Incoming: 2019 Ducati Diavel

It'll be almost a decade since the Ducati Diavel was first launched. Considering how the competition has grown, it is not surprising that the motorcycle is in dire need of an upgrade. Ducati seems to have taken a note of that and have been extensively testing the second generation Diavel, or at least that's what recent spy shots suggest.

Take a look and you'll be deceived into thinking that it is the older gen Diavel, only camouflaged. However, closer inspection reveals some subtle changes. For starters, the fuel tank appears to be smaller as does the rear and then there are some changes to the exposed frame as well. The test mule also seems to have new LED headlights and twin-pipe exhaust setup.

While that's all we can say from the pictures, reliable reports suggest the biggest update for the Diavel will come in the form of the engine. Called ‘Project 1309’, the new-gen Diavel is set to a get a larger 1262cc engine, with variable valve timing instead of the 1198cc, liquid-cooled L-Twin motor. This is the same motor we’ve seen on the Multistrada 1260 and the XDiavel.

To accommodate the bigger engine, the Diavel seems to be packing an identical, or at least, similar chassis as the XDiavel. Save for the swingarm, the Trellis mainframe, aluminium subframe and horizontal rear shock, all look to be borrowed from the XDiavel. However, the ergonomics still seem to be more aggressive than the XDiavel’s, suggesting a focus on sportier handling, while extracting more performance from the new engine.

The same was reaffirmed by Ducati’s project manager, Eugenio Gherardi. He was quoted saying, “The whole idea is to move the bike away from the values of the XDiavel and to make the machine sportier. So the suspension is much better quality and the rake is steeper, going from 28 to 27 degrees. The frame is all-new and though the wheelbase is 15mm longer (1600mm), the bike is a lot more nimble.”

Just like the Multistrada, the new Diavel is expected to be offered in two variants - a more premium version with Ohlins suspension and a standard version with Marzocchi suspension. Fortunately, we won't have to wait that long to see the 2019 Ducati Diavel in the flesh. The Bolognese bikemaker is expected to debut its new Diavel at this year's EICMA Motorcycle Show in November.

Image courtesy - Motorcycle.com