Ducati Diavel V4 RS gets Desmo power
By Ben Purvis
Ducati's 'RS' suffix debuted in 2023 with the Multistrada V4 RS - a machine that's a step above the 'S' version thanks to its more powerful Desmosedici Stradale engine. Now the same recipe has spread to the Diavel lineup with the 2026 Diavel V4 RS and thanks to the bike's long wheelbase and low centre of gravity it's become the company's fastest-accelerating production model.
Both the base Diavel V4 and the standard Multistrada V4 use Ducati's 'Granturismo' V4 engine, with an 1,158 cc capacity and conventional valve springs, but the Multistrada V4 RS and now the Diavel V4 RS get the 1,103 cc Desmosedici Stradale engine used in the Panigale and Streetfighter V4 models, with desmodromic valvetrains for more revs and power.
In the Diavel V4 RS, like the Multistrada V4 RS, the Desmosedici engine isn't quite in superbike tune, with a peak of 182 hp at 11,750 rpm, but that's still noticeably more than the 168 hp of the base Diavel V4. The desmodromic valves mean the redline is a stratospheric 13,500 rpm, and in first gear the limiter lets it rev higher still, to 14,000 rpm.
As a result, Ducati claim that its new MotoGP champion Marc Marquez took the Diavel V4 RS from 0-100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds, faster than any other Ducati short of the company's MotoGP racer.
As well as the new engine, the Diavel V4 RS gets updated styling, with carbon bodywork, plus forged alloy Marchesini wheels and red Brembo Stylema brake calipers. A new exhaust with a redesigned titanium end cap is another weight-saving measure, helping cut the overall mass to 220 kg, 3 kg less than the stock bike.
Chassis changes to suit the more powerful engine include new, 48 mm Ohlins NIX30 forks, slightly slimmer than the standard bike's 50 mm units, and a matching Ohlins SRX46 shock, while the tyres are Pirelli Diablo Rosso IVs, the rear a vast 240/45-17 that's tailored specifically for the Diavel V4 RS.
Being a high-end Ducati, there's a vast array of electronic assistants at hand, including wheelie control, launch control, cornering traction control and ABS, and four riding modes, each tailoring those settings as well as the engine's power delivery to suit the conditions.
