Ducati turned up the heat at its World Premiere in Milan on Sunday after it nuked us with nine bikes including three new ones. The three all-new motorcycles unveiled by Ducati in the run-up to EICMA 2018 were: Panigale V4 R, Diavel 1260 and Hypermotard 950.
Apart from the new nameplates Ducati also introduced new versions of its existing models that will join the 2019 line-up. These include the Monster 25th Anniversary, first seen at WDW2018, and the new Monster 821 stealth that features matt black livery and red graphics, quick shift system, adjustable fork and nose fairing.
Panigale V4R
Panigale stole the crown at the World Premiere and we do not expect anything less at the EICMA. If compared to the previous iterations in the R portfolio, the new Panigale V4R stands as a model with even more specialised and bristles with technology taken directly from MotoGP.
Ducati has crossed the boundaries of engines and suspensions to title the V4R as a supremo. The new bike comes with plenty of modifications including the fairing that has been designed and developed by Ducati Corse in close collaboration with the Ducati Style Centre to improve aerodynamic efficiency.
Ducati will race the new machine in the WSBK from 2019 onwards. To meet the standards of the race, Ducati has ditched the Desmosedici Stradale 1103cc engine for a new 998 cm3 Desmosedici Stradale R engine. The result is 221 hp of power at 15,250 rpm.
Hypermotard 950
Giving the Hypermotard 939cc a complete makeover, Ducati took the covers off the new Hypermotard 950. The new design cues on the bike come from the supermotard race world.
Compared to the previous model, Ducati has managed to shed close to 4 kg on the new model. The new Hypermotard 950 mounts a renewed 937 cm³ Testastretta 11° engine with 114 hp of power.
The Hypermotard 950 electronics package includes Bosch Cornering ABS with the Slide by Brake function, Ducati Traction Control EVO (DTC EVO), Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO and Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up and Down EVO (as standard on the 950 SP version and available as an accessory on the 950).
Diavel 1260
The second generation Diavel was not less of an eye-grabber either. The new iteration remains faithful to the original spirit of the bike when it was introduced in 2010 at EICMA. It sports a Testastretta DVT 1262 engine, capable of delivering 159 hp (117 kW) at 9,500 rpm and 129 Nm at 7,500 rpm.
An upgraded chassis set-up makes the Diavel 1260 more responsive on mixed-road routes while top-drawer technology and electronics provide braking performance on a par with that of a sportbike (and does so safely, thanks to Bosch Cornering ABS) and user-friendly engine performance control.
A sportier S version of the Diavel 1260 is also available with features including fully adjustable Öhlins suspension at both front and rear, dedicated wheels and an even higher-performance braking system. Moreover, the S version mounts Ducati Quick Shift up & down Evo (DQS) as standard to allow clutchless shifting.
