Ohlins rear is after market for the Gen 1, 2 and 3, not sure about the XDiavel. I do not think the gen 1, 2 & 3 Carbon and AMG versions etc have higher spec on perfromance, suspension or brakes etc, its just the looks you are buying. The Gen 3 has the twin spark motor and the X is totally different bike all over the place...not sure why Ducati used the Diavel name for the X. The Gen 1,2 & 3 motor has plenty more to give, a trip most dyno shops will up the torque and power and give you all the options like CC and quickshift. In my view suspension and exhaust are the best mods, but get the motor tuned if you change the exhaust and a better air filter
thanks once again Mike looks like there may be one in the garage soon enough - then fiddle with suspension and exhaust options that tuck in as tight as possible....
Well I took one out today and totally hated it,the most uncomfortable and bouncy bike I have ever ridden,terrible suspension and dreadful seat, couldn't wait to get off it, a real dream shattered.:cry:
Oh, dear, that's a shame. It's also exactly what they're like straight out of the box. Go back to your dealer - or perhaps another one - and ask them to set up the suspension properly. Tweak a few adjusters and, although I'd never describe the ride as 'plush', it's absolutely transformed from the stiff as a board factory setup. I very nearly didn't buy one because of the ride quality on my first test ride. So glad I had another go.
Had a SV1000 like that years back,truly dreadful suspension,paid a suspension specialist £120 to tweak and set it up and was no better off. Its not a bike I enjoyed though and the totally fixed seating position seemed to make things worse,perhaps a Monster is better for me if the seat is not too high. 37 mpg on a slow run was not good either if you thrash it must drop into 20s.
My experience is that the Diavel can feel very bouncy if the preload is wound up too far for the rider's weight. Tyre pressures need to be set correctly & the bike is also very sensitive to squared-off tyres. As Andy suggests, it's worth returning to the dealer (or find another) and check the above issues have been addressed. The DP touring seat is a little higher than the standard, and IMHO it is more comfortable.
I consistently get high 40's mpg out of my bike. This morning I saw 48 after a typical 40 mile bacon butty run. TBH, though, it sounds like the Diavel just isn't the bike for you. If it were, you'd be saying how much you enjoyed the ride, but would want to make some changes to the suspension. The best bike I've ridden lately was a BMW S1000R. It has a power band that seems to go on forever, a ride quality just on the sporty side of magic carpet, and the most neutral, fluid handling I've ever experienced. It even comes with a TT racing soundtrack which I found irritating for the first few minutes, and then quite addictive thereafter. My Diavel feels quite agricultural by comparison. Then again, park an S1000R at your favourite cafe and nobody will give it a second glance. That's not the case if you turn up on a Diavel
I like it because it isn't a taut sports bike - I've got a few of those so don't need another. I guess I'm taken with it because it's a big fat looking cruiser that can pick up its skirts and go if set up and ridden confidently - certainly enough to worry many sports bikes on the road. I'd crash at Cadwell because lobbing it in fast would be out of ground clearance and levered off as soon as blink. Yes it's a bit bouncy but total confidence cornering (two up too) to it's limits of ground clearance. I agree on the fuel consumption but 90% of the time we are two up. So low 40s or high 30s if very energetic - never in the 20s. Haven't noticed tyre issues - suggest find the twisty roads and don't square them off !! The rear goes to the edge, the front doesn't - suggests a mismatch, but hardly a surprise with a 240 section and a proper narrow front. Agree the seat is one position - tried a bit of hanging off to increase corner speed, but that's getting silly. Agree a Monster set up may be better if you like to move around a lot. I'm just enjoying the old 'Mike Hailwood' style of riding - just lean, no knee dangling or hanging off. I thought my hips would ache as I'm 6' 4" - but ride to TT and back no issues. Little DP screen makes a big difference though. I've had a couple of comments from non-bikers quite taken with its presence.......and a couple of bikers at the Creg commented on its ability over the mountain to hustle along. Such is biking we all have our ideal garage - the Diavel works as my relaxed ride/pillion transport/no pressure thrash/bacon butty machine. The 999 comes out for 'serious' rides and I've now got a track bike for v. serious pushing the envelope stuff.
Agree, especially with the comment on finding twisty roads. That's why it's worth checking that the demo/test ride bike has decent tyres. A second hand bike might still be sporting tyres that are past their best & possibly squared-off. Fresh rubber at the correct pressures could make quite a difference to the bike's handling. It makes sense to ensure tyre pressures are correct & the dealership where I rode a Diavel (twice) said they don't handle properly if the tyres are under inflated. Also agree that the Diavel works well for relaxed riding as well as for more spirited runs.
