Fieberbrunn | Tyrol – Originally prototyped as a Scrambler model and revealed at EICMA 2019 in Milan, Ducati has conceived its first dirt-oriented adventure bike for modern times. With its twin headlights, it calls back to the classic Cagiva 900 Elephant, which earned legendary status when it won the Paris-Dakar Rally twice in the early 1990s…
With the Multistrada V2, Ducati already offers a comfortable two-cylinder adventure bike. But for all those who want to take their adventure bike on serious off-road excursions, there is now the DesertX. Visually, it’s instantly recognizable as an off-roader thanks to the 21-inch front wheel and the impressive suspension travel. The familiar 937 cc Testastretta 11° twin-cylinder engine delivers 100 hp (81 kW) and a maximum torque of 92 Nm, and it has been further optimized for off-road use. In addition, the first five gears have shorter ratios than on the Multi V2, making it ideal for low-speed off-roading. Aesthetically, the retro style paired with modern LED lighting suits the DesertX. The simple contour is limited to the essentials, giving the bike a very sleek appearance.
ENDURO MODE ENGAGED
During the off-road test in the Kitzbühel Alps, I quickly found my optimal seating position on the tightly padded seat. Even when standing up, the adjustable handlebar height was perfect for me at 178 cm high. Not only does the vertically oriented, 5-inch colour TFT display look good, it ensures readability while riding standing up. I had no problems with the standard seat height of 875 mm thanks to the slim design. The gravel roads in the Hörndlinger Graben and up to the Lärchfilzhochalm offered me a variety of conditions under which to test the vehicle. I soared around wide curves at high speeds, and the bike effortlessly mastered tight turns with easily controlled drifts in the power-reduced Enduro mode.
The very stable 46 mm diameter Kayaba upside-down fork with 230 mm travel easily absorbed all shocks. Because of that, hardly any shocks made it through to the handlebars — even those rocky water crossings — making for great ride stability. Both the front fork and the rear monoshock of the DesertX are fully adjustable – rebound, compression and spring preload. As for the rear single shock absorber, the preload can be adjusted easily and without tools via a rotary wheel.
For my off-road excursion, I selected eight clicks here, which corresponds to the “Offroad Sport” setting recommended by Ducati. This worked very well with the 220 mm of rear suspension travel, both on longer waves and quick shocks.
A FORMIDABLE ROAD BIKE, TOO
On the road, the DesertX is a very light-footed and easy-to-ride bike. The narrow 21-inch front tire steers willingly into corners. The Borgo Panigale-made adventure bike also made me feel good and secure right from the start when leaning. The chassis painstakingly irons out any unevenness in the road surface. These details will keep you from losing sight of the main goal – fun and excitement. The gear shifting is smooth as butter with the very supple Quick Shifter. On top of that, the DesertX is pleasantly quiet for a Ducati, which is especially beneficial on mountain roads and off-road. Upwards of 5,500 rpm, however, it does let out a growl that will inspire any motorcycle lover.
The Ducati DesertX starts at 19,995 euros in Austria (€16,990 in Italy, £14,795 in the UK, $17,995 in the US). With the optional pannier system and additional tank, nothing stands between you and your adventure.
Text and photos: Armin Hoyer – arminonbike.com
Translation from German to English: Ethan Shenhar
