Ducati Diavel Carbon 2014 — Specifications

When Ducati decides to add a layer of prestige to one of its machines, it usually releases an S or R version, more refined, more expensive, more desirable. With the Diavel, the house of Bologna chose a different path. The premium version is called Carbon, and the name says it all. On this 2014 iteration, carbon fiber dresses the fuel tank, the seat cowl, and the front fender. It's not just an aesthetic flourish: the forged Marchesini wheels contribute to lightening the machine by 2.5 kg compared to the standard wheels, bringing the dry weight to 205 kg. The 50 mm Marzocchi inverted fork receives a DLC treatment on its tubes, the same Diamond Like Carbon coating that gives its name to the motorcycle and reduces friction within the sliders. Fully fueled, the Ducati Diavel Carbon displays 234 kg on the scale, which remains reasonable given the power on board.

Because what propels this machine is a 1198 cc 11° Testastretta V2, 162 horsepower at 9500 rpm and 127.5 Nm of torque at 8000 rpm. Figures that place the Ducati Diavel Carbon 1200 in a category of its own: we are talking about the power of a superbike of a beautiful generation, in a format that borrows as much from the roadster as from the American power cruiser. The comparison with a Kawasaki Z800 or a Honda CB1000R stops at weight, not displacement. The Diavel Carbon plays in a different league, that of machines that impress as much when stationary as when in motion, with this 240/45-ZR17 rear tire that covers the wheel like a heavy-duty sole.

The geometry is that of a cruiser that has swallowed an Italian sportbike: wheelbase of 1590 mm, seat height of 770 mm, a riding triangle that places the hands far forward without falling into the Harley posture. The maximum rake angle of 41 degrees is a direct response to skeptics who saw this format as a machine condemned to ride straight. Three engine maps allow adapting the response to the desires of the day, traction control acts as a net for those who would be too generous with the right hand grip, and ABS is standard. Keyless start completes the picture. At 21,590 euros new, the Ducati Diavel Carbon price integrates complete equipment, without a saving option to tick.

This price positioning is striking. On the used market, a used Ducati Diavel Carbon of this generation is negotiated around 12,000 to 15,000 euros depending on the mileage, which makes it accessible to a wider public than at launch. It is primarily aimed at riders looking for an exceptional machine for everyday use, capable of crossing the city with a certain flair and then surprising on a mountain road with its agility. It is not for beginners: 162 horsepower in a trellis frame that seems wider than long require respect and solid experience. For those who master their machine, the Ducati twin roars with a rare conviction, from idle to high revs where it releases all its charge.

The Diavel Carbon 2014 remains a consistent motorcycle in its displayed madness. It assumes its provocative silhouette, justifies its premium finishes by components that have a real technical meaning, and delivers sensations difficult to find elsewhere in this configuration. Direct competition is still being sought: the Yamaha VMAX plays in the same visual register but with a different philosophy, the Kawasaki Z H2 did not yet exist. The Ducati Diavel Carbon edition therefore occupies a niche that it has carved out for itself, and the Carbon version represents the most accomplished expression of this unique identity.