97 dB(A): Above the Tyrol Limit

According to registration documents, the Ducati Diavel V4 has a stationary noise rating of 97 dB(A). Tyrol’s limit is 95 dB(A). That means the Diavel V4 may not be ridden on roads in Tyrol where motorcycles exceeding 95 dB(A) are prohibited.

Anyone who regularly rides across Tyrolean mountain passes and buys a Diavel V4 has a route-planning problem. For riders who regularly travel on Austrian Alpine roads, it can be a deciding factor in the purchase.

What’s New for 2026: Diavel V4 RS, Facelift Announced

The standard Diavel V4 is technically unchanged for 2026. The most important event for the Diavel family in 2026 is the new Diavel V4 RS: 182 hp from a 1,103 cc Desmosedici Stradale engine, desmodromic valve actuation, limited production, and a higher price.

In January 2026, Ducati filed design patents with the European Union Intellectual Property Office, EUIPO, for what appears to be a Diavel V4 S—with revised side panels, a different wheel design, and probably semi-active suspension.

There is no official launch date. The V4 S is expected either during 2027 or, at the earliest, Autumn of 2026.

Engine: V4 Granturismo—168 hp, Broad and Immediate

1,158 cc, liquid-cooled, 90-degree V4, counter-rotating crankshaft, valve springs instead of Desmo, 168 hp at 10,750 rpm, 126 Nm at 7,500 rpm, six-speed transmission, Euro 5+, Quick Shift Up/Down.

The V4 Granturismo is not a high-revving race engine. It delivers broad, substantial thrust without demanding 10,000 rpm before you feel its full effect. From as low as 3,000 rpm, there is enough drive to make every gear useful on backroads and eliminate any sense of strain on highway on-ramps. Rev it harder and you feel the engine become sharper as rpm rises—but you also realize that it does not need to.

The counter-rotating crankshaft neutralizes part of the gyroscopic force that, in conventional engines, noticeably resists steering inputs at higher speeds. This may sound like a marketing detail, but on the Diavel—a motorcycle with a 240 rear tire that by conventional logic should require considerable effort to turn—the counter-rotating crankshaft makes direction changes noticeably easier than expected. Riders coming from a conventional cruiser will be surprised.

Fuel consumption is approximately 6.4 L/100 km. The 20-liter fuel tank provides around 312 km of range.

Chassis: 50 mm Marzocchi USD Fork, Single-Sided Swingarm, Brembo Stylema

Up front is a fully adjustable 50 mm Marzocchi USD fork with 127 mm of travel. At the rear is a fully adjustable monoshock with a single-sided swingarm. The Diavel V4 chassis combines comfort with genuine high-performance capability.

The fork responds more sensitively than most cruiser forks yet remains precise during rapid direction changes—a combination that is not often found in this segment. On undulating backroads, the suspension works cleanly without beating up the rider. Anyone who wants to adapt the chassis to body weight and load has all the necessary adjustment range.

Braking comes from Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers gripping dual 330 mm front discs, with Cornering ABS EVO. These are the same Brembo Stylema calipers used on the Ducati Panigale V4. They bite hard but remain finely controllable. The transition from gentle deceleration to maximum braking force is linear, never abrupt. On a 236 kg Diavel, that makes a clearly noticeable difference compared with the braking feel of more ordinary midrange calipers. Ride the Diavel hard and you understand why Brembo Stylema makes sense on this motorcycle.

The long wheelbase also contributes to short stopping distances because there is less tendency for the rear wheel to lift than on short-wheelbase supersport machines.

Ergonomics: 780 mm, 240 Rear Tire, Power-Cruiser Riding Position

Seat height is 780 mm. Wheelbase is 1,569 mm. Ready-to-ride weight is 236 kg. The Diavel has a riding position that does not fit neatly into any conventional category. It is more upright than a superbike, more compact than a traditional cruiser, with slightly forward-mounted footpegs that take strain off the upper body. That works without issue for rides of up to three hours. Beyond that, the lack of wind protection becomes more noticeable than the riding position itself.

