Introducing the latest addition to the DIABLO family: the DIABLO POWERCRUISER, a performance tyre tailored for high-powered cruisers and baggers. It may come as a surprise that Pirelli offers a DIABLO series tyre for these large touring motorcycles, as this line is typically associated with sports tyres designed for both road and professional racing. These tyres deliver maximum performance on both the track and the street, thanks to Pirelli's experience as the exclusive supplier for the FIM Superbike World Championship since 2004.
But motorcycles evolve year after year, and it's no surprise that the once 'gentle' cruisers now come in more spirited versions, with sporty chassis, brakes, and suspensions, and engines capable of delivering significantly more power than in the past.
Then there are the baggers. Born as relaxed touring bikes, complete with windscreens and saddlebags, they've revealed a surprising sporty side, especially with the rise of spectacular Bagger Races.
These races have gained a huge following and sparked a new wave of customisation. Today, customisers are transforming baggers into race-inspired motorcycles, and these builds require tyres that offer both sporty aesthetics and performance.
A sport-touring focus
The DIABLO POWERCRUISER tyres are designed to equip select models of sporty cruisers and V-Twin baggers, which have become increasingly powerful and in terms of torque output and handling over time. These bikes offer heart-pounding acceleration and thrilling performance, yet they still retain their comfort and touring capabilities. The DIABLO POWERCRUISER tyres are designed to capture these aspects: they belong to a new line of high-performance Pirelli custom-touring tyres, and are recognisable by the iconic Flash design typical of Pirelli sports products. They also share the same qualities: excellent grip on lean angles thanks to the slick shoulder, outstanding performance on both wet and dry surfaces thanks to the compound formulation, and high levels of handling and stability during acceleration, braking, and at high speeds.
The touring foundation has not been neglected: the DIABLO POWERCRUISER tyres guarantee stability on wet surfaces and ensure adequate mileage.
Special sports baggers
Beyond equipping production motorcycles, DIABLO POWERCRUISER, tyres offer an opportunity for customisers who, following the new style launched by racing baggers, need to combine aesthetic appeal with performance tuning.
These new custom bikes have great appeal because they combine the typical generous lines of baggers with the latest racing solutions in terms of engine and chassis tuning.
But how is a racing-style bagger built?
How to build a racing-style bagger
To prepare a sporty bagger, it is first necessary to increase the lean angle, which is limited by the low position of the footpegs and seat for comfort; then the riding position is modified. High and rear-set footpegs, a much higher seat, and low handlebars are installed. Next, the suspension is replaced to raise the bike, typically involving the adoption of inverted forks and a shock absorber, both fully adjustable racing units. The braking system is upgraded with high-performance discs and calipers, and as a final touch, lightweight wheels can be adopted, such as forged, magnesium, or carbon fibre wheels.
The most extensive modifications also affect the chassis. The geometry, originally designed for touring, is modified to improve handling, typically by modifying the fork triple clamp and possibly the swingarm.
Less weight, more horsepower.
A crucial parameter for track performance is weight, which affects both handling and the power-to-weight ratio. A race bike can be up to 100 kg lighter than its production counterpart, a significant achievement that is very difficult to replicate on a road-legal bike due to the mandatory components required for street use, such as lights, turn signals, and license plate holders. The bodywork can also be modified, and the level of customisation depends on the budget. Costs can skyrocket if you want the ultimate in carbon fibre components.
Then there's the option of engine tuning, which opens up a whole new world of possibilities. In addition to selecting specific products like high-flow filters, full exhaust systems, and racing components (pistons, camshafts, connecting rods), a tuner can work directly on the engine, creating custom parts and modifying the cylinder head.
In this way, extraordinary motorcycles with high performance and a sporty ride are created, which require special tyres, just like the Pirelli DIABLO POWERCRUISER.
