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Home | Ducati | Review 2012 Ducati Diavel February 22, 2012

Review 2012 Ducati Diavel

2012 Ducati Diavel – Testastretta 11° – The Diavels heart is the Ducati Testastretta 11° – developed directly from the incredibly powerful, world-beating race engines of Ducati Corse. Ducati’s Testastretta 11° harnesses the immense power of the Superbike engine and makes it smooth and adaptable, a massive step forward in balancing high-performance with an enjoyable ride. For an engine with brute power on tap when needed and smooth, user-friendliness available for an effortless and comfortable ride, Ducati revised the configuration of the cam timing with particular focus on the valve overlap angle. The overlap angle is defined as the interval of crankshaft rotation, measured in degrees, during which both the intake and exhaust valves are open at the same time. This overlap occurs between the end of the exhaust stroke and the start of the intake stroke. High performance engines, which are subject to compromising smoothness for extreme power delivery, use high values of this parameter in order to benefit from the pressure waves to improve engine performance by maximising volumetric efficiency. On the Testastretta 11° engine, this angle has been reduced from 41°, used in the Testastretta Evoluzione engine which powers the 1198, to 11°. As a result, the fresh inlet charge flow is less compromised by the exiting exhaust gases, resulting in a much smoother combustion in addition to improved fuel economy and lower exhaust emissions.

Ride-by-Wire – The Ride-by-Wire (RbW) system is an electronic interface between the Diavel’s twistgrip and engine, which configures an ideal power response depending on the riding mode selected. The twistgrip no longer has a throttle cable connected directly to the throttle body butterflies, but instead delivers a signal to a control unit, which in turn operates the butterfly opening electronically. The RbW system uses three different mappings to regulate the power delivery: 162hp with a sports-type delivery 162hp with a progressive delivery suitable for touring 100hp with progressive delivery for city use

15,000 miles between major services – Constant investment in quality by design, advanced materials and engineering techniques have enabled the distance between major service intervals (valve clearance check) to be increased to a highly competitive 15,000 miles. This has been achieved with the introduction of new valve seat materials, improved combustion efficiency and temperature management designed into the Testastretta 11° engine.

Twin lateral radiators – The technical solution employed for keeping the frontal lines of the Diavel clean was to place two highly efficient lateral radiators on both sides of the bike. These well-ducted units, located beneath the fuel tank, use aerodynamics to help draw air flow through the radiators and are assisted by high-flow electric fans when required. The design combines form and function to enhance the muscular shape of the bike.

Power and Torque – With its 162hp and colossal 94lb-ft (127.5Nm) of torque, the Diavel Testastretta 11° engine is all about authentic Ducati Desmodromic performance. The revised intake and exhaust ports combined with radical adjustment of the cam timing have enabled Ducati to achieve a fantastic 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 for high-rpm riding.

Exhaust system – The massive 58mm (2.28in) section exhaust headers lead the 2-1-2 system through power-enhancing equal lengths that enable the Diavel’s efficient power delivery. The engine management system dedicates a lambda probe to each header, providing precise fueling via a large airbox, while the stylish cannon-style, vertically stacked silencers carry catalytic converters to provide Euro 3 conformity and electronically controlled mid-section valve optimises exhaust pressures throughout the rev-range.

Slipper clutch – The transmission features an oil bath clutch with “slipper” function and super-light feel at the lever. Its design uses a progressive self-servo mechanism that presses the plates together when under drive from the engine, enabling the reduction of the clutch spring rates. This results in a much lighter clutch lever at the handlebar, ideal in stop-start traffic or during long journeys. When the drive force is reversed (over-run), the same mechanism reduces the pressure on the clutch plates, enabling them to provide a race-like “slipper” action, which reduces the destabilizing effect of the rear-end under aggressive down-shifting and provides a much smoother feeling when closing the throttle or down-shifting under normal riding conditions.

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Marzocchi forks – The Diavel uses black-bodied 50mm Marzocchi front forks. These forks are fully adjustable for spring pre-load, compression and rebound damping. The forks 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 for incredible handling and 70° of total steering lock for maximum manoeuvrability.

14-spoke wheels – The Diavel rolls on stunning, custom 14-spoke wheels with machine-finished detailing. The front rim is 3.5×17, while the rear, which is “flow-formed” for enhanced structure and lightness, boasts a massive 8×17 rim.

