2016 Ducati XDiavel - What exactly is it?

The original Ducati Diavel was something that all hardcore Ducatisti questioned when it was first released in 2011. It was not a sportbike, and therefore could not possibly be a Ducati. The Diavel was something very strange to come from the Italian manufacturer, a cruiser of sorts. 

Aggressive styling of the XDiavel is something we have never seen before.

Last year I was reluctantly convinced to ride one. After about three weeks of being pestered, I took the Diavel for a spin. That bike changed the way I viewed road bikes in general. It was a true bruiser! The Diavel was all about the motor. The riding position was comfortable, and the bike could really be thrashed through corners and ridden with spirit. It was truly impressive! My only reservations were that the pegs needed to be a tiny bit further back, and a steering damper would have been nice to keep the head from shaking in some situations.  Now Ducati have shifted the Diavel to the next level… the XDiavel. But what is it?

 

Long and low. The XDiavel is rather striking.

The XDiavel actually needs a name change because it is in no way similar to the Diavel we met in 2011. The XDiavel is lower and more stretched out. Your feet are pushed all the way forward and Ducati have really gone to town with the styling. As always, the build quality is impeccable. The fit and finish of the bike, the switch gear, and the general attention to detail has really come a long way from the Ducati of old. The matt black paint and brushed aluminium really demand attention, and if you’re a shy person this is not the bike for you!

 

Parked up at Stellenbosch flying club next to a De Havilland Vampire.

Riding the XDiavel, one of the first things you will notice is the motor. Much like the original Diavel, this is a bit of a muscle bike. The 1262cc, L-Twin motor makes 156hp and huge torque. Being so low to the ground makes the acceleration feel really rapid. There were moments when I opened the bike up and found my feet being ripped off the pegs. The XDiavel comes with all the electronics and rider assist modes you would expect on a modern superbike, and even includes launch control. 

 

 

The large 240 section Pirelli rear tyre adds to the muscular look of the bike.

The XDiavel's handling is somewhat compromised by the low ride height and long front forks. The pegs seemed to be millimetres away from the ground and when being pushed through long corners the front wheel felt disconnected, which detracted from any spirited riding enjoyment. I also found the feet forward riding position not particularly comfortable. The ride quality falls victim to form rather than function.

 A rather odd riding position in comparison to the normal Diavel. Wearing a full one piece to test a cruiser was also not ideal as I got some odd looks.

 

This is to compare riding positions to the Monster R which is a comfortable, upright riding position. 

I was clearly missing something here. What is the point of this bike? Ducati have surely put thousands of hours into researching what the buying public want. Coming from a sport biking background this bike made zero sense to me. However, after watching and reading a few reviews of the XDiavel, I got the target market. This bike is not meant to be ridden as much as it is meant to be showcased. It’s a work of art. An exercise where designers get the main say, and engineers just need to make it work. This is Ducati's answer to Harley-Davidson. 

 Park up outside a restaurant in Stellenbosch.

Once I had understood that, I could appreciate just how well Ducati have achieved this goal. The cruiser market in South Africa is not dominant, but in America this is a lifestyle. Ducati are wanting a contender in this lucrative market and have created the XDiavel with Harley-Davidson firmly in their cross-hairs. The XDiavel adds elegant Italian styling to the established cruiser market while moving away from the existing clichéd form. Nothing else on the road looks like this bike and people really do love it. I managed to get the XDiavel and the equally striking Monster R parked outside a Stellenbosch café for some time, and people only flocked to the XDiavel. To me, the Monster R is a much nicer bike, but the XDiavel must have something really good going for it.

 

The Ducati Monster R (reviewed here) for some reason didn't get the same amount of attention.

 

A body guard was interested in the XDiavel. We claimed he was protecting it.

If you are a Harley-Davidson kind of person (you know who you are), or someone looking for something very different, go and ride the XDiavel. It really is a visually spectacular motorcycle and would be well suited to being parked outside any trendy café in Milan or Camps Bay. Its straight line performance is very impressive, and the appealing Italian refinement is much needed in this usually crude motorcycle segment. For those of us worried about the normal Diavel, Ducati will still be making them alongside the XDiavel.

 

Thanks Anston and Ducati Cape Town for the experience of riding this rather interesting motorcycle.

Follow me on Instagram @alexsrides for more motorbike pictures.

2016 Ducati Monster R – Is it worthy of the “R” badge?

Firstly, what is the point of this bike? Why make a naked bike with superbike bits? Is it just for the owner to brag about over breakfast, or do these additions for the “R” label really add to the bike's abilities and rider enjoyment? To find this out I took the Monster R for a quick spin into the winelands and included some of my backyard mountain passes.

To start off, the Monster R has a stonking 1200cc L-Twin motor making a claimed 160hp (10% more than the S) and a host of the usual rider aids. The motor is silky smooth with strong bottom and mid-range that makes you want to short shift so you can roll on the throttle! This motor suits itself to the road manners of the bike as it allows the rider to “cruise” in a higher gear and just whack the throttle when more speed is needed. The fueling on the R is greatly improved over other Ducatis I have ridden in the past, and the finer on and off throttle control enhances the enjoyment of the bike.

