Some bikes whisper, some growl, and then there’s the new 2025 Ducati XDiavel V4—a machine that bellows from the depths of a V4 engine with all the menace of a thunderstorm rolling over the Dolomites.
Ducati’s cruiser is not here for a Sunday afternoon toddle down Main Street. It’s here to flip the script on what a cruiser can be, planting one boot in the realm of muscle bikes and the other in the land of high-performance Italian exotica.
This is not the kind of motorcycle you pick if you want to blend in. The XDiavel V4 demands attention. It’s long and low, but not lazy. It has that stretched-out cruiser stance—feet forward, fists to the wind—but where most cruisers settle into a slow heartbeat, this one has the pulse of a racehorse just waiting for the gate to drop.
2025 Ducati XDiavel V4 Has the Heart of a Superbike, Soul of a Rebel
The biggest headline here is the switch to Ducati’s Granturismo V4 engine. That’s 1,158cc of high-revving fury, making 168 horsepower—enough to make even sportbike riders check their mirrors a little more often. Gone is the old L-twin, replaced by this high-tech, counterbalanced beast that revs freely, makes more power across the board, and, crucially, is 5.5 pounds lighter than the outgoing engine.
Ducati says this V4 is tuned for smooth, effortless torque at low revs, and it certainly delivers. Twist the throttle at 3,000 rpm and it surges forward like a locomotive on a deadline. But unlike traditional cruisers, this thing doesn’t run out of breath when you keep twisting. It howls past 10,000 rpm like a MotoGP refugee, making it dangerously tempting to ride like a lunatic.
Yet, somehow, it remains civilized. Ducati has baked in every rider aid you could want—traction control, wheelie control, cornering ABS, and multiple ride modes to dial in the experience from relaxed to rabid. There’s even a quickshifter for clutchless up- and downshifts, a feature that feels both strange and glorious on a bike with a cruiser silhouette.
A Cruiser That Can Actually Corner
Park the 2025 Ducati XDiavel V4 next to a Harley-Davidson Fat Bob or an Indian Scout and you’ll notice something: the stance is different. It’s low, yes, but it has a slight forward pitch, and that’s because Ducati didn’t design this thing to just go straight.
The new frame is lighter, the suspension is more sophisticated, and the whole bike is built to lean—really lean. You get 40 degrees of lean angle before anything scrapes, which is unheard of in the cruiser world. The 17-inch wheels and sporty suspension geometry make it feel surprisingly nimble. It won’t flick into corners like a Panigale, but compared to traditional cruisers, it might as well be a scalpel.
The braking is equally potent, with Brembo Stylema calipers clamping onto dual 330mm discs up front. That’s superbike-level stopping power, and on a bike that still weighs around 500 pounds, it’s a welcome thing to have.
Form Meets Ferocity
Ducati never makes boring-looking motorcycles, and the XDiavel V4 is no exception. The exposed trellis subframe, the wide, muscular tank, and the single-sided swingarm showcasing that fat rear tire—everything about this bike screams presence. The new LED lighting, including the signature daytime running light up front, adds a modern touch without losing the attitude.
The seat is more sculpted than before, and Ducati claims improved comfort for both rider and passenger. Even the footpegs are adjustable, allowing for a slightly more aggressive or relaxed position depending on your riding mood.
Verdict: The Wild Child of Cruisers
The 2025 Ducati XDiavel V4 is not trying to be a Harley or an Indian. It’s a different breed entirely. It’s a cruiser by stance but a sportbike by nature, blending muscle and menace with European finesse. It’s for the rider who likes the idea of a cruiser but refuses to give up speed, agility, or that intoxicating Ducati soul.
And that’s what makes it special. Because if you’re going to go fast, you might as well look damn good doing it.
Check out the 2025 XDiavel V4 on Ducati’s website.
