Ducati Diavel 1260 s Road Test Wicked Is Wonderful

Ducati’s introduction of the aptly-named Diavel powercruiser back in 2011 represented an unexpected visit to the Dark Side for many dedicated ducatisti, who at first sight scorned what they saw as the famed Italian sportbike manufacturer’s attempt to cash in on the rampant global Cruiser cult.

- Alan Cathcart

But that was before they rode it, at which point it became evident that, in living up to its name (the Italian word for devil, Diavolo, mutates to Diavel in the distinctive dialect of Bologna, Ducati’s home town), this was one of the most successful examples of two-wheeled original thought to hit the marketplace this century. It was a completely new take on real world riding, a blend of Superbike performance and Custom cool that was totally irrational, and gloriously addictive. And thanks to the introduction of the updated 2019 remake of the model, it still is.

For the Diavel’s enjoyed undoubted commercial success, with 70,000 examples sold so far since production began eight years ago. But unlike with some other new Ducati models, sales of this dark-side desmo didn’t boom initially, only to fall away in succeeding years, but have instead flatlined year after year as more converts to the cause switched to this devil in disguise that’s essentially two bikes in one – now, as then.