The famous Italian manufacturer Ducati will go into 2019 with a pair of sport naked Diavel models, the 1260 and the 1260 S. The differences are mostly with trim package, as well as the chassis. Performance and safety are assisted with a number of modern electronic features. So let us explore everything in more detail.
2019 Ducati Diavel 1260 Design
The Diavel was a huge hit when it first appeared in 2010, and the “1260” brings improvements across the board. It still looks amazing, with the fly line like no other bike has, with that long tank. The front fender is cut-down, which keeps weight down.
Beefy forks do the work in the front, where a cyclops headlight sits as well. The blinkers are strips of LEDs located at the edge of the radiator shroud. There is a 3.5-inch TFT screen that shows the metrics, and it has four different display modes. Rise bars are short, moving the hands closer to the body, while the foot pegs are rather high.
Chassis
A pair of cast 17-inch wheels is what the bikes run on. The base, 1260 model has 14-spoke wheels, while the S sports 10-spoke rim. Both have Pirelli’s Diablo Rosso III tires, with 120/70 in the front and 240/45 in the back.
Both have dual 320 mm discs in the front and 265 mm discs in the back. The regular model has Brembo’s four-port M4.32 calipers, and the S has Brembo M50 calipers. Both editions have Bosch Cornering ABS, as the full safety equipment is stock.
Drivetrain
The bikes have a lot when it comes to electronics. Safety includes traction control, riding modes, power modes and wheelie-control. Both have cruise control and Ducati Power Launch feature. The “S” also sports Quick Shift and Ducati Multimedia System.
The engine is a Testastretta L-Twin with the new variable-timing feature, other than their signature Desmodromic valvetrain. Four-valve heads open the combustion chamber with dual spark plugs for great combustion power and efficiency.
It has 95 pounds of torque with 7,500 rpm and 157-horsepower, which cap at 9,250 rpm. The new Diavel bikes are very powerful. Power runs through a slip-and-assist clutch, preventing excessive back torque before filtering through the six-speed transmission.
An interesting feature that people who hate when their keys flop around. The S version has a neat Hands-Free Ignition. It activates automatically the ignition when you enter the 4.5-foot detection radius.
Pricing
The price is still unknown, but the Diavel was $19,195 last year. The 1260 should be close to that, while the S will probably go above $20K.
Competition
Triumph Rocket III Roadster may be a worthy opponent. It has a 2,294 cc triple, 163 pound-feet of torque and 148 horsepower. It does not have that many gadgets like the Italian monster, and it costs $15700.
Other major manufacturers surprisingly do not have much to offer in terms of competition here.