Ducati’s Gorgeous and Powerful New Sport Cruiser Boasts One Unique Feature I Just Can’t Get Over

The Borgo Panigale, Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer founded by Antonio Cavalieri Ducati and his sons in 1926 has always had as high a standard for looks as it does performance. 

That tradition continues to this day, buttressed by the brand’s racing-driven “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” business model and the fantastic track and street machines for which it is best known.

Ducati

But that’s not all. Ducati carries sport bike science over to other segments, as evidenced by its latest release, the all-new XDiavel V4.

Thanks to trademark contours and a positively pulsating MotoGP-derived V4 Granturismo engine, this unmistakably Italian bike quickly distinguishes itself from the American cruiser pack. 

Even so, one feature jumps out to me more than any other — and really signifies how much attention Ducati pays to every little detail. That’s right, I’m talking about the four-exit exhaust system.

Power dynamic

I promise I will get to the incredibly distinctive pipes in a moment, but because the aforementioned engine leads into them, so to speak, I must start there. 

After all, it is one of two elements the brand trumpets as the biggest advancements over this bike’s predecessor, the Diavel 1260.

(For the record, the other is a more ergonomic riding position, courtesy of lower, set-back handlebars, a seat height of 30.3 inches and a cushier saddle for both rider and passenger.)

Ducati

With a relatively lean displacement of 1,158cc, the V4 Granturismo delivers a surprising 168 horsepower and exhilarating peak torque of 93 ft-lb at 7,500 rpm. 

Drawing on the technology of the Panigale V4 and Streetfighter V4’s Desmosedici Stradale engine, it also boasts a counter-rotating crankshaft that decreases gyroscopic effects.

Together with the dry weight of just 505 pounds, that make for a more agile, easier-to-handle ride. 

In other words, as stalwart as this bike should be on long stretches of highway, it should prove confidence-inspiring in urban environments, not to mention hugely fun and satisfying in the twisties.

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Dream pipes

Yet another dimension of the engine, which plays directly into the exhaust (I swear!), is its extended deactivation system, which enables it to function as either a twin-cylinder or a four-cylinder.

This feature serves to make the motorcycle more efficient with fuel consumption and emissions. 

However, it also produces a notable side effect: a variation in the tone of the exhaust when gradually switching between the two modes.

From what I understand, you’ll hear a deeper, lower-frequency rumble when the front cylinders alone are active, and a higher-frequency whine when all four kick in. 

Of course, this fluctuation of sound is only possible in conjunction with the feature I am obsessed with (finally!): the extraordinary four-exit exhaust. I mean, just look at this thing.

Ducati

While it is by no means the first four-exit exhaust out there — Google it and you’ll quickly encounter aftermarket products installed under the seat of Yamaha R1s, for example — this particular treatment is rare. 

In addition to the jaunty jut of the diamond arrangement, what really makes it pop is the fact that the rear wheel is attached via a single-side aluminum swingarm on the opposite side. 

This design not only displays the wheel’s stunning star-shaped rim but also showcases those quad tips in all their unique glory. 

Bottom line: I haven’t ridden the XDiavel V4 (yet), but I dare say when that day comes, it will do what nearly every Ducati does — draw plenty of attention even before you fire it up and give the throttle a rip.

Availability and pricing

The XDiavel V4 will hit North American Ducati dealerships this summer. The Burning Red paint scheme (above) starts at $28,995, while the Black Lava version (below) starts at $29,295.

Ducati

Ducati XDiavel V4

• Starts at $28,995

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