Monday 26 December 2011

2012 Ducati Diavel Cromo | Preview

2012 Ducati Motorcycle  The Diavel - this is a local Borgo Panigale dialect for the word "devil," pronounced Dee-ah-vel, and quickly became a mainstream term surrounding the world of Ducati.  This was the name of Ducati's new power cruiser for 2011, the Diavel, which was unveiled at the 2011 EICMA in Milan, Italy, to much praise. For the debut model, Ducati offered the Diavel in a standard and Carbon edition.  And for 2012, Ducati continues to offer the standard and Carbon editions of the Diavel, but added two more editions - the AMG version, and the latest discussed here, the Diavel Cromo.  The 2012 Ducati Cromo features a very unique design built upon the already devilish look of the Diavel. The Cromo arrives with a chromium-plated tank, horizontal seat stitching and classic Ducati logos.  Speaking of the special edition machine, Ducati says the "Diavel Cromo inherits the unique design of the Diavel and is characterized by the chrome mirror-finish tank, which contrasts starkly yet stylishly with the gloss black parts."  Everything else is typical Ducati Diavel - a Testastretta 11-degree engine pushing 162 horsepower, a dry weight of 456 lbs. and the latest in Ducati technology offered as standard equipment: ABS, Ducati Traction Control and Ducati Riding Modes.  The 1198cc desmo engine pushes 162 horsepower and an asphalt-tearing 94 ft. lbs. of torque. For more streetability, the Diavel's engine features revised intake and exhaust ports combined with radical adjustment of the cam timing have enabled Ducati to achieve a fantastic torque curve at low rpm, which remains strong through a wider rev-range.  Ducati says: "The increase in bottom-end torque is managed by Ducati's Ride-by-Wire (RbW) system to considerably enhance the Diavel's effortless ridability, while ensuring plenty of power remains on tap for high-rpm riding." The desmo is hooked to a six-speed transmission with a slipper clutch that features a "super-light" feel at the lever.  The engine breaths through Mitsubishi electronic fuel injection system with Mikuni elliptical throttle bodies and Ride-by-Wire, and massive 58mm exhaust headers the lead into a 2-1-2 system.  Ducati also used advanced materials and engineering on the Diavel Cromo's engine, which allowed service intervals to be increased to 15,000 miles.  As for riding modes, the Diavel Cromo features three - Urban, which reduces power to 100 horespower and DTC to five for stop-and go traffic; Touring, which allows 162 horsepower administered at a user-friendly pace, and a level four DTC setting; and Sport, which releases all 162 horsepower with full-on throttle response, and a level 3 traction control for "riders who prefer their performance a little closer to the traction limit."  The chassis features a Ducati Trellis frame for torsional rigidity and an aluminun single-sided swingarm. Up front, the Diavel Cromo utilizes 50mm Marzocchi forks that are fully adjustable. Out back, Sachs rear suspension features a progressive pull-rod linkage from the swingarm that is also fully adjustable.  Stopping the Diavel Cromo are dual 320mm discs squeezed by Brembo Monoblock four-piston calipers up front, with a single 265mm disc out back squeezed by a two-piston caliper. The brakes are enhanced with the most compact, Ducati Bosch-Brembo ABS system as original equipment,  Ducati says: "Top Brembo components combined with Bosch ABS, the special Diavel chassis configuration and Pirelli's Enhanced Patch Technology (EPT) result in a braking performance even greater than that of the awesome Ducati Superbikes."  The Ducati Diavel Cromo rolls on 14-spoke wheels (3.5" X 17" front, 8" X 17" back), with a massive 240/45 ZR17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso II out back.  Styling is further enhanced by those huge lateral radiators on both sides of the Diavel Cromo. Speaking of these radiators, Ducati says: "The technical solution employed for keeping the frontal lines of the Diavel clean was to place two highly efficient lateral radiators on both sides of the bike.  "These well-ducted units, located beneath the fuel tank, use aerodynamics to help draw air flow through the radiators and are assisted by high-flow electric fans when required. The design combines form and function to enhance the muscular shape of the bike."  Following are the specs and MSRP for the 2012 Ducati Diavel Cromo.  2012 Ducati Diavel Cromo Specs:  Engine      Type: Testastretta 11°, L-Twin cylinder, 4 valve per cylinder, Desmodromic, liquid cooled     Displacement: 1198.4cc     Bore x Stroke: 106 x 67.9mm     Compression ratio: 11.5:1     Power: 162hp (119kW) @ 9500rpm     Torque: 94lb-ft (127.5Nm) @ 8000rpm     Fuel injection: Mitsubishi electronic fuel injection system, Mikuni elliptical throttle bodies with RbW     Exhaust: Lightweight 2-1-2 system with catalytic converter and two lambda probes. Twin aluminum mufflers     Transmission: 6 speed     Drive: Front sprocket 15; Rear sprocket 43     Clutch: Light action, wet, multiplate clutch with hydraulic control. Self-servo action on drive, slipper action on over-run.  Chassis      Frame: Tubular steel Trellis frame     Wheelbase: 1590mm (62.6in)     Rake: 28°     Front suspension: Marzocchi 50mm fully adjustable usd forks     Front wheel travel: 120mm (4.7in)     Front wheel: 14-spoke in light alloy 3.50 x 17     Front Tire: 120/70 ZR 17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso II     Rear suspension: Progressive linkage with fully adjustable Sachs monoshock. Aluminium single-sided swingarm     Rear wheel travel: 120mm (4.7in)     Rear wheel: 14-spoke in light alloy 8.00 x 17     Rear tire: 240/45 ZR17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso II     Front brake: 2 x 320mm semi-floating discs, radially mounted Monobloc Brembo callipers, 4-piston with ABS     Rear brake: 265mm disc, 2-piston floating calliper with ABS     Fuel tank capacity: 17l - (4.5 US gal)     Wet weight: 239kg (527lb)     Dry weight: 210kg (463lb)     Instruments: Handlebar mounted instrumentation with LCD display: speed, rpm, time, coolant temp. Warning lights for: Neutral, turn signals, high-beam, rev-limit, DTC intervention, ABS status, oil pressure, fuel reserve. Tank mounted instrumentation with TFT colour display: gear selected, air temp, battery voltage, trips 1 & 2, fuel reserve trip, average and actual fuel consumption and speed, trip time, scheduled maintenance. Full status and/or management of Riding Modes, DTC, RbW and ABS.     Seat height: 770mm (30.3in)     DTC (Ducati Traction Control): Standard equipment=     ABS: Standard equipment  2012 Ducati Diavel Cromo Color Option/MSRP:      Racing Gray/$18,995