That’s me, a dumbstruck tourist with a Ducati. The Ducati Diavel to be exact. Fresh off a Vespa pushing 22 horsepower to a power cruiser with an additional 140 horsepower. That’s 162 horsepower for those of you who ride K bikes.
This was how an evening ride with the owner of Kissell Motorsports began a few months ago.
Actually this ride began many months before that when Craig Kissell announced the new Ducati and suggested he and I should take a ride together and take notes. Sounded like a plan to me.
We left the shop with Craig on the Multistrada and me on the Diavel. The last time I was on a Ducati was a ride on the Hypermotard. Another experience in the meaning of contrast between a Vespa and something with power far beyond my imagination. I’d read about the Diavel and forged a healthy respect in my head. It seemed to be an engine on wheels, and one of those wheels, the rear one, was eight inches wide.
I chose to start with the Diavel figuring I would face my fears and inadequacies right away, and also take advantage of the freeway leg of our ride — smooth pavement with gently sweeping curves. The easiest landscape to ride. At some point it occurred to me that Craig might be checking up on me after having woken up in the middle of the night wondering what possessed him to just start giving me motorcycles to ride. He needed to see first hand that a Vespa rider could handle something that required more than twisting a throttle. If he did have concerns he never voiced them.
If someone had asked me to describe the Ducati experience at that moment I would have said, “Powerful, finicky, mechanical.” When you are riding a Ducati you know you are on a machine. That’s how I felt after the Hypermotard. And all the Ducati riders I knew would get a faraway look in their eyes when they talked about their motorcycles and the sounds they made.
I expected more of the same with the Diavel.
I was wrong.
Craig Kissell is pretty laid back. At least he seems that way when you seem him at the shop or out in public. He seems that way when he rolls an expensive motorcycle out of the showroom, hands me the keys and says to have fun. I’ve watched him talk with customers in the same easy manner that we talk. He lets you decide what you like and what you don’t. I didn’t think I would like the Diavel. He didn’t care, just said to write whatever I wanted. I suppose he knows everyone has favorite motorcycles and others they don’t care for.
We had less than two hours to ride. Not enough time to ride, sit down and share opinions and have me take any kind of notes that would be a rigorous comparison of the two Ducati motorcycles. So I’ll just share my general response to both. If you want to know what Craig thinks stop by and see him.
The Diavel was one of the smoothest motorcycles I have ever ridden. Shockingly so. And the engine sound and smoothness was definitely un-Ducati like in my estimation, misguided as it is. And the bike was powerful, fast, comfortable and easy to ride. After 25 miles I was smiling and pleasantly surprised by the performance. No bad words from me about this bike though definitely not something that fits into my riding life.
Now it was my turn on the Multistrada, a Ducati that I had my eye on for a long time, one that I felt would definitely fit into my riding life. A mile down the road and I’m telling myself, “This is a Ducati”. Touchy power, the mechanical clatter I associate with a Ducati engine, and a harsher suspension than I expected. Riding a Vespa GTS spoils you when I comes to road comfort.
We got back to Kissell Motorsports at closing time in a rush, a rush that those two motorcycles embraced easily. Before I pass judgment on the Multistrada I need to ride it a bit longer. And take a few more pictures.
Until then, all I can say for sure, is that riding a Ducati is fun.
Steve,
Interesting – not the review I expected to hear. Has the new Diavel got multiple ride settings? If so, I think you should pop it into race/track mode (and presumably out of rain) to see what it does. I’ve heard that the new K1600s are a bit jerky unless they’re in rain mode, which changes throttle response. Ah, modern technology… unlike my old Honda, which cannot jerk the passenger (too much weight, no power) so they were happy to keep ride by cable.
Brady
Behind Bars – Motorcycles and Life
http://www.behindbarsmotorcycle.com
A motorcycle that rides like a Duc, walks like a Duc, and talks like a Duc must therefore be a Duc.
To me a Ducati is an over-rated machine, maybe because it is way too small as a motorcycle for me.
Then too servicing such a device has always been fraught with possible problems. Like owning a Ferrari and your nearest dealer is 2000 miles away and no mechanic in your area will even allow the machinery in the shop, for fear it will give other vehicles problems..
Mind the new FIAT (Fix It Again, Tony) looks cute with a face only a mother could love.
I’ve always thought Ducatis as rather sexy looking machines…but following the analogy…as “high maintenance” and expensive machines to keep in one’s stable. I could be wrong but the tales I hear and read re their servicing.
Still, they do look nice…..thanks Steve.
dom
Redleg’s Rides
Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner
Steve:
I’m not sure I would own or even try out a Ducati. From what I have heard they are maintenance intensive, perhaps if we had a Craig nearby I would change my mind, but they sure look like works of art
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
Brady: I know the Multistrada has multiple ride settings but not sure about the Diavel. It rode so nice that I wasn’t concerned with changing anything.
Bryce: I share the same impressions with you about the Ducati brand but with little experience I can’t say how much is myth and how much is true.
People who have them seem to really form an attachment. The Ferrari analogy may be right. My friend Paul has a Ferrari and a Ducati.
With a Ducati dealer in town it really changes the equation about service. Whenever anyone asks me about the purchase of a motorcycle or scooter the first thing usually out of my mouth is, “make sure you have local service available.” A lot of people must thing these things never need service…
Charlie6: They are pretty. And when you look close at the construction and assembly of them compared to other machines you can see what accounts for a lot of the cost. Fine welds, machining and even the fasteners are top end. You don’t see many Phillips head screws on a Ducati.
You would look good in one if you abandoned your motor officer riding gear and opted for some fine Italian leather riding jacket and some snazzy boots.
bobskoot: I think there is a niche buyer for a Ducati. When I look at my dirty, well used Vespa I imagine I am not part of that group.
Different machines for different riders.
Dear Steve:
I have heard great things about the Ducati Diavel (Italian for “steamed broccoli”) from a number of middle-aged BMW riders, who claim it is the bike for guys who swore they were too old to get in trouble again.
I am told the acceleration is smoother than a line of shit from a Washington, DC lobbyist.
Why do you tantalize yourself with these machines, when you always return to the safety and security of the VESPA (which is Italian for the kind of women I like to pop — WASPs).
Fondest regards,
Jack/reep
Twisted Roads
Steve, not exactly a Ducati, but here is an interesting two-wheeled adventure
http://adamthetraveler.blogspot.com/2011/10/journey-to-mekong-delta.html#more