2019 Ducati Diavel 1260/S

When you want to show traffic who is boss, you need all the firepower you can muster. The 2019 Ducati Diavel is a big-bore, shorter-stroke V-twin power cruiser capable of blasting away from nearly anything on the road—two or four wheels—with a simple twist of the throttle; you don’t even need to downshift. Unlike many long, low cruiser-style motorcycles, however, the Diavel also has dance-floor moves. The 1260 S adds an Öhlins fork and shock, Ducati Quick Shift (DQS), Daytime Running Light (DRL), and Ducati Multimedia System (DMS) to an already impressive list of standard features.

One note: Don’t confuse the Diavel with the XDiavel. Yes, both are powered by the Multistrada adventure bike’s Desmodromic Variable Timing-equipped, eight-valve engine, but the XDiavel is the more cruiser-ish of the two, with mid-mount footpegs, stubbier exhaust pipes, and belt final drive. At $20K for the base model and $23K for the S, the Diavel hits your bank account like the premium motorcycle that it is. That said, you get a lot of motorcycle for your hard-earned buck, both in terms of performance and style. And traffic will never see which way you went.

Likes: An engine that speaks to your soul; 18,000-mile valve-clearance check; refined styling

Dislikes: Passengers sit high in the breeze, repli-racer-like, hanging on for dear life

Verdict: Superbike engine and chassis without the discomfort of racetrack ergonomics

“Comfortable and versatile ergonomics paired with Ducati’s incredible 1,262cc Testastretta DVT engine make the 2019 Diavel 1260 S a bike you can ride any way you want at almost any skill level.” That’s what staffer Morgan Gales wrote after spending time in the saddle of the higher-spec model.

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2019 Ducati XDiavel/S

Despite Ducati’s performance claims, the Diavel is not without competition, both in the US and abroad. Topping that list is the Milwaukee-Eight-engined Harley-Davidson FXDR 114 and the 2,500cc Triumph Rocket 3 TFC purportedly pumping out more than 160 pound-feet of torque. And BMW has yet to unveil its R18...

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Ducati guarantees all its bikes for a period of 24 months from registration, regardless of mileage. In addition, the factory Ever Red program—available within 30 days of purchase—extends that period by another 12 or 24 months. Moreover, the warranty remains with the bike, should you decide to sell it.