At its NCR dealership in Delhi, Ducati has launched the most awaited all-new XDiavel in India at a starting price tag of Rs. 15.87 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) at its NCR dealership. The XDiavel S gets Brembo M50 brakes and comes in gloss black (Thrilling Black) with a matt black stripe & red trim while the XDiavel coms in matte black (Dark Stealth). The bike comes in two variants – the regular XDiavel costs Rs. 15.87 Lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi) while the and XDiavel S costs Rs. 18.47 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). With this launch, Ducati make its entry into the Cruiser world and merges the Cruiser style with feet forward ergonomics with the Ducati’s trademark style. The orders can be placed across Ducati dealerships in India and deliveries will commence shortly. Originally, it was unveiled at the 2015 EICMA in Milan, the XDiavel is based on the same platform as of the current Diavel but comes with a more cruiser-biased approach. In the year 2016, Ducati launched the 959 Panigale and Multistrada 1200S along with its Pikes Peak special edition and its off-road derivative, the Multistrada Endure. At such a price tag, it will compete with Triumph Rocket III, Harley-Davidson VRod and the Yamaha VMax.
Commenting on the launch, Ravi Avalur, Managing Director of Ducati India, said:
“Cruisers are the largest segment in the luxury motorcycle category in India. We wanted to enter this segment with a product that revolutionises the cruiser concept. The XDiavel achieves that with its perfect blend of futuristic styling, state-of-the-art technology and an engine that has been meticulously designed to the very last detail. Our dealers have been overwhelmed with pre-bookings and we’re confident that the XDiavel will be the cruiser-of-choice for connoisseurs across the country.”
The XDiavel is powered by Ducati’s 1,262cc Testastretta DVT engine that develops 156 PS of power at 9,500rpm and develops a peak torque of 128.9Nm at 5,000 rpm and it is mated to a 6-speed transmission with a slipper clutch. The company promises ‘low-speed excitement’ which is due to the fact that the bike can deliver peak torque at as low RPM as 5,000 RPM. The engine features Ducati’s Desmodromic valve system.
The XDiavel is the first Ducati bike which comes with a belt final drive which means that powered is delivered to the rear wheel via a belt & not a chain. The XDiavel has low noise levels and it is easy to clean & maintain. As said above, there are two variants of the motorcycle – the XDiavel and the XDiavel S and both the motorcycle features same engine & specifications. Although there is a slight difference between the two, the XDiavel S comes with full LED lightning cluster along with Bluetooth module and infotainment system & machines finish on the alloys, engine covers and so on. The Bluetooth module lets riders to view incoming calls, text messages & music playlists via their smartphones. The XDiavel also comes with ride-by-wire and will have 3 riding modes that are Sport, Touring and Urban. The urban mode is for navigating in traffic dense areas with reduced power and better handling capabilities. The touring mode is meant for long distance riding as well as providing maximum comfort. Full power is provided to the engine in Touring mode and the handling is easy. The sports Mode supplies the full power, and precise handling for maximum fun.
The exterior changes are pretty significant like flat headlight gets new DRLs, anodised black forks upfront are 50mm Marzocchis. The rear monoshcok is adjustable too. The trellis frame is exposed and displays the new engine in all its glory. The rear alloy wheel is an attention magnet, thanks to its chrome highlights and the single-sided swing arm. The XDiavel weighs 220kg, 10kg more than the Diavel.
As for the safety is concerned the XDiavel is equipped with Bosch Intertial Measurement Unit (IMU) which detects the bike’s position and relays the information cornering ABS, EBD, traction control (Ducati Safety Pack) and the Ducati Power Launch as well. There will be cruise control as well. The X in the name stands for the combination of “low-speed excitement, typical of a cruiser and the adrenaline rush of the sports riding”, said Ducati.