2016–2024 · Cruiser · A variant of the XDiavel
Differences between the standard XDiavel and the S
Italian Muscle, Sport Soul
The XDiavel takes the long, low chopper silhouette seriously, then bolts a 1262cc L-twin underneath it making 160 hp and 94 lb-ft. That's the whole idea: a fat 240-section rear tire, forward controls, a stance that owns the curb, and a motor with real reach up top. Ducati Ride-by-Wire power modes, cornering ABS, traction and wheelie control all come standard, so the presence isn't faked with tired hardware. It looks every inch a cruiser and carries the electronics of a modern Ducati underneath the metal.
On the road it rides far sharper than it parks. Build quality is genuinely high, the kind you clock in the first three glances, and the whole machine reads as one coherent piece. It suits a rider who wants a statement bike that can still run hard on a good road and hold a line at real speed. The honest catch sits in the powerband. The strongest drive lives in the midrange, so if you're chasing big bottom-end cruiser shove off idle, this L-twin delivers its character higher up instead.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 160 hp (118 kW) @ 9,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 94 lb-ft (127 Nm) @ 5,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 1262 cc |
| Engine | L-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 240/45-17 |
| Wheelbase | 63.6 in (1615 mm) |
| Seat height | 29.7 in (755 mm) |
| Wet weight | 545 lb (247 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 gal (18 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Connectivity
Lighting
Safety
The named systems that set this bike apart — and what each one does for you.
Fueling
Sit on it and the identity lands instantly: you're low, your feet are pushed well out front, and there's no mistaking what kind of motorcycle you've thrown a leg over. Thumb the starter and the L-twin has a voice with real body to it, the sort of mechanical presence this class is supposed to own. At road pace the thing that surprises your hands is how willingly it changes direction for something this heavy on this much rear rubber; point it at a bend and it goes, without the reluctant flop you'd brace for. There's clearance to lean on too, and the whole bike stays composed and planted when the pace climbs. It feels like more motorcycle than the silhouette ever promises.
The XDiavel S (MY2016-S) builds on the standard XDiavel: the upgraded hardware, the key spec changes and where its character shifts. The full ride, specs, scoring and verdict are all right here on this page.
| Spec | Standard XDiavel | S | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 152 hp | 160 hp | +8 hp |
My own 0–100 score for this bike against the class, area by area — the marker on each bar is the class average.
The brakes are the piece that catches me off guard every time. Power and bite like this would stand out on any machine, and finding it bolted to a cruiser of this heft feels almost out of place, in the best way. Where it asks for care is on the way in: grab a firm handful approaching a corner and the front pitches down while the bike tries to sit up, working against the line I'd picked. Braking deep toward an apex just isn't the game here, so I set my speed early and let it run clean.
At everyday road speeds the motor comes across as polished and composed, and the part I keep enjoying is the control it hands me: I can meter drive to the rear wheel in fine increments and place it exactly where I want. The honest catch sits down low. Go looking for a big hit right off idle and you find smooth, unhurried running instead, since the meaningful drive doesn't build until the midrange. Riders who want their torque piled up at the bottom will feel the gap.
For all the mass it carries and the fat rear tire out back, this thing drops into a bend far more willingly than I braced for, and much of the credit goes to the purpose-built sport rubber. Roll it onto its side and there's genuine clearance on tap, so I could keep committing without running out of angle. Tight stuff is where the weight speaks up: hairpins ask for firm, deliberate pressure at the bar, and you physically steer the bike around instead of waiting for it to tuck in.
For me the entire point of this bike is the mismatch between how it stands and how it moves. Parked, it's putting on a show before anything mechanical happens, pulling eyes just sitting at the curb. Then you point it at a real mountain road and it holds pace with sharp naked bikes through the long stretches, which is the last thing the silhouette leads you to expect. That gap, between the cruiser it plays at rest and the pace it actually finds, is the whole argument.
There's not much to debate here, because the riding position makes its case the second I settle in. The saddle sits genuinely low and the pegs reach a long way out front, dropping me into a reclined, legs-forward stance with no effort at all. From the first few feet there's no mistaking the kind of machine I've thrown a leg over, and that single-minded clarity is the whole point.
This isn't my own ride report; it's what I've pieced together from years of listening to the people who actually own these bikes. The long conversations that keep going online, the talk that starts up anytime riders gather, and the notes and messages that reach me directly. On the XDiavel the chatter lines up cleanly: heavy praise for what the bike is, and steady grumbling about what it asks of you once the pace drops.
The engine dominates what riders tell me. They talk about torque you can reach without winding it out, paired with a growl that gives the motor real body, then a delivery that turns civil and easy the moment they hold a steady cruise. Right beside it sits the bike's presence: sculpted bodywork and machined detail that pull compliments and hold up as premium under a close look. The good word widens from there. Riders report a machine that leans in and stays settled with more composure than the long wheelbase and fat rear tire would lead you to expect, and the front brakes earn repeated mention for bite and feel well past the cruiser norm. The rider aids collect their own following too, with cornering ABS, traction and wheelie control, switchable power modes, cruise control, and keyless start among the tools owners say they lean on.
The loudest and most common complaint arrives at crawling speed. A wide turning circle, an abrupt throttle low in the range, and slack in the driveline turn parking lots and tight U-turns into a chore. Heat is the next recurring theme, gathered on the right side, and it wears on anyone caught in traffic or riding when it's warm. After that comes the suspension: sprung firmly, it stays busy over rough surfaces and shortens the comfortable range on longer days. A smaller group flags a persistent buzz through the forward pegs at highway speed that can leave their feet numb, and a few admit the bold shape and outsized rear tire, striking as they find them, don't win over every longtime Ducati faithful.
Passenger backrest may break (recall)
The accessory passenger backrest can crack if installed incorrectly or if the passenger does not hold the retainer strap. Recalled across 2016-2023 models; dealers inspect, tighten bolts, and apply a warning sticker.
Loose pulley nuts (recall 2016-2017)
The drive pulley retaining nuts may loosen, potentially leading to loss of control. Recall 16V679 affected early XDiavels; dealers retorque nuts.
Warped front brake discs
Isolated reports of front discs warping, leading to pulsating lever feel; may require replacement of discs.
Water pump leaking at desmo service interval
Some owners report coolant weeping from the water pump during or shortly after the desmo service (approx. 30,000 km), requiring replacement of the seal or pump, adding significant cost to the service.
Hard starting after weather changes
A few owners note difficult starting, particularly after the motorcycle sits through significant temperature or seasonal changes; cause not clearly documented.
Water pump leaks
Some owners report coolant leaks from the water pump, often discovered during desmo service and requiring seal replacement.
Fork seal oil leaks
Premature fork seal seepage has been reported by a small number of owners.
Where this Ducati XDiavel 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 XDiavel is actually built for.
If Sturgis and Daytona are on your calendar and you want stance, sound, and charisma, the XDiavel brings all three in its own Italian accent. It holds its own on the ride out and owns the curb once you're there.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
You want classic looks and unhurried two-lane miles. The style's here in spades, but know this one rides sharper and revs harder than a mellow classic, so it rewards a rider who sometimes wants to push.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Straight talk: this is a charismatic weekend machine, not a loaded two-up hauler. With forward pegs and a 4.8-gal (18 L) tank, it's built for a great day's ride, not a fully packed run across the parks.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2011–2013
Muscle Bike That Actually Corners
Compare to the previous model →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 XDiavel. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
