2022 Ducati XDiavel Nera First Look Preview

The 2022 Ducati XDiavel Nera’s creature comforts get re-skinned, Italian-style.

The XDiavel Nera’s Siam Red saddle.Ducati

A mere re-skinning of an existing streetbike model is usually met with both raised eyebrows and eye rolls. But Italian design is more than skin deep. And even when it isn’t, it’s still…well, Italian.

Limited to just 500 examples, Ducati’s XDiavel Nera is a made-in-Italy design collaboration between Poltrona Frau and the House of Ducati. Poltrona Frau’s Interiors in Motion division, which works with upholstery, seating, and other leather-wrapped details, has done design work on the insides of McLarens, Porsches, and Lamborghinis. Now it lends its sensibilities to the black-on-black livery and seat design of Ducati’s newest XDiavel limited offering.

The Nera’s reworked saddle is slightly wider and comes with an optional backrest. It’s also made of Pelle Frau, a proprietary handcrafted leather. Five different saddle colors are available: Siam Red, Steel Blue, Cemento, India, and Selva. Each color saddle is accented by “X” motifs engraved throughout via laser. Buyers also get an exclusive key ring and documentation, both made of Pelle Frau leather in the color of their choice. An exclusive helmet is also available.

As a machine, the XDiavel itself is much the same beastly Bolognan cruiser you’ve known since 2011. Mechanically it’s identical to the XDiavel S and XDiavel Dark. Pricing in the US will start at $29,795 and go up from there. But lest you think the XDiavel Nera is just a conspicuous design exercise intended to show off the buyer’s disposable income, consider this new seat.

Despite the same size, the passenger seat padding seems more generous. And that backrest? Ducati and Poltrona Frau were clearly thinking of that other very Italian exercise: Bringing your campagna, or compagno, along for the ride.

Another of the XDiavel Nera colors: Selva, Italian for “forest.”ducati
The XDiavel Nera’s black-on-black color scheme helps the India, or brown, saddle stand out.Ducati
Brothers in arms, and handlebars. Design inspiration by Poltrona Frau.Ducati
The “X” motif is laser-engraved in each seat regardless of color choice.Ducati
A backrest and exclusive “jet helmet” are available to 500 lucky XDiavel Nera owners.Ducati

2022 Ducati XDiavel Nera Technical Specifications and Price

PRICE $29,795
ENGINE 1,262cc, liquid-cooled 90-degree twin-cylinder w/ desmodromic variable timing; 4 valves/cyl.
BORE x STROKE 106.0 x 71.5mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 13.0:1
FUEL DELIVERY Fuel injection w/ 56mm elliptical throttle bodies; ride-by-wire
CLUTCH Wet, multiplate, slipper; hydraulic control
TRANSMISSION/FINAL DRIVE 6-speed/belt
MEASURED HORSEPOWER 152 hp @ 9,500 rpm
MEASURED TORQUE 92.9 lb.-ft. @ 5,000 rpm
FRAME Tubular steel trellis
FRONT SUSPENSION Adjustable 50mm USD fork w/ DLC treatment; 4.7 in. travel
REAR SUSPENSION Monoshock, spring preload and rebound adjustable; 4.3 in. travel
FRONT BRAKE Brembo 4-piston M50 calipers, dual 320mm semi-floating discs w/ ABS
REAR BRAKE Brembo 2-piston floating caliper, 265mm disc w/ ABS
WHEELS, FRONT/REAR Cast alloy; 17 x 3.5 in. / 17 x 8.0 in.
TIRES, FRONT/REAR Pirelli Diablo Rosso III; 120/70ZR-17 / 240/45ZR-17
RAKE/TRAIL 30.0°/5.1 in.
WHEELBASE 63.6 in.
SEAT HEIGHT 29.7 in.
FUEL CAPACITY 4.8 gal.
CLAIMED WET WEIGHT 545 lb.
WARRANTY 24 months, unlimited mileage
AVAILABLE TBD
CONTACT ducati.com