The next-generation Ducati Diavel has once again been spotted undergoing trials, this time in Germany. The spy shot shows the test mule being tested alongside a Multistrada, and gives us a clearer glimpse of the Diavel’s new belt drive system, swingarm and the frame.
The makeover for the new Diavel has given the power cruiser a completely new identity. The motorcycle looks sleeker and ditches the current bike’s bulky body panels to adopt a more minimalistic design. The test mule had a cruiser-like seating position thanks to forward set footpegs and swept-back handlebars. The lighter front profile and this new riding position shows a radical shift towards traditional cruiser design.
With the switch to a belt drive in place of the current Diavel’s chain drive, we can also expect a significant change in the bike’s power characteristics. The redesigned frame houses Ducati’s new 1198cc Desmodromic Variable Timing (DVT) engine, which comes a power output of 160bhp. The rear shock has been repositioned from under the bike to below the rider’s seat.
Though the company hasn’t confirmed this, this traditional cruiser-like approach hints that Ducati might offer the next-generation Diavel in two versions. The new Diavel be unveiled at the 2015 EICMA Show, this November and we can expect it to be launched in India around mid-2016.
