I’d quite like a big chopper

There, I’ve said it. It’s a secret I’ve been harbouring for some time now – the need for a bigger beast between the legs. And having recently converted to a naked muscle bike (and loved it), now is the time to remove the veil on other desires - the dirty secrets that we dare not acknowledge for fear of derision and ridicule.

In the biking world we have for years been conditioned to think that small is beautiful. The major bike manufacturers concentrate their efforts on the race track and consequently strive to make bikes lighter, smaller and therefore more powerful and better handling. The level of technology, the search for excellence and the rider aids that go with these ambitions is at a level never before seen on bikes. Fuel injection and ABS are commonplace, quickshifters and traction control are the latest big things and anti-hazard technology will come to road bikes eventually. How much further can we go?

The move to a naked streetfighter bike has really opened my eyes to the possibilities that exist in biking beyond flash fairings, screens, gizmos etc. I love the sense of stripping biking back to its essential elements – a big hulk of an engine, comfortable riding position and exposure to the elements. And now for my dirty secret: from a naked bike, I’m starting to think that a natural progression might be towards a cruiser / custom bike – but which one? My thoughts on Harley Davidsons are well documented in a previous piece (although I have to admit that the Sportster and Fat Boy do hold some appeal) but there are a host of other desirable options out there – notably Yamaha’s VMAX and the new kid on the block, which looks a complete and utter beast of a bike, the Ducati Diavel.

Fat Boy

VMAX

Diavel

For me, these bikes scream aggression and street cool and it is interesting to note that Ducati are so confident in the Diavel’s prospects that they are putting it into production in the same numbers as the long-established Multistrada. And judging by the glowing reviews that I’ve read so far, they are probably right to do so. We are talking 1200ccs of pure muscle allied with cutting edge sports bike performance, all wrapped up in a cruiser style.

The trouble is, biking just isn’t cheap any more, so will the demand be there? The base Diavel is the cheapest of the aforementioned at just over £12k (£15k for the higher-spec carbon version), the Fat Boy comes in at a shade over £16k while the VMAX will cost a whopping £22k for the new model. In contrast, my 2009 Z1000 cost me £5k via ebay! Clearly, any future move into the custom / cruiser market will be via a used bike, which probably counts out the Diavel for a couple of years – I’m already fighting the temptation to arrange a test ride because I know that if I like it I’ll want to buy it.

With sales of sports bikes on the decline virtually everywhere, might it be the Diavel and bikes like it that will herald a new future in biking? I personally wouldn’t bet against it.