What's so unique about the 2023 Ducati Diavel V4
Ducati has just unveiled the Diavel V4, adding a fourth to the line-up of its flagship models which include the Panigale, Multistrada and Streetfighter. With its longer service intervals and mind-lowing power delivery, Ducati's Granturismo V4 motor is truly a revelation of the modern times, but there has to be more to the Diavel V4 than just it's engine, right? Here's what makes this new-age Ducati flagship model so unique.
No doubt that the Diavel V4 unmistakably resembles a Diavel in terms of its design, it's got all the tell-tale signs like the muscular tank that's up to 20-litres, the air ducts on either side of the headlamp, a deep scooped seat with a tapering tail section. You can't miss the massive 240-section rear tyre with the single-sided swingarm, which looks brilliant in my opinion. There's a lot more to look at with this Ducati model than its previous iterations. That's the thing with this Diavel V4, it looks like it's been bulking up at the gym. This MY23 bike gets new LED headlight unit with C-shaped LED DRLs, while the rear light is a cluster of small LEDs under the tail section, which looks like it could sort you out with a quick shawarma on the go. The best part of this this bike has to be those gorgeous stock quad exhaust tips that looks like a grenade launcher. Second uniquely cool bit has to be the turn indicators over either side of the handlebar levers. Awesome stuff! The Diavel V4 can be had in two colours – Red and Black – always better to have an option, right?
Engine
This 1,158cc 168PS Granturismo V4 is the new-found definition of tractability for Ducati, able to deliver peak power at 10,750rpm and peak torque (a gargantuan 126Nm) at 7,500 rpm. So it's up by around 6PS over the Diavel 1260, albeit making close to 3Nm less. Now we've already seen what the engine can do with the Mutistrada V4 and it's a real doozy, this one – good power low down the band, with heaps of fun the higher you climb u the rev band. Also, the engine can switch off the two rear cylinders to reduce fuel consumption and prevent the frying your human parts – just like on the Multi V4.
Chassis
The Diavel V4 employs an aluminium monocoque chassis on contraire to the previous Diavel 1260 model which made use of a traditional trellis frame. As you would expect, the result has been a good amount of weight savings with the bike the now weighing in at just 236kg (kerb) which is 13Kg lighter than the 1260 V-twin Testastretta model. The new Diavel doesn't sit as low as the 1260 either, but does get a shorter wheelbase by 7mm (1,593mm) over the older model which should imply its improved handling overall.
Features
In terms of features, the 2023 Ducati Diavel V4 gets the whole Italian kitchen sink thrown at it. This includes a 5.0-inch TFT instrumentation display with Bluetooth, with settings that alter the way the six-axis IMU manages the bike, then there's cruise control, launch control, cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control bi-directional quickshifter - you know, the regular Ducati stuff.
Variants
Unlike the other three V4 models, there's no sign of an S version of the Diavel from Duacti, yet. The Diavel V4 is already equipped with a 50mm USD fork up front and a single-sided swingarm with a monoshock at the rear, and the bike also gets Brembo Stylema four-piston calipers biting down on the twin 330mm discs up front and a single disc at the rear which leaves very little room for improvement. Will there be a version with better suspension in the future like with the other models? Can't really rule that one out.