Cagliari | Sardinia – The look of the new Ducati Diavel may seem a little nasty at first, but the performance of the revised Power Cruiser is not at all nasty. During a test of the Ducati 1260 S in Sardinia I was able to experience that the revised bike is even more dynamic and precise to ride…
Invited by Joe Cow Motos (Ducati Cagliari) to test the brand new Ducati Diavel 1260 S, I travelled via Bologna, the home of the motorcycle manufacturer Ducati, to the capital of Sardinia and checked into the Castello Cagliari. Technically top prepared I had to cancel the test on the first day with Giuseppe Beppe Vacca, the owner of Ducati Cagliari and only official Ducati dealer in Sardinia, due to rain, but the next day it was finally done.
FURTHER DEVELOPED AND EQUIPPED WITH ALL THE FINER POINTS
The new Ducati Diavel 1260 is a refined version of the Diavel 1200, with which the premium motorcycle manufacturer from Borgo Panigale established a new market segment in 2011. The mixture of cruiser and naked bike with powerful motorization is still unique today.
The 1262 cm³ Testastretta DVT engine delivers 159 hp at 9,500 rpm and 129 Nm torque at 7,500 rpm. With a vehicle weight of 244 kg ready to drive, this guarantees sporty driving performance even from the basement. Due to the variable timing, the V2 engine delivers constant torque and acceleration over the entire rev range. The revised chassis with new setup promises even better handling and increased agility than the already cumbersome predecessor model.
In addition, the most modern electronic aids make the Power Cruiser safe and easy to drive under all conditions. The electronic package reads like that of a pure sports bike: Bosch cornering ABS EVO, Ducati Traction Control (DTC) EVO, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO, Ducati Power Launch (DPL) EVO and cruise control.
The tested S version also features an Öhlins chassis with adjustable 48 mm upside-down fork and fully adjustable rear shock. The front brakes are equipped with powerful Brembo M50 radial monobloc calipers and two 320 mm brake discs for impressive braking performance. Also standard on the S version is the Ducati Quick Shifter (DQS) Up/Down EVO and an LED headlight with LED daytime running light.
SPORTY POWER CRUISING TOWARDS VILLASIMIUS
After having tested the Scrambler Ducati 800 and Monster 821 during my previous visits to Cagliari, a really heavy iron was waiting for me this time. After studying the impressive performance data, it was time to test them in practice. The varied coastal road between Cagliari and Villasimius in the southeast of Sardinia is ideally suited for this. Terra Mala is the right place to start. The 25 kilometers to Villasimius offers everything a biker’s heart desires.
The grippy asphalt band takes a variety of bends and straights of varying lengths along the coast. The Diavel 1260 S can be easily placed in any bend, which is not to be expected with its brawny appearance and in particular the 240 mm wide rear tyre Pirelli Diablo Rosso III. I was also able to negotiate a tight corner in no time at all, without any handling problems. Another advantage is the Quick Shifter, with which the gears can be shifted up and down in a flash without a clutch.
The suspension, which is tight but not uncomfortable in “Sport” riding mode, smoothes almost any unevenness and maintains good traction even in fast, uneven curves. In addition to “Sport”, the Diavel 1260 also features “Touring” and “Urban” riding modes, all of which influence engine characteristics, traction control and ABS. These parameters can also be individually adjusted.
The engine accelerate effortlessly but at the same time extremely smoothly from the bends and thus encourages a sporty driving style without stress. It constantly brings a smile to my face, that’s what I call power cruising at the highest level. One dream beach after the other I am sitting in a relaxed upright but dynamic position. On the Strada Provinciale 17 I pass Torre Delle Stelle and Solanas, I barely have time for a short look at the wonderful turquoise shimmering sea.
The Brembos leave nothing to be desired when it comes to decelerating around bends, even from high speed, as they are really powerful. The hillocks and dips are always up and down towards Villasimius, the good deceleration in front of the sometimes very tight corners is no problem at all. The Diavel 1260 S can also convince me with regard to its freedom from inclination, driving the 240 tyre to the edge is possible without any problems, only a slight stripe with the tip of the shoe on the asphalt can sometimes occur with a sloppy foot posture.
ARMIN ON BIKE CONCLUSION
I sat down on the new Diavel 1260 S and the whole thing fitted like a glove. The seat position of the revised Power Cruiser has rightly remained unchanged. It is pleasantly comfortable due to the wide, well-padded seat. The dynamic seating posture and the seat recess make the seating position sporty at the same time. The more powerful Testastretta V2 and the chassis adjustments have brought a further improvement to the Diavel, which I could clearly see in comparison to the test of the predecessor model Diavel 1200.
With the new Diavel 1260 S you get a perfectly tuned, very well equipped complete package, which leaves nothing to be desired. As expected, this all comes at a price. In return, you get an Italian premium motorcycle with an extraordinary design and all the technical refinements that are currently available on the market.
Finally I would like to show you the following video on my enjoyable ride along the southeast coast of Sardinia. See you soon!
Text, Fotos und Video: Armin Hoyer – arminonbike.com
