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Ducati Just Dropped Its Quickest Production Motorcycle to Date. It’s Not a Sport Bike

The Italian manufacturer has a new two-wheeled tire-destroying machine that accelerates faster than any of its other street-legal models.

Close-up of a Ducati motorcycle fuel tank and side panel, featuring a matte black finish with white and red graphic accents and the "DUCATI" logo in bold letters. The side panel has a red and white striped design.Ducati
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By Gray Van Dyke

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Being located in the heart of Italy’s Motor Valley — in close proximity to the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati — Ducati is all too aware of the importance of speed and acceleration. 

As such, you’ll find it’s rare that the outfit ventures beyond its usual bread and butter of high-octane sport bikes, naked motorcycles and adventure tourers. ‘Relaxed’ isn’t really Ducati’s thing.

Even when the Italian brand broke into the cruiser segment back in 2011, the resulting Diavel (and subsequent xDiavel variants) proved to be anything but slow.

A modern sport motorcycle with a sleek design, featuring a combination of black, red, and silver colors. It has a prominent engine, gold front forks, dual front disc brakes with red calipers, and black alloy wheels with red accents. The bike is shown on its kickstand against a blurred outdoor background.
The Diavel RS takes the title as the quickest production motorcycle in Ducati’s street-legal lineup.
Ducati

In fact, now, more than a decade after its debut, the launch of the RS edition has earned the model the title of the fastest-accelerating production motorcycle in Ducati’s lineup. 

A race-proven powerplant

So, what does this mean in practice? Well, per Ducati, the Diavel RS will hit 60 mph in a mere 2.43 seconds in the hands of six-time MotoGP champ Marc Márquez.

A motorcyclist in a red racing suit and helmet with Lenovo branding is sitting on a black and red motorcycle, positioned on a paved road with a clear blue sky and grassy landscape in the background. The motorcycle is viewed from the front, showing its headlight and wide front tire.
Leave it to six-time MotoGP champion Marc Márquez to tap into a motorcycle’s full potential.
Ducati

To accomplish such a feat, the Diavel RS makes use of some MotoGP expertise at its heart, too. With power coming from a race-derived 1,103cc Desmosedici Stradale V4 engine, it puts down an authoritative 182 ponies and 89 lb-ft of torque through a dry clutch and a six-speed transmission.

Of course, controlling all that power is no small feat. Accordingly, Ducati has equipped the Diavel RS with an advanced aluminum frame and a laundry list of top-notch components.

For instance, suspension duties are handled courtesy of Öhlins, with a fully adjustable NIX30 fork at the front and an STX 46 shock at the rear. Stopping power, meanwhile, is provided via a set of four-piston Brembo Stylema brake calipers and some beefy 330mm discs.

Sport motorcycle with a sleek design, featuring a white, black, and red color scheme. It has a visible engine, gold front forks, and black wheels with red accents. The bike is positioned on a stand inside a garage or hangar, with a clear blue sky and greenery visible outside.
Even though it’s a brutish power cruiser, there’s something lithe and svelte about the Diavel.
Ducati

As is typical of high-end Ducatis, there’s also a robust suite of electronic rider aids to help you stay rubber-side up. Along with three selectable power modes and four individual ride modes, the Bosch IMU allows for wheelie control, traction control and more.

Diavel in the details

As part of the RS treatment, the Diavel gains an exclusive livery that also comes accompanied by some fancy bodywork.

Close-up of a motorcycle engine and surrounding components, featuring a mix of black, silver, and red parts. The engine casing is metallic with a circular design, and the black panel nearby has "RS" and "N° XXXX" markings. The red and white bodywork above the engine includes a carbon fiber texture and the text "DIAVEL V4" on the side.
Ducati’s Diavel V4 Rs comes with an etched ‘RS’ on the engine case along with a serial number — you know it’s special.
Ducati

According to Ducati, it’s all entirely of a new design — everything from the air intakes and the tank covers to the mudguards and the single-seat tailpiece is crafted from lightweight carbon fiber.

It’s a change that is as effective as it is eye-catching, too. Ducati says that it shaves 6.6 pounds off the curb weight, meaning that the Diavel RS tips the scales at a svelte 485 pounds dry.

Add to that special touches like some exclusive wheels, an aluminum single-sided swingarm and a laser-etched hands-free keyfob, and the result is a power cruiser that proves even well-heeled motorcyclists like a good muscle bike.

Sport motorcycle with a wide rear tire, black and white body with red accents, dual exhaust pipes on the right side, and a European-style license plate reading "DVL V4RS." The bike is photographed indoors against a dark background.
The tail remains one of the most distinctive aspects of the Diavel, and the exhaust adds to the eye candy.
Ducati

Pricing and availability

According to Ducati, the Diavel RS hits European showrooms towards the end of this year. When it lands in the United States next year, it will carry a starting price of $39,995. You can head to Ducati’s website in the meantime to learn more.

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

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