2021 Ducati XDiavel

Compared to the Diavel, the XDiavel is an even further stretch across the aisle into the cruiser realm, but Ducati doesn’t water down the performance and tech that make a Ducati a Ducati.

There’s nothing retro about the XDiavel, but classic cruiser characteristics like the feet-forward riding position mark it as Ducati’s attempt to go after a more committed segment of the cruiser market than the Diavel was capable of. Still, it’s not a motorcycle that will appeal to the vast majority of Harley-Davidson riders. Nor will it entice most Panigale riders to hang up their knee pucks. It’s a well-executed motorcycle for a small niche of riders who want an Italian take on the high-performance feet-forward cruiser. Introduced in 2016, the XDiavel was the first of the variable valve timing 1260s, which would later include the Diavel and Multistrada 1260.

New for 2021, the XDiavel Dark revives the matte black paint scheme that debuted on the 1998 Monster 600 Dark.

The XDiavel Dark retails for $20,695. The XDiavel S ($25,395) is available in Thrilling Black, and features cosmetic upgrades like machine-finished alloy wheels, Diamond-Like Coating on the front fork, and swaps the base model’s Brembo M4.32 calipers for M50 calipers.

The 2021 Harley-Davidson Sportster S ($14,999) is considerably more affordable and the badge on the tank may recommend it to a different segment of rider, but like the XDiavel, it’s a thoroughly modern motorcycle. The 2,500cc Triumph Rocket 3 ($23,000) is also game for a run at the twisties and at the dragstrip.

The XDiavel has a 1,262cc Testastretta DVT (Desmodromic Valve Timing) V-twin engine that pumps out a claimed 152 hp at 9,500 rpm and 92.9 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. Thank Ducati’s variable valve timing for prodigious peak torque at low revs. In his first ride review, Peter Jones says of the 2016 model: “It’s impressive to the point of outrageous that a cruiser can have so much grunt and go from 4,000 to 9,500 rpm, giving such a wide breadth of hard acceleration when rolling up and down through the rev range on a fun and curvy road.”

Considering the 63.6-inch wheelbase, 240-section rear tire, and raked out (for a Ducati) front end, the XDiavel handles surprisingly lightly and assuredly. Jones says: “The XDiavel chassis is solid and the machine is predictable in all high-speed, low-speed, and transitional situations. It steers and brakes with precision and there’s never a feeling of flexing beneath you or that you’re doing something sinful. You cannot ride the XDiavel too hard.”

The XDiavel Dark uses Brembo M4.32 calipers up front, while the S model gets an upgraded M50 package. Both setups are good performers, but the higher-spec package is an improvement across the board.

Ducati claims the XDiavel has a fuel economy of 42.7 mpg.

The XDiavel has adjustable footpegs, seat, and handlebars, and for those who aren’t so sure forward controls are for them, Ducati’s accessory catalog offers a mid-control option. The 30-inch seat height is reasonably low, though not extraordinarily so by cruiser standards.

The XDiavel has customizable riding modes, power modes, cornering ABS, traction control, launch control, cruise control, and full-LED lighting. Riding aids and multimedia can be adjusted through the 3.5-inch TFT dash.

The XDiavel has a 24-month, unlimited-mileage warranty.

The XDiavel exemplifies Ducati’s objective to deliver sophisticated motorcycles with premium finishes.