2013 Ducati Diavel Strada | NEWS FROM EICMA

If Ducati’s interpretation of a cruiser in the form of the Diavel left a lot of riders scratching their heads, imagine what this will do. Here is the 2013 Diavel Strada, Borgo Panigale’s take on the touring cruiser. Atop the Diavel’s unexpectedly good chassis and polarizing styling are assorted touring accessories to take the Devil on the road. In addition to taller handlebars and heated grips, the Strada gets a touring windscreen, deeper and heavily padded saddle with passenger backrest, and fabric-covered, semi-hard removable saddlebags with a total capacity of 41 liters. Two electrical outlets let rider and passenger hook up, so to speak, while a larger generator provides the necessary juice.

Ducati has significantly tweaked the ergonomic profile with the Strada, raising the bars 15mm and bringing the grips 60mm back toward the rider. These accessories add slightly to the Diavel’s wet weight, a claimed 540 pounds with the 5.3-gallon fuel tank full; that’s a bump of just 13 lbs.

Otherwise, the Diavel, introduced at the Milan show in 2010, is unchanged. The 1198cc Testastretta 11-degree engine (shared with the Multistrada) produces a rollicking 162 horsepower and 94 lb.-ft. of torque. It makes the Diavel serious fast, which is a good reason for standard ABS acting on Brembo radial-mount calipers and 320mm discs. Ducati Traction Control and adjustable ride modes are also standard.

In other Diavel news, Ducati has announced new color combinations for the base bike: metallic blue or Ducati red with a white stripe. Carbon-fiber radiator panels contrast with tank-side air ducts in natural aluminum finish. There is also a new Diavel Dark, an almost completely blacked-out machine dripping with menace. (As though 162 bhp wasn’t enough.)

Finally, the Diavel Carbon returns with a “red carbon” finish that’s gloss red over a matte carbon weave. The Carbon also gets forged Marchesini wheels in place of the standard cast items.

Diavel prices start at $17,695 for the Dark. A Chromo version is $18,995, same price as the standard Diavel. The Strada runs $19,495, and the Carbon will cost $20,495.