The 240/45 ZR17 rear tire is the widest production tire fitted by Ducati. It fundamentally shapes the Diavel’s appearance—and has a measurable effect on the riding experience. At very low speeds and while maneuvering, more rubber is in contact with the pavement, increasing the steering effort required. Once moving, from around 40 km/h, that effect disappears. In corners, the wide rear tire provides a level of confidence and stability that narrower tires cannot match in quite the same way—particularly when accelerating out of tight hairpins.

Electronics: 6-Axis IMU, Launch Control, Hands-Free

The electronics package includes a 6-axis IMU, four riding modes—Sport, Touring, Urban, Wet—three Power Modes, DTC traction control, DWC wheelie control, Cornering ABS EVO, Ducati Power Launch, cruise control, Hands-Free keyless operation, a 5-inch color TFT with DMS, Bluetooth, and app-based navigation, full LED lighting, and USB.

In everyday riding, the electronics remain unobtrusive. That is exactly how they should work. In Touring mode, traction control intervenes late enough not to rob the rider of feel, but early enough to provide protection on wet pavement. Sport mode noticeably changes the throttle mapping: more direct, more twitchy, too demanding for city riding, but the right choice on an open backroad.

Launch Control on a cruiser. That sounds contradictory. On the Diavel, it totally makes sense. This motorcycle does not just want to look good while parked - it wants to be ridden.

Activate DPL once and launch the bike, and you understand what 168 hp and 126 Nm mean when delivered with the right level of control. In general, do not let the cruiser appearance fool you. The Diavel behaves more like a sportbike - it wants to be ridden hard.

Diavel V4 vs. Diavel V4 RS: The 2026 Family Decision

For 2026, the Diavel is available with two engine configurations. The standard model uses the V4 Granturismo with 168 hp and starts at €28,190. The RS uses the Desmosedici Stradale with 182 hp, desmodromic valve actuation, Race mode, limited production, and a significantly higher price.

The RS has a different engine character: sharper, more high-revving, with the characteristic Desmo sound. The standard V4 sounds different: fuller, broader, less aggressive.

If you are buying the motorcycle as an everyday power cruiser and have no plans for racetrack use, buy the standard V4 and save the Desmo premium. If you need 182 hp and Race mode, buy the RS.

Price and Positioning

From €28,190 plus €345 destination charges. Two-year warranty. There is no direct competitor in the 2026 power-cruiser segment with a comparable technical package.

The Yamaha VMAX has been discontinued. The Kawasaki Z H2 SE has a supercharged inline-four but is a naked bike without cruiser geometry. The Harley-Davidson Low Rider S costs €23,200, uses a V-twin instead of a V4, and follows an entirely different philosophy. Buy the Diavel V4 and you are buying the only motorcycle of its kind.

Verdict

The 2026 Ducati Diavel V4 is the most technically ambitious motorcycle in the power-cruiser segment. It handles more agilely than its weight and 240 rear tire suggest, brakes with Panigale calipers, and remains manageable in everyday use. The counter-rotating crankshaft makes a measurable difference to turn-in. The electronics package is comprehensive and works unobtrusively in the background. If you are not planning to ride restricted Tyrolean Alpine roads, €28,190 buys a motorcycle with no direct competitor.

 

Quick Check

+ V4 Granturismo: 168 hp; 126 Nm; broad, substantial torque delivery from 3,000 rpm; counter-rotating crankshaft provides surprisingly willing turn-in despite the 240 rear tire; Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers at Panigale level: powerful with linear modulation

+ Fully adjustable 50 mm Marzocchi USD fork; fully adjustable monoshock; single-sided swingarm; 6-axis IMU; Launch Control; wheelie control; Cornering ABS EVO; Quick Shift; cruise control; Hands-Free; 5-inch TFT; 20-liter tank; 312 km range

+ Riding position: upright, compact, fatigue-free for two to three hours; integrated passenger seat; power-cruiser category with no direct competitor in 2026; Red Dot Design Award 2024; valve-clearance inspection every 60,000 km, significantly less maintenance-intensive than V4 RS

