Details of the sportier new Diavel for 2019 have surfaced. There will be two variants on sale – the 1260 and 1260 S. The S will also feature top-of-the-line Ohlins suspension, multiple rider aids with a six-axis IMU and even Bluetooth connectivity. The new Diavel will have redesigned bodywork and is called Project 1309.
Ducati’s project manager, Eugenio Gherardi, said, “The whole idea is to move the bike away from the values of the XDiavel and to make the machine sportier. So, the suspension is much better quality and the rake is steeper, going from 28 to 27 degrees. The frame is all-new and though the wheelbase is 15mm longer (1600mm), the bike is a lot nimbler.”
The engine will be the 1,262cc, liquid-cooled L-Twin motor that debuted in the XDiavel and then made its way to the Multistrada 1260. Expect Ducati to unveil the bike at the end of the year, most probably during INTERMOT in October or EICMA in November.