New Diavel Looks awesome.... But ehhh...The looks???

[ducatiz]

Its a hardtail

[xcaptainxbloodx]

you can see it here, its...different.

[hillbillypolack]

in order to grow the brand they need conquest sales.  conquest sales mean offering bikes that compete with other mfgs lines on price point and market segment.

Mmmm.  Well, that's one way to go about it, if you reserve yourself to be a follower.  AFAIK Ducati has never really been a follower.  Desmodromic valves were from what other cycle manufacturer?  Single sided swingarm and undertail exhaust were from what other OEM?  The Monster was loosely based on what bike (851/888 frame) but what was its competition in that segment in 1994?  The Supermono and Desmosedici were offshoots of what part of Ducati's engineering arm?  And bikes like the Hypermotard and Multistrada were previously nonexistent segments before Ducati created them (possibly with the exception of the Triumph Tiger in the MS' case).

Being successful involves undertaking endeavours nobody else is doing.  That's the definition of being an entrepreneur and a market leader.

[xcaptainxbloodx]

Mmmm.  Well, that's one way to go about it, if you reserve yourself to be a follower.  AFAIK Ducati has never really been a follower.  Desmodromic valves were from what other cycle manufacturer?  Single sided swingarm and undertail exhaust were from what other OEM?  The Monster was loosely based on what bike (851/888 frame) but what was its competition in that segment in 1994?  The Supermono and Desmosedici were offshoots of what part of Ducati's engineering arm?  And bikes like the Hypermotard and Multistrada were previously nonexistent segments before Ducati created them (possibly with the exception of the Triumph Tiger in the MS' case).

Being successful involves undertaking endeavours nobody else is doing.  That's the definition of being an entrepreneur and a market leader.

I dont know a ton about cruisers but it seems to me that there is a certain lacking of performance in that realm. to put out a bike with cruiser comfort/looks that has ohlins suspension, brembo brakes, 160~bhp engine and a lightweight frame IS being innovative.  everyone who rides sportbikes knows that ducati makes excellent bikes, this bike will simply give those that would never look ducati's way a reason to come into the showroom and has the added bonus of giving the aging ducati crowd something fun and "cool" a bike to ride that wont break their backs going around the corner.

Ducati has always been innovative but that doesn't mean it ignores trends either.  the sport 1000 came out when cafe bikes started to trend, the hyper came out a good decade after the first ktm supermoto and bmw has been making touring bikes since the 70s. as for the streetfighter? please...

FYI, I dont want the diavel and I dont like cruisers. I just can see how a bike like this fits a very large market that ducati had been missing out on, and if that gives them extra cash to R&D race bikes or pay Rossi's salary then thats ok by me.

[hillbillypolack]

I honestly don't see how this could be considered a 'cruiser'.  The geometry isn't relaxed enough for that.

It's more in line with the K1200R, B-King and V-Max.  And the B-Kings are sitting in dealerships collecting dust while the dealerships are offering $3000 off the list price.

This seems to be a well-established segment already without many players.  I'd like to reference sales numbers, but I don't see many of these bikes on the street. . (?) 

So.  Just food for thought.

[kopfjäger]

I honestly don't see how this could be considered a 'cruiser'. 

Ok we get it, you don't like it. Nothing to see here, move along. 

[hillbillypolack]

Ok we get it, you don't like it. Nothing to see here, move along. 

The jury's out. I haven't seen it in person, nor ridden one. It's not impressive on paper. Then again, neither were other bikes I've bought after a test ride.

It's difficult for me to see how this 'fits' within the Ducati lineup.

[Raux]

It's hideous how many bad design cues the Diavel takes from these these monstrousities (and I'm not using that is the sense of our beloved Monsters)

I honestly don't see how this could be considered a 'cruiser'.  The geometry isn't relaxed enough for that.

It's more in line with the K1200R, B-King and V-Max.  And the B-Kings are sitting in dealerships collecting dust while the dealerships are offering $3000 off the list price.

This seems to be a well-established segment already without many players.  I'd like to reference sales numbers, but I don't see many of these bikes on the street. . (?) 

So.  Just food for thought.

[Triple J]

(possibly with the exception of the Triumph Tiger in the MS' case).

The MTS was indeed an original bike when it came out in 2003. The Tiger existed then, but as an adventure tourer complete with a 19" (maybe 21"; can't remember) front wheel, not as an upright sportbike like it has become since being re-designed and released as the 1050 in 2007.

[Privateer]

The jury's out. I haven't seen it in person, nor ridden one. It's not impressive on paper. Then again, neither were other bikes I've bought after a test ride.

It's difficult for me to see how this 'fits' within the Ducati lineup.

it's a different type of sport riding for guys who either don't want to or can't lean over a tank any more and have short inseams and can't ride a multistrada? 

Even still, HD alone sells about $4 billion (revenue) worth of cruisers annually.  Even a small slice of that is big dollars for Ducati.

[the_Journeyman]

Ok, next weekend I'm going to the local Ducati dealer and see this in person.  Something to generate this much animosity is worth seeing in the flesh.... Metal I guess?

Who knows.  Privateer makes a good point about sales money. 

I'm a fan of "musclebikes" as I call them.  V-Rod, V-Max, Warrior, Mean Streak, M109R etc.  One that can corner nicely and makes some serious power too would garner a second look if I was going dealer to dealer checking out those market offerings ~

JM

[Drunken Monkey]

Here's the thing: The BKing (sounds like a dollar menu item, BTW) and the VMAX are both heavy-ass bikes.

The Diavel, not so much.

Ducati might be on to something. If not, it's not like they invested a lot of R&D on this puppy.

[MadDuck]

Then there is this.......... sorry if it's a Derby.


http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/bike-tests/2010/12/28/test-riding-the-ducati-mutant/1

[ducatiz]

The MTS was indeed an original bike when it came out in 2003. The Tiger existed then, but as an adventure tourer complete with a 19" (maybe 21"; can't remember) front wheel, not as an upright sportbike like it has become since being re-designed and released as the 1050 in 2007.

Vstrom predated the MTS by a year two years.

[Triple J]

Vstrom predated the MTS by a year two years.

...and the V-strom is a GS knock-off, made for adventure touring with a 19" front wheel. The original MTS was an upright sportbike.