2015 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Italian Muscle, One Of 500
Ducati built 500 of these, and the Titanium edition is the Diavel formula wearing its best clothes: brushed titanium tank inserts, a titanium headlight cover, carbon fiber bodywork wrapped around the trellis frame. Underneath sits the 1198 cc Testastretta 11° L-twin, 162 hp and 96 lb-ft, managed through Ducati Ride-by-Wire Power Modes with traction control and ABS behind them. A 240-section rear tire and a 62.6 in wheelbase deliver the long, low stance the class demands, but the hardware underneath is sportbike-grade. That is what puts it on a very short list of cruisers built around genuine performance rather than the impression of it.
It rides tighter than it looks. The seat sits low at 30.3 in, wet weight is 516 lb, and the low center of gravity means the mass stops being a topic once you are rolling. Fully adjustable suspension at both ends and a slipper clutch tell you where the priorities were. This one is for the rider who wants a cruiser's presence and metal without the slow-motion delivery that usually comes attached. The honest caveat: chain final drive, no cruise control, and a 4.5 gal tank mean it rewards shorter, sharper rides more than 500 mile days.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 162 hp (119 kW) @ 9,250 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 96 lb-ft (130 Nm) @ 8,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 1198 cc |
| Engine | L-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 240/45-17 |
| Wheelbase | 62.6 in (1590 mm) |
| Seat height | 30.3 in (770 mm) |
| Wet weight | 516 lb (234 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 gal (17 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Lighting
Safety
The named systems that set this bike apart — and what each one does for you.
Fueling
Thumb the starter and the L-twin settles into a hard, uneven idle you feel through the pegs before you properly hear it. That sound is a large part of why people keep this bike around. Sit on it and the ergonomics are less laid back than the silhouette suggests: feet slightly forward, a flat reach to the bars, room to move your weight around. At town speed you notice the width of that rear tire in your hips every time you shift position. Out on open road the vibration thins to a steady pulse, the bars stay quiet in your hands, and the whole machine goes calm and long-legged. The titanium and carbon pieces sit close enough to see and touch from the saddle, and they survive that kind of inspection.
Gearbox jumping out of second gear
The transmission can pop out of second gear and into neutral under hard acceleration, which is potentially dangerous during overtaking.
Fuel level sensor failure
Many owners report the fuel gauge becoming inaccurate or completely failing within the first few thousand miles, often requiring replacement of the sensor.
Keyless ignition fob communication failure
The hands-free system frequently fails to recognize the key fob, preventing start-up. Replacing the fob battery often does not solve the problem, and the bike may need to be towed to a dealer for reset.
Where this Ducati Diavel Titanium pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Diavel Titanium is actually built for.
You will get the looks you showed up for and a sound worth idling through town for. It simply speaks with an Italian accent, and the riding rhythm is sharper and faster than the classic rally cadence.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
The look here is modern muscle, not vintage, so it will not scratch a heritage itch. For slower back-road days it works well enough, though the 4.5 gal tank and missing cruise control shape how far you get.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Not the right tool for this job. No cruise control, a 4.5 gal tank, luggage only as an option, and a chain to look after add up to work you do not need on a long haul.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Ducati Diavel Titanium. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
