Ducati XDiavel vs Harley-Davidson Breakout: Spec Comparison

Introduction

Ducati has always been a brand synonymous with performance-oriented streetbikes and superbikes. Even the company’s adventure touring division is relatively new, with the Multistrada joining the ranks as recently as 2010. So it was quite surprising when the company announced a brand new cruiser, responding to the American audience which like their cruisers to be laid-back and easy going. It has been almost 30 years since Ducati tried its hand at making a cruiser. So how does the XDiavel stack up against a purebred American cruiser? We decided to pit the XDiavel against the Harley-Davidson Breakout for an on paper spec comparison to find out.

Design & Engine:

The Ducati XDiavel might have been targeted at the American audience, but it hasn’t sacrificed its Italian charm in any way. Despite adopting the low slung stance of a traditional cruiser the XDiavel stays true its origins, thanks to the muscular fuel tank, the edgy headlamp, single-sided swingarm and most importantly, the partly exposed trellis frame.

The Breakout might wear the hallowed ‘Harley-Davidson’ badge, but it is quite different than the rest of its stable mates. Like the XDiavel, the Breakout isn’t a pure cruiser either, with the character tipping more towards a drag bike than an easy going cruiser. A member of the Softail family, the Breakout is more of a lifestyle product which screams ‘bling’. The low slung look, acres of chrome, stretched out wheelbase and the chopped fenders give it a menacing look

At the heart of the XDiavel is a 1262cc 262cc Testastretta L-Twin engine, delivering 155bhp and 129Nm through a six-speed transmission. With 98Nm of torque being available at as low as 2000rpm, the XDiavel ticks the right boxes when it comes to torque delivery. The XDiavel is the only Ducati to be offered with a belt drive, a step taken to improve the bike’s refinement. The engine is Euro IV compliant and comes with Ducati’s proprietary Desmodromic Variable Timing system to offer smoother performance at different speeds.

The Breakout on the other hand is powered by the TwinCam 103 V-twin engine displacing 1690cc. With 130Nm of being served at 3000rpm, the Breakout has the brawn to back its muscular persona. The engine isn’t quite modern when sized against the Testastretta, though in this segment that is hardly a concern. The Breakout engine is also mated to a six-speed transmission

Features & Cycle parts:

Being a Ducati, the XDiavel comes loaded with a slew of modern electronics which make its one of the most advanced cruisers that money can buy. The electronics package consists of three riding modes (Sport, Touring and Urban), traction control and cornering ABS and even a launch control system! The XDiavel even gets the Bosch Inertial Measurement Unit technology which identifies the angles of roll, yaw and pitch and the speed to dynamically make changes in the intervention levels. Harley-Davidson motorcycles have never been about electronics and the Breakout is no different. It gets ABS, a smart security system and that's about it.
The XDiavel rides on 17-inch wheels, with adjustable 50mm forks up front and a preload and rebound adjustable rear monoshock. Brake setup consists of dual 320mm discs in front and a 265mm rear disc, with Brembo callipers.

The Breakout gets 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel. In typical drag racer fashion, the rear wheels get a beefy 240/40 profile tyre while the front wheel gets a 130/60 profile tyre. The XDiavel matches the breakout in terms of the tyre profile with its 120/70 and 240/45 profile front and rear tyres, respectively. Stopping power for the Breakout is provided by a single 300mm front disc and a single rear disc brake.
To up the customisability quotient, Ducati offers the XDiavel with three different seat and handlebar options. Even the footpegs can be moved on rails and adjusted in three different positions to suit the rider’s preferences. The Breakout's seating position is aggressive, and you sit with a forward lean to suit its drag bike character

Price:

The Ducati XDiavel was launched earlier this week with a price tag of Rs 15.8 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). For an additional Rs 2.6 lakh, Ducati will sell you the more advanced XDiavel S, complete with gloss black paint finish, Bluetooth infotainment system, different set of wheels and LED strip for the headlamp. The Harley-Davidson Breakout on the other hand sports a price tag of Rs 16.4 lakh, which makes it more expensive than the XDiavel.