49. The DIAVEL

Name: DucatiFanBoy
Age: 36
Profession: Finance



1. When did your passion for bikes begin?

At about 10 yrs of age, when i rode a friends Luna for the first time ... it felt like magic, from cycling where you often concentrate more on doing the work (pedaling) ... you could now just look around and enjoy the breeze!


2. You've got a love for race tracks and cars too, tell us about it?

I have done a lot of amateur and competitive racing, though all on 4 wheels -- from the national karting races in India to driving supercars on numerous f1 and other racetracks around the world, including the old nurburgring with its 180 corners (unfortunately i had a dull and boring SLK350 with an autobox that day as my drive)


So here is my conclusion .. if you like automobiles (and love your life), a race track is a place to ride / drive them fast ... thats where you explore the limits - your own, the machine's and enjoy the feedback from the tyres and grip levels ... you learn so much in every corner ... the tyre tempratures change, tarmac grip levels change and you adapt your technique! What you experience on the road is a 10% of the excitement .. most of it from just going fast enough to scare yourself / risk your life! Of course riding with a mature group like GODS is an altogether different experience, where you are enjoying the ride within a disciplined controlled set of protocols rather than doing anything stupid like overspeeding / stunting. Its great to be out with a set of riding buddies and it doesnt matter that you dont use even 10% of your bike's power, cos you are on the public road.

And from all that driving/riding I can tell you, that steering a professional rotax go kart with a topspeed of barely 160kmph through fast chicanes and long sweeping corners with the rear suspension fully loaded is by far the biggest adrenaline rush in my automotive life .. way ahead of thrashing ferraris, porsches and lambos on race tracks .. driving supercars and bikes on the road is of course a distant third.

I cannot tell you how excited I am about the F1 track coming up in Delhi .. and I wish a lot of youngsters take to karting and open wheel racing (formula ford and formula maruti open wheel cars) and 250cc race bikes on the track (I will for sure!).



3. What bikes were in your consideration set before you closed on the Diavel?

It was a long 2 year period of jumping through options, from mt01, cb1000r, but pretty quickly through the process I got to a point where I knew it had to be a ducati. Just loved the 848 / 1198 and even booked an 1198 and then decided to cancel it. Current generation 848 / 1198 are just the most amazing looking bikes to me and and some day i'd love to own one of them as a piece of art (till then a scale model would do!). I also briefly considered an SF-S


4. What makes the Diavel so Special?

To be honest, #1 - that it is a bike .. i hadn't been riding actively for many years, so it was just great to be on a bike, any bike!
#2 Looks amazing .. now it isn't a sculpted beauty like the 848 / 1198, but it is one of a type and pretty darn mean looking bike
#3 You have to ride it appreciate how it makes the impossible possible w.r.t. how much easier to ride it is compared to even cruisers, how much faster on the throttle it is compared to superbikes and how stable it is in corners. Don't get me wrong .. a cbr600rr will take the pants off of it in terms of corner speeds and an 1198 will blow it in a high speed run ... and while you can take a diavel to the track, its not meant for it. But it has so far been impossible for 1 bike to do so much. And what that translates to is that it is a near perfect bike for the street (even handles a pillion really well) -- till you get to maintenance that is ;)
#4 It has all technology you have ever heard of, which also enhances the safety - 8 level traction control, abs, slipper clutch, riding modes, keyless ignition, the works.


5. Whats about the Diavel would you improve?

Besides wishing for a maintenance network nearby, i'd say ground clearence, a slightly more aggressive riding posture would go better with the bike's persona (maybe i should try a higher seat), maybe add some rocket launchers on either side ;)


6. Head to head between a race/supercar and the Diavel who would win?
On the road, the diavel anyday .. its much more fun to ride than to drive in general. On a track since I have a lot more experience on 4 wheels, I would prefer a supercar (though i'd prefer an open wheel race car over a supercar). But hopefully in next 2-3 yrs now I'd also get some level of proficiency on 2 wheels on the F1 track and then I suspect this answer will reverse too.


7. Any plans to accessorise the bike?

Well yes .. gradually, the bike comes really kitted out to start with .. but will keep adding nice bits as and when i find them. Exhaust is on top of my mind, but even the stocks are so loud that I am kind of unsure


8. Have you done any performance mods on it? do you have any plans to?

Not yet, just a sportster windscreen, which also does not reduce the wind blast much .. but looks cool!


9. The Diavel is a quantum leap from the traditional Ducati design, whats your take on it?

Thats the fun part .. it is and it is not. It looks so different, but is bloody light, sounds the same, goes the same, has same trellis frame. If you ask me they have managed to pull off a coup .. people on the ducati forums love it now (btw lot of them hated it before it was actually launched and available for test rides) and even the non ducati even non biking guys love it. I was quite nervous about the fact that I might really hate it if it ends up feeling like a cruiser - which I didn't want, but it worked out pretty well! This one is for keeps...


10. The dealer in Gurgaon is no more, who maintains the bike?

The ex-dealer in gurgaon and ducati mumbai sends someone. But it is a pain and this should be getting fixed soon by ducati setting up something in Delhi soon.


11. How has that experience been?

These guys are trying their best to help within the existing setup - they send somebody over from Mumbai regularly, the older workshoop guys are kind enough to let us use the facility / tools .. but overall it is not ideal and if this is not fixed then people will actually opt out of ducatis for just this reason (I already know people who did)



12. How serious is Ducati about the Indian market?

I think they are pretty serious. Remember its a small firm still .. but I have known some of the guys involved and been in touch with others who are getting involved .. it does seem like they are quite keen to do well here. And I think they will do well ... we often joke around that the market share of ducatis in GODS is higher than their market share globally! So see .. they have takers here .. just need to set up a stronger sales and service network (learn from Harley!)


13. Does Ducati plan to have a riding club? tell us about it?

Yes they are trying to set up India's first official ducati rider's club... though even before they set up an official club, there is an unofficial ducati riders india club which seems to be gaining traction, especially in Mumbai. I don't care too much about riding every Sunday with a Ducati riding club since you go out riding with your mates and not with just anyone who owns the same brand of bike as you! But if they do organize real events (again on track especially!) then they would gain serious popularity and publicity even amongst ducati and non-ducati owners


14. Whats your riding gear like?

Dainese full armour with back, neck, chest, shoulder and elbow protectors, ducati and joe rocket riding jackets and pants (leather for winters and mesh for summers). Dainese Boots and gloves, Arai corsair V matt black helmet.
More importantly I wear it all the time .. If i think it's too hot or too near to wear the gear, i take the car instead.




15. If you could buy another bike what would that be?

Now since everyone has a license to dream ... It has to be an 848/1098/1198 ... they look amazing and I could use it as a track bike! I just hope I don't fall cos any damage to the lovely fairing will give me an instant heart attack!
So in reality it might be whatever is the smallest track bike I can lay my hands on (200cc perhaps) ... and probably keep it on the track itself ideally (slick tyres etc)


16. Where do you park you bike? is it safe there?

In the basement parking, but always covered .. once it is covered people are less curious and so its generally fine. At the end of the day in India you have learn to accept that someone will scratch your car / bike with a key and it doesn't take away from how much fun you have riding it! Also that is a perfect excuse to buy a new accessory!


17. Whats your advice to young riders?

Never ride on the public road to go fast ... NEVER! Go to a racetrack .. On a public road enjoy the sunrise, the breeze, wear full gear all the time, use mirrors, look back often, expect the unexpected!