The Ducati Diavel is a bike that combines a muscular aesthetic with a powerful chassis and maximum comfort, making it an exciting model in the brand's catalogue.

Ducati motorbikes are renowned for their adrenaline-pumping performance engines and the Diavel is no exception, boasting impressive technical specifications and a no-nonsense road-hugging design.

The Diavel is named after the Bolognese dialect word for 'devil'. According to the company, when the first prototype was wheeled out to engineers and technicians, one exclaimed: "Ignurant comm' al Diavel!" In English, this is translated to "Evil, just like the devil!"

Noticeably lower and longer than other Ducati motorbikes, the vehicle has been designed to ooze power, with the designers likening the finished product to an athlete on the starting blocks.

Much of the bike's bulk is concentrated at the front, with a significantly leaner rear end supported by a huge 240-section back tyre. Visually eye-catching, the Diavel is available in two colours: red and matt carbon, both in line with its devilish name.

However, those keen on donning their motorcycle clothing and hitting the roads are no doubt more interested in how the bike performs and here the vehicle does not disappoint.

At the heart of the bike is a Testastretta 11° engine – an L-Twin cylinder piece of machinery with four valves per cylinder and liquid-cooling technology.

Developed from the Ducati Corse, this powerful engine harnesses much of the pure strength of the superbike, while simultaneously offering a smooth, enjoyable ride.

Using a desmodromic valve, the engine has 94 lb per foot of torque and 162 horsepower, which is underpinned by a lightweight chassis that allows you to rev up from zero to 62 miles per hour in 2.6 seconds.

The chassis is made up of a light-gauge tubing with a large diameter, consisting of two die-cast aluminium sections that flow into the subframe at the rear. This enables the rider to benefit from maximum torsional strength, despite its lightweight design.

All this power inevitably creates heat, but with twin lateral radiators positioned on either side of the bike, there is no chance of burning up the engine, particularly as it is supported by a 64 mm water pump impeller that boosts flow rate by 35 per cent at higher rpm.

In addition to the engine, the Diavel has a number of other cutting-edge technologies, such as its clever split-level instrumentation.

An upper LCD display offers riders primary performance data, such as speed and rpm, as well as time, temperature and warning lights.

The lower display is a full-colour Thin Film Transistor screen that provides the current riding mode and gear selection, automatically judging light sensitivity in order to decide upon a black or white background.

Available riding modes consist of touring, sport and urban settings. Touring concentrates on long-distance comfort, sport prioritises speed and maximum acceleration, while urban is perfect for the stop-start traffic conditions of city life.

People hoping to pick up the Diavel during motorcycle sales may also be encouraged by its 50mm Marzocchi front forks, which are full adjustable and geared for spring preload, rebound dampening and compression.

Encircled by a slash-cut triple-clamp, the forks provide 70° of total steering lock for a smooth and agile ride, with efficient manoeuvrability.

A high-performance vehicle, the Ducati Diavel is a masterpiece in compact aesthetics and cutting-edge technology, popular with riders looking for both speed and comfort.