The Ducati DesertX hits the dunes as the Italian firm's first dedicated off-roader adventure motorcycle to take on the MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 9.5
Ducati has pulled the wraps off the Ducati DesertX, its first dedicated adventure motorcycle designed primarily for off-road riding.
The headline attraction from its six-episode web series of premieres that have run since October, the launch of the Ducati DesertX comes just over two years since a prototype concept of the model was revealed at the 2019 EICMA show.
Spurred on by positive public reaction, Ducati opted to put it into production, where it becomes the latest contender in a competitive ADV category that includes the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro, Honda Africa Twin and new MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 9.5.
Inspired by the no-nonsense, honed rally raiders that competed in the Paris-Dakar Rally during the 1980s and 1990s, the Ducati DesertX remains very faithful to the original concept, with only minor changes.
Styled at Ducati Centro Stile, the silhouette is upright, slim and chunky, the look emboldened by the predominantly white colourway finish, while at the front the distinctive twin circular LED headlights represent a stylish new design direction for the firm.
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Described as being designed to be simple yet sturdy, Ducati says the DesertX comes with an ‘off-road attitude’ with a particular focus on ensuring it isn’t left behind when the going gets rough.
It has achieved this with an all-new steel trellis frame, which works with the dedicated long travel suspension settings and 21” front wheel/18” rear wheel, to iron out rocky surfaces and remain stable should you happen to live near a sand dune.
Even so, Ducati maintains the DesertX upholds its reputation for sportiness on the road with a modest 220kg of weight ensuring its is ‘responsive and easy-to-approach’ on asphalt.
At its heart is the 937cc Testastretta 11° Desmodromic engine from the Monster and Multistrada V2, delivering 110bhp at 9,250rpm and 92Nm of torque at 6,500rpm, tweaked to allow for more seamless low-speed changes.
From the riders’ seat, the DesertX has been optimised to ensure comfort on-road and capable off-road with the riding position assisted by an adjustable saddle and the opportunity to remove the pillion seat, while the dashboard - cowled within a front fascia that morphs into the headlight cluster - is taller than most so it can be seen while standing up and air flow optimised to control heat management and ensure fresh air flow around the rider.
SIx riding modes will be offered with Enduro Riding Mode and Rally Riding Mode included among the standard Sport, Touring, Urban and Wet settings, while Full, High, Medium and Low power modes are also available.
The Ducati DesertX will be available from May 2022 and will be offered in a lower powered A2 version too.
Ducati Testastretta 11°, L-Twin cylinders, Desmodromic valvetrain, 4 valves per cylinder, liquid cooled
Bosch electronic fuel injection system, Ø53 mm throttle bodies with ride-by-wire system
Stainless steel single mufler, catalytic converter and 2 lambda probes
Chain, front sprocket Z15, rear sprocket Z49
Slipper and self-servo wet multiplate clutch with hydraulic control
KYB Ø 46 mm upside-down fork, fully adjustable
Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR 90/90 - 21 M/C 54V M+S TL (A)
KYB monoshock, fully adjustable, remote preload adjustment, aluminium double-sided swingarm
Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR 150/70 R18 M/C 70V M+S TL
2 x Ø 320 mm aluminum flange semi-floating discs, Radial mount Brembo monobloc 4-pistons calipers, Bosch Cornering ABS
Ø 265 mm disc, Brembo floating 2 pistons caliper, Bosch Cornering ABS