Ducati, unveils the XDiavel, a new Scrambler Sixty2 and a few Multistradas at EICMA for 2016

Ducati is brimming with new products and excitement at the just-achieved target of 50,000 bike sales world wide and a 20% growth in sales for 2015. At EICMA, the International Motorcycle Show, Ducati holds an annual press event on the eve of the media days in Milan.

At the event, Ducati unveiled seven new motorcycles. The eagerly awaited new XDiavel in standard and S version, two Multistradas including the 1200 Enduro and 1200 Pikes Peak, two Ducati Scramblers including the Sixty2 - a lighter bike with a 400cc engine - and a Scrambler Flat Track Pro version, three new 939s including the Hypermotard 939, Hypermotoard 939SP and the Hyperstrada 939.

Together with the Monster 1200 R, already presented at Frankfurt, and a new Ducati Scrambler version developed jointly with Italian Independent to be presented at the end of the year, bring the new Ducati bikes for 2016 to a total of nine.

XDiavel

The XDiavel is a big story for Ducati. An Italian engineered cruiser rated the best cruiser in the US means Ducati’s risk in entering the cruiser market paid off, big time. This is the first real update for the Diavel since it’s launch in 2010-11.

At 5,000 rpm and sporting a new twin-cylinder 156 hp Ducati Testastretta DVT 1262 engine, the XDiavel achieves a maximum torque of 13.1 kgm and it’s quiet enough you won’t hear it coming.

The “X” in the name itself represents the merging of Ducati’s signature high-performance bikes with that of cruisers. To my surprise the XDiavel is marketed as “low-speed excitement” by Ducati. Despite the weight, the XDiavel is no puttering around machine. If you do get up to speed and go hot into the corner, Ducati says you can reach a 40 degree maximum attainable lean angle.

For comfort, sixty different ergonomic configurations have been made. The Bosch Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), together with Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Riding Modes, Bosch Cornering ABS, Cruise Control and the Ducati Power Launch (DPL) system, make the XDiavel a high performance cruiser.

Addressing the media, Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding put success into context, "After a long period of shrinkage, the motorcycle market is now showing promising signs of recovery and this, together with the effects of continuous product innovation and geographical expansion into new markets, has allowed us to increase sales in the first ten months of 2015 by more than 20% with respect to last year. This is an outstanding result, thanks also to the success of the Ducati Scrambler, a brand that won over new fans immediately. The title of the Ducati World Première 2016 was 'More than Red: Black, Wild and Pop’. The message is clear: Ducati is strongly rooted in the sports motorcycle world and is continuing to extend its reach. And that means expansion into new segments: Black like the XDiavel, a true cruiser; Wild like the Multistrada 1200 Enduro, a bike to break down the barriers on any terrain; Pop like the Ducati Scrambler Sixty2, an even lighter Ducati Scrambler with all the appeal of its smaller 400 cc engine."

Scrambler Sixty2

The new Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 is a lower entry model for 2016, characterized as easier to handle with low running costs. No news on price yet, but expect it to come in lower than the $9,000 - 10,000 USD MSRP for last year’s Scramblers.

With the Sixty2, Ducati provides a slim steel tank with dedicated 'Atomic Tangerine' graphics and logos to make the Sixty2 immediately recognizable. The Sixty2 is as simple as you can get in a two-wheel machine from Ducati with a 399 cc engine - designed for easy riding and fun.

Wide handlebars and a long seat make for a comfortable riding position. The low barycentre and a new 160/60 x 17" rear tyre with a slightly chunky surface pattern is made for boosting confidence of new riders with great handling in and confident braking thanks to the as-standard ABS. The Scrambler Sixty2 comes in Atomic Tangerine, Ocean Grey Shining Black with black frame.

Scrambler Flat Track Pro

The new Scrambler Flat Track Pro version, is based on the Scrambler Full Throttle and features a few new colours, adapted seat, racing mud guards and low tapered handlebars. Ready for amateur or pro Flat Track racing. Want to race? With this machine, you don't even need to change the tires.

Multistrada 1200 Enduro and Pikes Peak

The all-new Multistrada 1200 Enduro is drool worthy; it's what Ducati calls a ‘maxi-enduro’ specifically designed and built to handle the stress and strain of off-road riding. Thanks to spoked wheels – 19’’ at the front and 17’’ at the rear - the Multistrada 1200 Enduro is made for long adventure rides. Standard features include electronic semi-active Sachs suspension (front and rear) and a 30-litre fuel tank for a range of 450 kilometres, Cornering ABS, Cornering Lights (DCL), Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) and the semi-active Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS), with 200 mm of wheel travel. In addition, Vehicle Hold Control (VHC) has been introduced to aid uphill starts. A broad range of dedicated accessories - the most important being an aluminium luggage set - has also been developed.

The Multistrada 1200 Pikes Peak is based on the Multistrada 1200 S and includes all the standard features of the 1200. It's inspired by the now legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb also known as the "The Race to the Clouds" held in the Rocky Mountains 16 km west of Colorado Springs. A distance of 20 kilometres separates the starting line, at an altitude of 2,862 metres, from the finishing line at 4,300 m. It's an incredibly tough competition: Ducati has already won it four times.

For the Pikes Peak version, Ducati has added a race-inspired colour scheme, as-standard silencer and nose fairing, a carbon Ducati Performance silencer by Termignoni (EU type-approved) and a low racing-type carbon screen. More carbon fibre components include the front mudguard, front tank cover and lateral front partitions. Öhlins fork and Öhlins TTX36 shock absorber, both mechanically adjustable are also available. Basically if you want to race Pikes Peak, buy this bike and go!

The Multistrada 1200 Pikes Peak is a concentrate of technology that also features, as standard, a Bluetooth module via the Ducati Multimedia System (DMS), which lets riders connect the bike to a smartphone and manage key multimedia functions (incoming calls, text messaging, music) via the switchgears and display information on the TFT dashboard.

EICMA is open to the public November 19 to 22, 2015 at Milano-Rho, Italy. Enjoy the ride!