I test rode the X Diavel today

[ledany]

I was curious because I enjoyed so much the former Diavel and also because the law has changed in France and the bikes are not limited at 100 HP anymore.  



Alas, the driving position has changed and the pegs are now in an advanced position (3 possibilities as you can see in the pic). It could be fine on highways but it's pointless to ride the X Diavel elsewhere than on twisties (above 110 mls/h, my neck is not strong enough  ). So I went on the twisty road I know and then I realized I was not big enough to move on the saddle in order to have a frank and consistent dialog with each twist  

The X Diavel is powerful allright, brakes really well



may be quite brutal but you have to stay in the last third of the revs and I realized once more that driving with anger is way beyond me now  

This bike beats easily the late V-Max (which I never rode) because the MPG is excellent (43 MPG says the computer) and has fine elements we regret, like this


or this


But when I came back to my Valk, I was home again (torque, smoothness, handling, coolness, comfort) !  

[hungryeye]

Good review, thanks!

[Jack B]

I also tested one this spring. Like you said it is a very fast bike, vibrated till you got the revs up, fun bike but not for me.

[sleepngbear]

My regular riding buddy just picked up a new XDiavel S a few months ago, and I've gotten to ride it a few times. It is a sick machine. Between the two I personally prefer my Valk, but the XDiavel is a pretty close second. It just begs to go faster and be pushed harder, no matter how fast you're already going. I mean, I've never ridden a bike that wants to be beaten on like that one. And for a cruiser, it eats up corners like a sport bike. I don't think I'd want to own one myself, but it is an absolute blast and a half to ride.

[hungryeye]

I just don't see a cruiser in that bike. Naked sport bike/hooligan bike/street fighter/standard. 5 years ago I'd be all over that bike but would need a Goldwing or fully loaded sport tourer like a BMW RT or GT to keep it company. I have owned a 2002 750 Monster and a 2007 GT1000.

[sleepngbear]

I just don't see a cruiser in that bike. Naked sport bike/hooligan bike/street fighter/standard. 5 years ago I'd be all over that bike but would need a Goldwing or fully loaded sport tourer like a BMW RT or GT to keep it company. I have owned a 2002 750 Monster and a 2007 GT1000.

Well, Ducati set out to build something cruiser-like, and this is what they came up with. Actually it's their second shot at it, and this one is more cruiser than the first. Whatever class you want to put it in, it is definitely a hooligan bike.

I just got back from a ride with my buddy, and that thing is just crazy fast. I jumped on the Valk for the first time from a stop light and got a pretty good launch, and about the time I was still leaning on it pretty hard in third gear, he blew by me like I was standing still. Absolutely sick abnormal insanely f$&@ng fast machine. I don't know if the Valk has some magic sauce buried further up the throttle cable... I had a good handful, but I didn't feel it stop at WOT, so there could be something more.  I guess I'll find out in future rides, but there's no way I can hang with that Duc if he doesn't want me to.

[ledany]

X Diavel : +/- 160 HP, 485 lbs, don't even think of competing on the boulevard
But I ride 15,500 mls/year and for that use, the X Diavel is a no go. 

[AdrianR]

The bike looks cool man...what kind of engine?  Doesn't look anything like a cruiser though...

Even though it is faster, I DOUBT it is even half as dependable as the Valk.

[Emir]

I haven't tried X-Diavel but rode Diavel Dark.
Sure it's faster and sportier bike but those vibration kills me.
and also the heat coming from the engine disturbs at all traffic lights in the city.
And the soud of engine is too loud.
When I look at the price tags in Turkey I could buy a Diavel Dark instead of Valkyrie  but I'm sure I made the right choice 

[hungryeye]

Ducati uses an L twin design 90 deg Twin, Valves open and close by belt, no push rods or cam, they are like timing belts, technical term for that belt drive is Desmodromic, if I spelt that right. The valves cannot float out as with push rods or cams, allowing RPM's to scream at 19,000! They are actually quite dependable but maintenance intensive. Mostly because of valve adjustments. The valve arrangement is what makes that thing git up and go and makes new riders have to go home and change their under britches...

[ledany]

Everything is true ! Maintenance costs are  , the heat coming from the rear cylinder is noticeable (I understand why HD riders have their legs wide open on their bike, it's not because they have monstrous balls  ) and the sound is enormous, your neighbours hate you (the whole area in fact). The rear tyre is the biggest you can get (special order) etc.

But : the former Diavel (no belt but chain ; standard riding position) is the funniest bike I know if you like to hang out in a wild way 

[sleepngbear]

Rode my buddy's XDS again on Saturday. We were about to hit a nice stretch of road when he pulled over and said, if I think I'm having a good day, here's my chance to experience that animal in Sport mode. So we swapped rides again and off we went. First nice straight stretch I dropped into 2nd and hammered it. Ho-lee crap, does that thing go. If you are not absolutely 100% ready when you crack it, it will buck you right off like a pissed off bronco. Did a couple more roll-ons, one up to triple digits, and that was about my fill. It gets up there so quick and effortlessly it's scary. Really, It almost shouldn't be street-legal. If you want that kind of performance but don't want a zip-splat, that's the bike to get. Me, I'm very content with my no-frills, Blendtec-smooth Valkyrie that will lull you into a false sense of safety like you're cuddled up to a fat lady's bazooms and then scare the crap out of you if you happen to forget what it's packing. But it's still a good rush to be able to jump on that Duc every now and then.