Fuel tank and air intakes – The Diavel’s 17l (4.5 gal US) fuel tank represents an integral part of the bike’s overall styling. Its wide, long lines sweep down from the headlamp assembly into the seat and rear sub-frame to create a seamless profile. While the focal point of the tank is the high resolution display panel, the steel tank skin and well-sculpted knee panels add a solid feel to the Diavel and a high tech composite look to the Diavel Carbon. On each side of the front of the tank are massive air intakes formed in aluminium to feed the engine’s large airbox.

Diavel frame assembly – The signature Ducati Trellis frame uses large diameter, light gauge tubing with two lateral die-cast aluminium sections that flow into the rear subframe. This achieves massive torsional rigidity while remaining lightweight and compact. The two sections form a rear-end structure by attaching onto either side of a complex techno-polymer component.

Twin-level seat – The Diavel’s twin-level seat is wide, comfortable and beautifully shaped to fit the flowing lines of the machine and at 770mm (30.3in), has one of the lowest seat heights in the Ducati range. That low seating position, in addition to a low slung chassis set-up that weighs in at just 210kg (463lb) – 207kg (456lb) for the Diavel Carbon – enables the rider to get both feet on the ground for a sure-footed and confident stance. The seat also comes with a beautifully shaped and easily removable single seat cover, which is formed in carbon fibre on the Diavel Carbon.

Sachs rear suspension – 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.

Braking system – The Diavel front brakes use Brembo’s incredibly powerful Monobloc callipers, which deliver outstanding performance actuated by new 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.

Single-sided swingarm – The long, die-cast aluminium, single-sided swingarm provides great “feel” at the rear-end with a wheelbase of 1590mm (62.6in) and a stance that provides lean angles of up to 41°.

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2012 Ducati Diavel – North American Specifications/Technical Details
US MSRP Price: $17,495 USD
Canada MSRP Price: See Canadian Dealer for pricing.

Chassis
FRAME
Tubular steel Trellis frame
WHEELBASE
1590mm (62.6in)
RAKE
28°
FRONT SUSPENSION
Marzocchi 50mm fully adjustable usd forks
FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL
120mm (4.7in)
FRONT WHEEL
14-spoke in light alloy 3.50 x 17
FRONT TYRE
120/70 ZR 17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso II
REAR SUSPENSION
Progressive linkage with fully adjustable Sachs monoshock. Aluminium single-sided swingarm
REAR WHEEL TRAVEL
120mm (4.7in)
REAR WHEEL
14-spoke in light alloy 8.00 x 17
REAR TYRE
240/45 ZR17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso II
FRONT BRAKE
2 x 320mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Monobloc Brembo callipers, 4-piston with ABS
REAR BRAKE
265mm disc, 2-piston floating calliper with ABS
FUEL TANK CAPACITY
17l – (4.5 US gal)
DRY WEIGHT
210kg (463lb)
INSTRUMENTS
Handlebar mounted instrumentation with LCD display: speed, rpm, time, coolant temp. Warning lights for: Neutral, turn signals, high-beam, rev-limit, DTC intervention, ABS status, oil pressure, fuel reserve. Tank mounted instrumentation with TFT colour display: gear selected, air temp, battery voltage, trips 1 & 2, fuel reserve trip, average and actual fuel consumption and speed, trip time, scheduled maintenance. Full status and/or management of Riding Modes, DTC, RbW and ABS.
WARRANTY
2 years unlimited mileage
BODY COLOUR (FRAME/WHEEL)
Red (red / black) – Pearl White Silk and Metallic Black (black / black)
VERSIONS
Dual seat
SEAT HEIGHT
770mm (30.3in)

DDA Not available on this model

DTC Standard equipment

ABS Standard equipment

Engine
TYPE
Testastretta 11°, L-Twin cylinder, 4 valve per cylinder, Desmodromic, liquid cooled
DISPLACEMENT
1198.4cc
BORE X STROKE
106 x 67.9mm
COMPRESSION RATIO
11.5:1
POWER
162hp (119kW) @ 9500rpm
TORQUE
94lb-ft (127.5Nm) @ 8000rpm
FUEL INJECTION
Mitsubishi electronic fuel injection system, Mikuni elliptical throttle bodies with RbW
EXHAUST
Lightweight 2-1-2 system with catalytic converter and two lambda probes. Twin aluminium mufflers
Transmission
GEARBOX
6 speed
RATIO
1=37/15 2=30/17 3=27/20 4=24/22 5=23/24 6=22/25
PRIMARY DRIVE
Straight cut gears, ratio 1.84:1
FINAL DRIVE
Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 43
CLUTCH
Light action, wet, multiplate clutch with hydraulic control. Self-servo action on drive, slipper action on over-run.
Emissions
STANDARD
Euro 3

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