the opportunity to stay in the saddle all day was given to me by the invitation of the Moto Club Terni to visit the headquarters with the exhibitions of memorabilia dedicated to the city heroes Libero Liberati, Paolo Pileri and the motorist Baconin Borzacchini. Starting from Romagna and avoiding the motorway, the best route to reach Terni is certainly the E45 of the specific Ravenna-Cesena-Perugia-Terni SS 3 bis section. Straight, sometimes winding and with more than a few open construction sites on the road, this route offers a panoramic journey through the Apennine valleys cutting vertically through Italy. Once past Cesena, the climb begins to be felt and the Diavel responds very well, especially along viaducts and in mountainous areas where you are more exposed to currents. The position on the motorbike is well protected by the superstructure which includes the tank and you don’t feel friction on your chest. and shoulders. Its shape penetrates the air by diverting the fluid above the helmet. In this phase, the chassis responds as on a long-travel motorbike, and although the road surface is not perfect it is very stable and absorbs every bump. The same goes for the long bends of the E45 where you remain inclined for a while at a constant speed. The covers convey great safety and the bike runs smoothly with the engine always responsive even in long gears.
A sunny day added to the pleasure felt while riding this motorbike which did not disappoint expectations, proving to be the perfect traveller. Arrived in Terni you enter the city from the historic avenue named after Borzacchini and near Piazzale dell’Acciaio, you turn into viale dello Stadio, but as I proceed along the first stretch, I stop to refuel in the first service area, attracting the looks and admiring comments of passers-by. We continue towards the center and using the Urban mode, the Diavel transforms into a docile city motorbike. Light in traffic and easy to maneuver along the roads that were once closed to give shape to the Circuito dell’Acciaio, a great “classic” of motorcycling of the past, at low revs it is elastic and does not make the driver feel the emptiness of the whole extra power that is not needed in urban areas.
Once the visit to Terni was concluded, the return journey was equally pleasant and gave me the opportunity to try the Sport mode. After many consecutive kilometres, the perception of the vehicle became more rounded and the idea of testing it in its most explosive configuration on the same motorway highlighted the finer characteristics of this cruiser. Once you have achieved the necessary familiarity, the large rear tire allows you to reach the corners of the curves in a precise and punctual manner and with its size, to manage the accelerator during the opening phase, so as to keep the number of engine revolutions high and flow smoothly beyond the longest bends. The response of the engine in Sport mapping is precise to the thousandth, but it doesn’t change much compared to the Touring. What increases is the control of the front end which becomes even more reactive and allows for greater enjoyment in changes of direction or more intense braking and it is even easier to correct mistakes in driving or intervene for sudden braking, without particular risks.
Back at base, there was still one last test to go, that of starting from a standing start with the system Ducati Power Launch EVO. To have a searing sprint and put the horses to the ground without doing a wheelie or making the wheel slip, this Ducati adopts a technology that we can easily compare to the same one present on grand prix motorbikes. Settable on three levels, it allows you to shoot with the throttle wide open, managing the release of the clutch. Once the DPL was selected, I pulled in the clutch, engaged first gear and opened the throttle. To avoid mistakes, this process is guided by sequential messages on the display, which also gives the green light to start. With the gradual release of the clutch, the engine doses the acceleration so as not to lose energy and thrust unnecessarily, but what you experience is comparable to being shot on a missile and placing your right foot on the platform, the one resting on the ground when stationary , it wasn’t immediate. The thing that strikes you immediately is feeling that the wheelie is contained and the front end lightens very little compared to what it would do in an uncontrolled start. Test passed and even in this, Ducati can truly challenge other solutions.
Conclusions
The Ducati Diavel V4 Granturismo is a concentration of everything a road model should have. The richness of the details, the study of the shapes and how they are exploited make it a unique motorbike of its kind, but the thing that pleasantly surprises is the ease of riding that an average motorcyclist with a minimum of experience on large displacements can find. The power management, thanks to the electronic devices and the refined chassis (truly top of the range), is something priceless and forces you to ride it, the Diavel fits you like a tailor-made suit, but unlike an outfit, it knows how to excite in every situation because it doesn’t ask you to understand how to handle the handlebars like a professional, but seduces you and transports you on a journey that begins even before you turn the key. Indeed, the key is kept in a well-protected pocket and the motorbike starts with a button. Ready to go?
Tags: Ducati Diavel Granturismo sports travel cruiser road test
