Ducati Diavel in Carbon or Titanium for 2015
For 2015 Ducati wanted to take the Diavel to a new level of specification. Titanium, carbon fibre, and finishing touches of outstanding quality, offered in a limited edition of just 500 bikes: these are the core features of the latest addition to the Diavel family: the Diavel Titanium and it is due Down Under in late March.
The broad tank covers (central and side) and headlamp cover are made of titanium, which, in this instance, has been banded and chemically satin- etched to provide unique nuances of colour. On the passenger seat cover, redesigned and widened for this special version, titanium has been combined with carbon fibre.
Carbon fibre has been used to make the redesigned air intakes, now wider and more powerful-looking. The radiator covers, micro windscreen, front and rear mudguards, front sprocket cover and filler cap surround are also made of carbon fibre.
The Diavel Titanium’s exhaust pipes stand out on account of their high-grade Zircotech black ceramic coating. The silencers – made of brushed stainless steel – stylishly complete the colour contrast on the exhaust while the rear view mirrors are black and machined from solid aluminium. Exclusivity is enhanced even further by the hand-stitched seat made of Alcantara® embellished with leather inserts, a dedicated plaque, and dark chrome finish on the frame. Completing the version are the extraordinary dedicated machine-finished forged wheels.
With its laid-back street ergonomics, performance and commanding style, the base model Diavel rolls into 2015 dressed in Dark Stealth livery, a black trellis frame and black wheels.
The Diavel Carbon offers the choice of traditional Ducati Red over Matte Carbon with red frame, or Star White over Matte Carbon with white frame, both with black, forged wheels by Marchesini, turned and milled to expose the natural aluminium.
With its 162 hp @9,250rpm and increased torque of 96.2 lb-ft (130.5 Nm) @8,000rpm, the Diavel Testastretta 11° DS engine used in all the Diavel models has plenty of performance. The intake and exhaust ports combined with radical adjustment of the cam timing have enabled Ducati to achieve a strong torque curve at low rpm, which remains strong through a wider rev-range. The increase in bottom-end torque is managed by Ducati’s Ride-by-Wire (RbW) system to considerably enhance the Diavel’s effortless ridability, while ensuring plenty of power remains on tap ready to be unleashed.
The Testastretta 11° engine effectively took the original fire-breathing 1198 Superbike power plant and re- engineered it with increased user-friendliness. Engineers achieved this to great effect by reducing the amount of valve over-lap from around 41° – typical in performance engines that operate constantly at high RPM – to just 11°, which reduced peak horse-power slightly, but considerably enhanced mid-range and overall smoothness. The Diavel’s Testastretta 11° DS engine reaches another milestone in Ducati’s constant investment in quality by enabling the distance between major service intervals (valve clearance check) to be set at an owner-friendly 30,000 kilometres.
The Diavel’s gearbox uses high-strength materials to manage the power output and enhanced grip generated by the 240 section rear tyre, which also requires the use of a 16mm longer gearbox output shaft for drive chain routing. The transmission features an oil bath clutch with “slipper” function and light feel at the lever.
The Ducati Trellis frame uses large diameter, light gauge tubing with two lateral die-cast aluminium sections that flow into the rear subframe. The two sections form a rear-end structure by attaching onto either side of a complex techno- polymer component. The long, die-cast aluminium, single-sided swingarm provides a wheelbase of 1590mm (62.6in) and a stance that provides lean angles of up to 41°.
The Diavel uses black-bodied 50 mm Marzocchi front fork, fully adjustable for spring pre-load, compression and rebound damping. They are gripped by a slash-cut triple-clamp – cast aluminium for the lower and forged for the upper – with a rubber-mounted riser to tapered alloy bars. With a rake of 28°, trail of 130mm (5.12in) and an offset of 24mm (0.945in), the set-up provides a sure-footed and agile front-end and 70° of total steering lock for maximum manoeuvrability. Both Diavel and Diavel Carbon use the same suspension with fork sliders black-finished in super low-friction diamond-like carbon (DLC).
All versions of the Diavel have a Sachs rear suspension unit slung low under the chassis in a horizontal position, operated by a progressive pull-rod linkage from the swingarm. Adjustable in compression and rebound damping, the unit uses a handy control for easy spring pre-load adjustment.
The Diavel front brakes use Brembo’s powerful Monobloc callipers actuated by integral alloy master cylinders with unique shape reservoirs sporting milled tops. The 4-piston, twin radially-mounted callipers grip 320mm discs, while a single 265mm disc on the rear is gripped by a two piston calliper, also by Brembo. The Diavel Carbon uses specially milled aluminium disc carriers which have natural aluminium coloured recesses machined around the weight saving cut-outs in contrast to the carrier’s black finish around the centre. The system is equipped with the latest, most compact, Ducati Bosch-Brembo ABS system.
Overview of the Diavel range – models and features
Diavel Titanium
500-bike limited edition – Titanium with Dark Chrome frame and black wheels
- Ducati Testastretta 11° DS engine 162 hp
- Riding Mode (Sport, Touring, Urban)
- Ducati Safety Pack (ABS, DTC)
- Machine-finished forged black wheels with dedicated design
- Titanium central and lateral tank covers
- Titanium headlight cover
- Passenger seat cover in carbon with titanium insert
- Carbon fibre specially designed engine air intakes
- Carbon fibre radiator covers
- Carbon fibre windscreen
- Carbon fibre front and rear mudguard
- Carbon fibre front sprocket cover
- Carbon fibre tank filler surround
- Aluminium machine-finished forged black wheels with dedicated design
- Seat in Alcantara® and leather
- Exhaust pipes with Zircotech ceramic lining
- Stainless-steel silencers
- Individually numbered tank-mounted plaque (XXX/500)
Diavel Carbon
Red Carbon (gloss red over matte carbon weave) with Rosso Ducati frame and black wheels
Or Star White (white over matte carbon weave) with Star White frame and black wheels
- Ducati Testastretta 11° DS engine 162 hp
- Riding Mode (Sport, Touring, Urban)
- Ducati Safety Pack (ABS, DTC)
- Marchesini, forged, turned and milled wheels
- Stainless-steel silencers
- Carbon fibre tank cover
- Carbon fibre rear seat cover
- Carbon fibre front mud guard
- 50 mm Marzocchi front fork
- TFT instrumentation
- Full LED illumination
Diavel
Dark Stealth with dark frame and dark wheels
- Ducati Testastretta 11° DS engine with 162 hp
- Riding Mode (Sport, Touring, Urban)
- Ducati Safety Pack (ABS, DTC)
- 50 mm Marzocchi front fork
- TFT instrumentation
- Full LED illumination
Ducati Diavel Carbon with Ducati Performance Accessories
