Bentley launches its first motorcycle in collaboration with Italy's Ducati - but it isn't cheap

British luxury car-maker Bentley has launched its first motorcycle - and it has a devilishly Italian twist designed to match its most powerful and expensive supercar.

Unveiled in the US, the Crewe-based motor manufacturer has teamed up with legendary Italian performance motorbike firm Ducati to produce the limited-edition 167mph 'Diavel for Bentley' grand tourer.

It is based around the styling of its most powerful and expensive car – the £2million 200mph Batur fastback coupe – of which only 18 are being made.

Accelerating from rest to 60mph in three seconds, some 500 individually numbered 'Diavel for Bentley' motorbikes are being built with a price tag starting from around £60,000.

In addition, 50 even more exclusive 'Diavel for Bentley Mulliner' versions costing from around £70,000 to £75,000 are being produced in collaboration with the car-firm's in-house hand-crafted coachbuilder division - the oldest in the world. 

These individually personalised bikes are reserved specifically for Bentley's most dedicated customers.

Order books are open now for first deliveries in spring 2024 - and all bikes will be delivered in their own exclusive and personalised wooden crate, as well as a certificate of authenticity, a passenger seat and motorcycle cover.

Also available is a bespoke matching sports helmet and leather riding jacket for both men and women.

Bentley confirmed it marks its first ever venture into the motorcycle market – matching the firm's traditional British racing green heritage with fiery Italian racing red. 

It marks the first collaboration between Bentley designers and the Italian firm's styling house Centro Stile Ducati.

The bike had its global launch in the USA at the 'Art Basel' event in Miami, edition of Europe's most prestigious contemporary art fair. Bentley described it as 'a true two-wheeled work of art.'

The limited-edition Bentley-inspired motorbikes are based around Ducati's latest Diavel V4 Granturismo grand touring bike whose prices start from £23,595 – between less than half and under a third of the cost of the more luxurious and bespoke Bentley versions.

The Diavel takes its name from the dialect name for Devil in the Italian town of Bologna where Ducati is based.

Both Bentley and Ducati are part of the giant Volkswagen Group.   

Ducati has also previously produced limited edition motor bikes in conjunction with Italian supercar Lamborghini, also part of parent-company Volkswagen.

The Diavel for Bentley is powered by a 168hp 1,158cc engine linked to a six-speed gear-box with Ducati quick shift.

Based around an aluminium monocoque single-cell frame it weighs just 223kg, accelerating from rest to 60mph in around three seconds with a top speed of 167mph. It has three riding modes: sport, touring, urban and wet.

Its bespoke design is based on the dramatic styling of Bentley's £2million Batur – the firm's most powerful ever production car - of which only 18 are being built for customers, all of which are sold. 

First unveiled in August 2022, the Batur is powered by a vast 740 horsepower 6-litre W12 twin-turbo engine and accelerates from rest to 62mph in around 3.4 seconds up to a top speed in excess of 200mph.

Bentley said the new limited edition motor-cycles receive 'unique and refined components and a special dedicated livery' that celebrate 'the best of both iconic brands'.

It noted: 'Born from a collaboration between the two manufacturers, the project links Ducati and Bentley with a vision of performance, craftsmanship and exclusivity. The result is a striking synthesis of technology, style and performance capable of making enthusiasts dream'.