2019 Ducati Diavel Spy Photos
Updated Diavel shares more in common with XDiavel
From these photos that were slipped under the MO office door, Ducati appears to be bringing the 2019 Diavel more in line with the XDiavel. It’s been some time since the standard Diavel received any attention from Ducati, so the timing of the 2019 revamp makes sense.
Looking at these photos, it appears the new Diavel will inherit the XDiavel’s engine, complete with variable valve timing. From there, the exhaust, frame, headlight, rear shock, and possibly the subframe are inherited, too.
The overall look and feel of the Diavel is as bold and obvious as ever, but we can see subtle design changes in the form of revised air scoops. Also, the fuel tank shape appears to be slightly smaller, though it could be the angle of the photos and Ducati’s camouflaging fooling the eyes. Other carryover items from the Diavel include the wheels, chain drive, and footpeg positions. As has become commonplace with Ducatis, the standard model will get, presumably, a Marzocchi fork, while S models – a first for Diavels without the X prefix – get the good stuff from Öhlins.
So what’s new? Despite the largely similar silhouette between new and old Diavels, we can clearly see a new swingarm for the 2019 model, necessitating the new shock mount. The trellis frame appears to now be shared with the xDiavel. A new radiator makes an appearance, too. The one-piece, two-level seat also looks revised, likely to accommodate the slightly different riding position. Lastly, S models appear to receive M50 calipers from Brembo.
Changing the engine to match the XDiavel’s mill is a no brainer. The move will bump the displacement from 1198cc to 1262cc. Additionally, the engine will benefit from the broad range of power production delivered by the XDiavel’s Desmodromic Variable Timing (DVT). That combination was good enough to crank out 142.6 hp and 83.9 lb-ft of torque on the MO dyno when we rode it last October. What was most notable about the power delivery, though, was the impressively flat torque curve and the responsiveness it achieved in the bottom end. One thing that the Diavel didn’t receive in the switch to the Testastretta DVT 1262cc engine was a belt final drive. The photos clearly show a chain transferring the engine’s output to the rear wheel.
Streamlining the Diavel and xDiavel lines makes sense from a business perspective. Despite the similar names, each uses key parts such as the trellis frame that aren’t shared with any other models. Being able to use the same parts with multiple models has become a key trend in the motorcycle industry, helping reduce production costs.
Expect to see the updated 2019 Ducati Diavel debut at one of the fall’s big motorcycle shows. Judging from past history, it’ll likely be introduced at EICMA like the original Diavel and XDiavel in November rather than the Intermot show in October.
We’ll have more information right here on Motorcycle.com as it becomes available.
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YES! Finally, I can get an xDiavel with mid pegs! Hopefully soon we'll get a Diavel stunt team.
Meh , still has a face that only a mother could love. . . I'll stick to the heavier and probably slower V-MAX 1700.