2019 Ducati XDiavel/S

Okay, gather around and listen closely because this is important: The XDiavel is Ducati’s interpretation of a power cruiser. And as such, this brawny, unmistakable boulevard bike shares few design cues with traditional examples of that genre—cosmetic, mechanical, or otherwise. Yes, it has a low-profile 240mm-wide rear tire, a pullback handlebar, a low dished seat, forward foot controls, a bruiser of a V-twin (suspended from a steel trellis frame), and belt final drive, but there is nothing classically American (think Harley-Davidson or the new Indian Motorcycle) about the XDiavel’s stretched-out, pavement-hugging silhouette.

While the Diavel preceded the X and is still available, the only identical parts shared between the two are the brake calipers and radial tires. The XDiavel is, arguably, the more cruiser-ish of the two, with stubby exhaust pipes and a matte finish, and it is powered by the Desmodromic Variable Timing-equipped, 152-hp 1,262cc V-twin from the latest Multistrada adventure bike, making it even more user-friendly at nearly any speed. With the aforementioned superbike-spec Brembo triple-disc brakes plus a rich electronics suite—Cornering ABS, Ducati Traction Control, Riding Modes—the XDiavel breaks boundaries inside and outside the cruiser space.

Likes: Superbike revs, unbelievable torque, light handling

Dislikes: Polarizing styling, jarring ride over rough pavement

Verdict: A unique musclebike with class-of-one performance

Riding the S variant of the XDiavel was a revelation: We couldn't believe this was a cruiser in the traditional sense of the word. Testers cited "shockingly light handling, a hugely tall rev range, and miles of power." Call it what you will, but this motorcycle offers serious performance.

EICMA 2015 FIRST LOOK: 2016 Ducati XDiavel Cruiser

THE UN-CRUISER: 2016 Ducati XDiavel

2016 Ducati XDiavel S - FIRST RIDE REVIEW

As we have already made crystal clear, the Ducati XDiavel doesn’t slot into a traditional cruiser category. But it does compete in the same space as the Triumph Rocket III, the Yamaha VMax, and, perhaps most likely of all, the 2019 Harley-Davidson FXDR 114, especially when cornering capability counts.

2018 Triumph Rocket III Roadster

2018 Yamaha VMAX

2019 Harley-Davidson FXDR 114

The XDiavel differs from the standard Diavel primarily through more laid-back ergonomics, which are configurable in many ways for riders of varying sizes. For 2019, the XDiavel comes in a new Matte Liquid Concrete Gray. The S variant has that color as well, plus Thrilling Black or Iceberg White.