Ducati DIAVEL 1200 DARK 2013 — Specifications

Who said you have to choose between muscle and elegance? With the Ducati Diavel 1200 Dark, Bologna settles the debate in strokes of matte black. Frame, wheels, fork, exhaust, bodywork: everything goes dark, no exceptions. The result is radical, almost intimidating. Here is a motorcycle that plays the visual understatement card while hiding a brute's temperament beneath its austere skin.

The L-twin Testastretta engine, 1198 cc, 162 horsepower at 9,500 rpm and 126.5 Nm of torque at 8,000 rpm, has lost none of its magnificence. It's the same unit as on the standard Diavel, with the same fury and the same frank thrust from the mid-range onward. Compared to a VMAX or a Rocket III, the Ducati Diavel 1200 Dark plays in a different league: it's lighter, sharper, almost sporty in its responses. Its 210 kg dry weight and low 770 mm seat height make it a physically accessible machine, even if the engine's character demands an educated throttle hand. The 250 km/h top speed isn't just a number on the spec sheet: the tubular steel trellis frame coupled with aluminum plates delivers a rigidity that inspires confidence as the speedometer climbs.

On the chassis side, the equipment remains identical to the standard version, and that's the whole point of this Dark variant. A 50 mm inverted fork, rear monoshock, Brembo braking with two 320 mm front discs in radial mount and four-piston calipers: Bologna's usual heavy artillery is all present and accounted for. ABS, traction control, and Riding Modes complete the package. Nothing has been sacrificed at the altar of a reduced price tag. The 240/45-17 rear tire gives the Diavel its signature massive silhouette, while the 17-liter tank allows for decent range without turning every gas station into a mandatory stop.

The real question is the price. At 17,490 euros, the Ducati Diavel 1200 Dark comes in 1,500 euros below the standard version. The difference boils down to the monochrome finish. No mechanical compromise, no missing equipment. It's a clever strategy that lets Ducati broaden its audience: riders who find the Diavel too flashy in its two-tone livery will get what they're after, as will those who want maximum thrills on a slightly tighter budget. Against a Yamaha VMAX at a comparable price but with a far bulkier profile, the Diavel holds its own through sheer versatility. It slips through city traffic thanks to its low seat, devours main roads with its generous torque, and doesn't shy away from leaning into tight corners.

This Dark version is aimed at the experienced rider seeking a muscular roadster without cosmetic showmanship. Not a beginner's bike, despite the welcoming ergonomics. Not a pure cruiser either, given how the Testastretta demands to be wrung out. The Diavel 1200 Dark is Ducati's most straightforward proposition for anyone who wants raw Italian character, with no superfluous gloss.