+ From €28,190; Diavel V4 RS with 182 hp and Desmo added to the family for 2026; for everyday riders, the standard V4 is the right model—broader torque delivery, easier maintenance, lower price

 

– 97 dB(A) stationary noise: exceeds Tyrol’s 95 dB(A) limit; prohibited on restricted Tyrolean roads; purchase-relevant for anyone who regularly rides Austrian Alpine passes

– Technically identical to previous year for 2026; Diavel V4 S facelift with semi-active suspension patented at EUIPO but not yet official; riders who can wait should consider waiting for the V4 S announcement

– 236 kg ready to ride; 240 rear tire requires more effort while maneuvering and in very tight corners than motorcycles with narrower tires; no wind protection from the factory; no top case or side cases; navigation only through smartphone app, not native in the TFT

– Only 2-year warranty; €345 destination charges, higher than the Scrambler’s €305; limited tire selection in 240 rear size and higher tire prices than standard dimensions; Diavel V4 RS with 182 hp and Race mode costs more for 14 additional horsepower

 

Technical Specifications: Ducati Diavel V4 (2026)

Make / Model: Ducati Diavel V4 (2026; on sale since 2023; technically unchanged for 2026; new Diavel V4 RS added as top model); manufacturer: Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A., Borgo Panigale, Bologna, Italy

What’s New for 2026: Technically unchanged; new Diavel V4 RS with 182 hp Desmosedici Stradale added as separate top model; Diavel V4 S facelift patented at EUIPO but not yet official

Diavel V4 vs. V4 RS: V4 Standard: Granturismo, 168 hp, broad torque delivery, 60,000 km valve-clearance interval, from €28,190. V4 RS: Desmosedici Stradale, 182 hp, Desmo, Race mode, 30,000 km valve-clearance interval, limited production, more expensive.

Engine: Liquid-cooled 90-degree V4 Granturismo; 1,158 cc; counter-rotating crankshaft, CRC; 4 valves per cylinder; valve springs instead of Desmo; 6-speed transmission; wet multi-plate clutch; Euro 5+

Power: 168 hp (124 kW) at 10,750 rpm

Torque: 126 Nm at 7,500 rpm

Top Speed / Consumption: Approx. 250 km/h; approx. 6.4 L/100 km; approx. 312 km range

Fuel Tank / Weight: 20 liters; 236 kg fully fueled

Transmission / Final Drive: 6-speed; chain drive; DQS Quick Shift Up/Down

Electronics: 6-axis IMU; four riding modes—Sport/Touring/Urban/Wet; three Power Modes; DTC traction control; DWC wheelie control; Ducati Power Launch, Launch Control; Cornering ABS EVO; DQS Quick Shift Up/Down; cruise control; Hands-Free keyless operation; 5-inch color TFT with DMS Bluetooth and app-based navigation; full LED lighting; USB

Front Suspension: 50 mm Marzocchi USD fork; 127 mm travel; fully adjustable for rebound, compression, and spring preload

Rear Suspension: Fully adjustable monoshock; single-sided swingarm

Front Brakes: Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers; dual 330 mm discs; Cornering ABS EVO

Rear Brake: 245 mm disc; Cornering ABS EVO

Wheels: Cast-alloy wheels; 17-inch front; 17-inch rear with single-sided swingarm

Tires: Pirelli Diablo Rosso III; 120/70 ZR17 front; 240/45 ZR17 rear

Ergonomics: 780 mm seat height; 1,569 mm wheelbase; upright riding position with slightly forward-mounted footpegs; integrated passenger seat with retractable footpegs and fold-out grab handle; no wind protection standard

Stationary Noise: 97 dB(A)—exceeds Tyrol’s 95 dB(A) limit; riding may be prohibited on restricted roads in Tyrol

2026 Colors: Ducati Red; Thrilling Black

Warranty / Service: 2-year manufacturer warranty with unlimited mileage; 2 years roadside assistance; service every 15,000 km / 2 years; valve-clearance inspection every 60,000 km

Price (Germany): From €28,190 plus €345 destination charges