New Ducati XDiavel Dark & Black Star lead 2021 line-up
By Ben Purvis
Has written for dozens of magazines and websites, including most of the world’s biggest bike titles, as well as dabbling in car and technology journalism.
11.11.2020
Ducati’s XDiavel range has been revamped for 2021 with a subtle array of technical modifications that boost power and reduce emissions while two new versions of the bike are added to the line-up.
Along with every other model due to be sold in 2021 and beyond, the XDiavel needs to meet Euro5 emissions limits, a target the firm has hit while simultaneously increasing performance.
The 1262cc Testastretta DVT engine in the XDiavel gets the same mods that were applied to its Diavel sister model a year ago, including the Diavel’s exhaust system and silencer as well as its updated mapping. The result is a peak power hike of 8bhp, taking it to 160hp at 9500rpm, while torque rises by 1lbft to 94lbft at 5000rpm.
While the rest of the bike is largely unchanged for 2021, the model range has been tweaked to create new entry-level and range-topping versions.
The XDiavel S remains as the mid-line offering, but the base Diavel is replaced by the Diavel Dark, which follows Ducati’s tradition of creating cut-price versions of existing bikes with a blacked-out theme. The XDiavel Dark takes the idea to the extreme, with virtually every part finished in matt black, including the wheels, frame and forks.
In fact, you’d better like black if you’re buying an XDiavel in 2021, as the mid-range ‘S’ model only comes in that colour as well – albeit a gloss version with contrasting frame and wheels.
Right at the top of the XDiavel range for 2021 sits the Black Star, which is again finished in – you guessed it – black. This time it’s broken up, though, with a combination of the black frame and matt black rear section with a grey front to the tank. The two colours are separated by a red stripe, while the grey bellypan gets ‘X’ decals to add a bit more visual interest.
The XDiavel Black Star also gets forged alloy wheels instead of the normal cast ones, saving 2kg compared to the ‘S’ model that it’s based on, bringing the total down to the same 247kg (wet) as the Dark. Like the S it gets Brembo M50 calipers (the Dark uses Brembo M4.32s) and DLC-coated forks.
The XDiavel Dark is to be available immediately and the Black Star is due in dealers at the end of November
2021 Ducati Diavel Prices
XDiavel Dark: £16,995
XDiavel: £17,595
XDiavel S: £20,695
X Diavel Black Star: £21,295.
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