A Near-200-HP Ducati Diavel Is Coming To Shake The Cruiser World

We all know Ducati’s World Premiere brings some enticing new motorcycles each year. It’s the same story in 2025, and we already know Ducati’s plan to whip up two new bikes based on the V2 engine from last year. Now, we can confirm another motorcycle from the upcoming World Premiere, which is based on the Diavel V4 platform. Let’s dive in.

Ducati Is Working On A Diavel V4 RS For Model Year 2026

According to Ducati’s documents to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the brand’s 2026 lineup will comprise a Diavel V4 RS. This would be Ducati’s third cruiser bike after the Diavel V4 and the new XDiavel V4. You should also know the RS variant has been mentioned not once but twice, which suggests this is a confirmed model, not an experimental inclusion. It would also be right to assume the new Diavel will be the flagship Ducati cruiser bike now, considering what the ‘RS’ brings with it.

The Ducati Diavel V4 RS Could Feature A Panigale-Derived V4 Engine

The Diavel and XDiavel feature Ducati’s toned-down V4 engine. It focuses on usable power by skipping the desmodromic valvetrain and using variable valve timing. This mill is shared with the Multistrada V4, and the peak output lies at 168 horsepower via a six-speed transmission. So, for the Diavel V4 RS, we believe the Italian giant will go the same way as the Multistrada V4 RS from last year.

It ditches the 1,158cc Granturismo V4 engine in favor of the Panigale-derived 1,103cc Stradale V4. This helps churn out 180 horsepower–one of the highest in the crossover class. It should be the same case with the Diavel RS and this increased output would make it the most powerful cruiser bike on sale today. It’d share the title with the Triumph Rocket 3 Storm duo. Likewise, you can expect the new cruiser to run a road-legal Akrapovic exhaust–just as the Multi does.

Another expected upgrade is Ohlins suspension. The current Diavel has 50 mm USD forks and a monoshock, which could make way for electronic Ohlins forks and monoshock. If so, these could help the new cruiser offer an even sportier ride in the twisties. Not to mention, electronic suspension on a cruiser just makes sense, given the otherwise straightline-biased riding dynamics.

Ducati Diavel V4 RS Expected Engine Specifications

The 2026 Diavel V4 RS Will Break Cover In A Few Months

While we have seen some reveals as part of Ducati’s World Premiere already, the major chunk usually comes in the second half of the year. That’s when we expect the Diavel V4 RS to drop, followed by an imminent launch and dispatch to your nearest dealers. Once here, it will lock horns with the Triumph Rocket 3 Storm and the Buell Super Cruiser. However, we do expect it to cost considerably more than the standard Diavel, probably beyond the $30,000 mark.