The phrase “power cruiser” is an oxymoron. Cruiser motorcycles are supposed to be low, slow torque monsters that treat gear changes as an optional extra. But over the decades, the cruiser segment has fragmented into many different kinds of cruisers. Take the Kawasaki Vulcan S, for example. Fifteen years ago, a cruiser with a trellis frame that uses the engine as a stressed member was quite unheard of. In the same way, peaky sports bike engines are now making their way into cruisers to redefine the power cruiser space. You'll find a handful of them today, all of which technically get the balance of speed and comfort right. One seems to be a notch above its rivals, though, and it's Italian. The Power Cruiser Segment Is Dominated By Europe Triumph MotorcyclesWhile most American cruisers still chase low-end torque and old-school charm, European cruisers are chasing performance. The Rocket 3 is a key example. It made its name when Triumph launched it because it had the largest production engine in motorcycle history, and the new Rocket 3 has carried on that legacy. And not only has it got the largest displacement, but it has also got massive output (179 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque). Of course, it has all sorts of premium additions to go along with it, like a full electronic suite and top-shelf brakes. This is quite heavy and impractical for regular usage, though.Buell MotorcycleAn exception from the US comes in the form of the Buell Super Cruiser. It looks retro and simple from afar, but it will ride wild, thanks to its sports bike-derived powerhouse. In fact, the power figure is just two horsepower shy of the Rocket 3. However, this is a high-revving engine taken from Buell's other models, which is why it doesn't generate as much torque. There's also a lingering question mark about delivery timelines, as there's been a consistent delay by the American bikemaker. So we'll have to look elsewhere, particularly in Team Red's stable. The Ducati XDiavel V4 Feels Fast, Balanced, And Surprisingly Comfortable DucatiThe Diavel set tongues wagging when it was launched because it was so unlike any cruiser that we had seen. The XDiavel took it a step further by actually giving it the traditional feet-forward position with what looked like a raked front fork. But it did not detune the engine at all; we still got just as much power as the Diavel did. And when Ducati put the Granturismo V4 engine into both these models, they took it to a whole new dimension of performance as well as reliability. The XDiavel has returned after a brief hiatus with the V4 engine, and today, it is a package that feels fast, balanced, and surprisingly comfortable. A Premium Cruiser With Premium Pricing DucatiThe XDiavel V4 has a listed price of $28,995. This makes it the most expensive gas-powered cruiser here, and so far, it is a single model. There's no S version like some of the other models of the Ducati lineup have, either. That's primarily because it has all the features you would expect from your premium Ducati, and there is nothing that you really want to add to it. Granturismo Engine Is All That, And Then Some DucatiThe original XDiavel made waves when it was launched because it was among the fastest-accelerating motorcycles on the planet, with no exceptions. That V2 engine has now been replaced with the V4 Granturismo engine. This is a 90-degree V4 with a counterrotating crankshaft and a Twin Pulse firing order. What is more, it is lighter than the twin-cylinder engine it replaces. Almost 170 Horsepower At Your Helm Ducati It displaces 1,158 cc, has a short-stroke design, and a really high compression ratio of 14.0:1. This results in 168 horsepower at 10,750 RPM and 93 pound-feet at 7,500 RPM. This does not have the Desmodromic valve train, but has regular valve springs. It has a six-speed manual gearbox with a two-way quickshifter as standard, and a chain drives the rear wheel. There is also a mental Diavel V4 RS available with a Desmodromic engine, but it hasn't found its way into the XDiavel... yet. Chassis Specs Read Like A Sports Bike (Almost) DucatiThe XDiavel V4 has an aluminum monocoque frame with the engine as a stressed member. The suspension is equally advanced, with a 50 mm fully adjustable inverted fork at the front and a fully adjustable monoshock with an aluminum single-sided swingarm at the rear. The suspension travel available is 4.7 inches at the front and 5.7 inches at the rear.Ducati has given this cruiser sports bike brake discs with two 330 mm semi-floating front discs paired with radial Brembo Stylema monobloc four-piston calipers and a radial master cylinder. At the rear, there is a 265 mm disc with a Brembo two-piston floating caliper. Both wheels are 17-inch alloy rims and shod with tubeless radial Pirelli Diablo Rosso tires. It Certainly Has Cruiser Dimensions DucatiDucati does not reveal the length and width of the XDiavel V4, but we can get an inkling of its length from the really long 63.8-inch wheelbase; this is what gives it stability and extremely rapid acceleration. The seat is not as low as one would expect from a cruiser at 30.3 inches, but it is not at the height of a street bike either. The fuel tank can hold an appreciable 5.3 gallons. But the headlining figure is its 505-pound curb weight. This is extremely light compared to any of the competition and is what contributes significantly to the performance. Features List Is Par For The Course The XDiavel V4 is available in a single variant, unlike the Diavel V4. You do get two different colors, both of which have the same mechanical and electronics package. Speaking of which, there is a 6.9-inch TFT display, which has the Ducati Multimedia System as standard. That means it gets Bluetooth and navigation packaged with it, something which is not common across the Ducati range. And the handlebar switches are backlit. The display also lets you access a full electronic suite. With the help of the by-wire throttle and the six-axis IMU, you have access to riding modes, power modes, cornering ABS, cornering traction control, wheelie control, launch control, and cruise control. The XDiavel V4 Gets The Power Cruiser Balance Right DucatiThe XDiavel V4 might be a cruiser, but it has the heart and soul of a sports bike. Ducati has done this on purpose to cement its position as the sportiest brand, whatever segment it chooses to enter. As a result, the XDiavel V4 has an incredible appeal not just to performance enthusiasts, but also to those coming from far more traditional cruisers. With its electronics, power, and chassis tuning, the XDiavel V4 is a power cruiser that feels fast, balanced, and surprisingly comfortable.Source: Ducati USA