The brakes on the Monster R are from the Panigale and I know how great they are on that bike. The 330mm disks and Brembo M50 calipers work wonders to get this bike to stop. The brakes are sharp, precise and confidence inspiring. The rider feel through the lever is great and linear. They work very well on the road and through mountain passes.

The suspension is a noticeable addition to the R in comparison to the normal Monster. The Ohlins suspension is firm, but somehow works well with the comfort of the bike. The suspension is taller (15mm) to increase ground clearance, and the bike felt very nimble and changed direction easily.  The chassis and suspension work well together and allow for the bike to track nicely through a corner while riding above the recommended speed limit. The bike's steering damper also helps the bike avoid any niggles when the front wheel becomes light or hits some rough tar.

The looks department is something you will either like or hate. This is not the end of the world though. Ducati have styled the Monster to look like a modern day yet classic naked bike, like one your dad would ride. The R version does not really stand out from the other Monster versions, which might be a negative, but others will like the discreteness of the colours and brushed aluminium. The idea that you will know what it is because you know what it is does, seems to be a plus for the Monster R.

The negatives I had for the bike was that the colour display struggled in bright sunlight, and I could not see anything at times. The other issue highlighted online is the competition, the KTM Super Duke R. The KTM is more powerful and slightly cheaper. I had the chance to ride the big KTM once, and have avoided it since. I disliked the chassis, and felt like the bike was constantly trying to kill me. My personal feeling is the Monster R is well worth the extra money, and I rate it as a superior bike to live with on a daily basis and Sunday blasts.

So back to my initial question, what is the point of this bike? It’s a well styled, practical, and brisk road bike. Probably one of the best out there at the moment, with a strong motor and stable chassis. South Africans have a love affair for sports bikes, which to be honest have become far too quick for the road! This is a beautifully made and designed bike that will keep up with most through the passes and put a great smile on your face on the road or occasional track day. Think of it as a less demanding Panigale for the discerning gentleman.

Once again, thanks to Anston from Ducati Cape Town for the chance to take this brute out for a spin!

LS2 Arrow C - Helmet Review

Helmets are something we all use, and often skimp on when it comes to spending money. The amount of guys I see riding expensive bikes with a R500 helmet to me is slightly confusing. Now I’m not saying everyone needs to go out and spend R20000 on an AGV Pista, but shop around and look for a well-priced, and more importantly well spec’ed helmet. This includes the safety rating. You will actually be shocked at how an expensive helmet does not necessarily mean it is a good helmet.

After years of service my old AGV, which I loved, had done some serious mileage and accumulated some wear due to daily use. I contacted the suppliers of AGV and was shocked at the cost of replacing mine. The same went for the other brands I looked at. These included the big names, Arai, Shoei, etc. I looked at the Shark helmets and tried a few on, but they did not seem to fit me properly and also did not draw me to them. I gave up and thought I would look over seas for something I really wanted. Something that spoke to me… and of course, my wallet.

I’m a fussy customer and wanted something light, good looking, comfortable and of course safe. I had seen LS2 helmets being advertised online but put them aside as I did not know the brand, which is something we all seem to do. Luckily I got a call from a friend saying he has one and I need to come see it. I popped over to him and was pleasantly surprised by the overall quality. The most impressive part was the raw carbon fiber weave. When I returned home I started doing some more in depth research and was impressed to see guys on the MotoGP circuit using them. Yonny Hernandez, Loris Baz, Anthony West, Simone Corsi, and Isaac Vinales all use them. 

I contacted LS2 South Africa and got pricing on the one I really wanted. The LS2 Arrow Carbon. It is their top of the range helmet and when you get to have a good look at it you see the racing inspiration behind it. It is lightweight at 1300g, and is a long oval shape. It comes in three different shell sizes which is nice as it will not be over sized according to the fit. It had space for pin-locks which is something I would use in winter, and had tear-offs for someone wanting to use this helmet for racing. I also enquired about tinted visors as my eyes are sensitive to light, and we all like the stealth look. They had various options so I bit the bullet and ordered the helmet. I also opted for a dark visor as well as a gold iridium visor. LS2 sell their helmets and include a tinted visor and a pinlock insert in the pricing. 

A few weeks later I got a call to say that my helmet was ready. Redewaan, the distributor, met me one evening at a place that was convenient and the whole transaction was effortless and included everything I asked for. Once home I was able to have a good look at the helmet and was super impressed. The overall design is race orientated, and the internals and overall quality are those of a far more expensive helmet. The visor allows for a huge range of view, and is able to be locked in place. The visor is thick and is easy to release for cleaning or swapping. The carbon weave is also stunning once in the sun, and the helmet allows for great ventilation.

I cannot recommend this helmet enough. This is a MotoGP spec helmet for a very good price and punches well above its weight. For more information check out the LS2 Facebook page and message Redewaan. You will not be disappointed.

Alex