Ducati Diavel 1260 S 2019 — Specifications

At Ducati, the suffix "S" functions as a rite of passage. Panigale, Multistrada, Monster: each flagship model eventually gets a higher-end version. The Diavel had long been an exception with a Carbon version that played the card of carbon fiber and forged rims rather than high-end suspension. With the Ducati Diavel 1260 S, the nomenclature regains its rightful place, and the technical hierarchy resumes its usual meaning.

The 1262 cc Testastretta DVT engine remains the heart of the project, and what a heart it is. Its 159 horsepower peaks at 9500 rpm, the 129.5 Nm of torque arrives from 7500 rpm, and the whole propels 244 kg towards the announced 250 km/h. On the technical specification sheet of the Ducati Diavel 1260 S 2019, these figures speak for themselves, but it is the revision of the variable distribution that really changes the game on a daily basis: the beast remains docile in the city, then frankly wakes up as soon as you open the throttle on the road. It is precisely there that a Yamaha VMAX or a Kawasaki Z H2 play on a more brutal, less adjustable register.

What really distinguishes the S version from the standard 1260 is the quality of the ground connections. The 48 mm Öhlins inverted fork replaces the 50 mm Marzocchi unit, and the slightly smaller diameter does not mean a technical setback: the settings are more refined, the feel more precise. The rear Sachs shock absorber with remote preload completes the package. Four-piston Brembo M50 calipers mounted radially on floating discs offer surgical bite. The Up&Down bidirectional quickshifter integrates the sporty dimension without overdoing it. For 23,490 euros, or about 3000 euros more than the base version, the buyer gets a steel trellis tubular frame, 120/70-17 tires at the front and an impressive 240/45-17 at the rear, guaranteeing the muscle-cruiser posture so characteristic.

The downside comes from the rims. The Carbon had its forged Marchesini rims, lightweight and noble. The S offers a simple decorative surface treatment. On a motorcycle displaying this price and this ambition, lightweight wheels would have had a concrete impact on agility, especially since 244 kg need to be guided with conviction in corners. The electronics, however, do not disappoint: Bosch 6-axis IMU, three riding modes, traction control, wheelie control, cornering ABS, hill-hold assistant, keyless start, cruise control and a 3.5-inch color TFT screen. Bluetooth connectivity allows you to manage calls and music from the handlebars, which will interest the urban rider as much as the weekend gran turismo rider.

The Ducati Diavel 1260 S test draws the portrait of a motorcycle designed for an experienced rider who refuses to choose between style and performance. It is not a sports bike in disguise, nor an American cruiser softened for Europeans. It is an Italian synthesis with its qualities and contradictions. The fuel consumption of 5.4 liters per 100 km for a 17-liter tank gives a correct but not generous range. The seat height of 780 mm remains accessible for an average build. On the used market, a Ducati Diavel 1260 S 2020 or 2019 is often exchanged between 16,000 and 19,000 euros depending on condition, making it a possible entry into the world of Ducati for those who want the refined version without paying the price of new. A V-twin that roars, a line that provokes, complete electronics: the package is consistent, even if the wheels could have deserved better.