Ducati DesertX: First impression

Exuding all the Dakar racing vibes is Ducati’s new ultimate rally bike, the DesertX, which has just landed on the local shores. Globally unveiled in December last year, this new rugged machine is inspired by the brand’s iconic bikes raced in Rally Raids in the 1990s and features an off-road chassis, advanced technology, and a lightweight engine tuned for off-road use.

While introducing the DesertX, Dennis Michael, Head of Company at Ducati Malaysia said, “From its head-turning design to its robust engineering, the all-new DesertX is, in every way, an incredibly unique Ducati model. When the team at Ducati Malaysia had its first riding experience of the bike, we were all in agreement that the DesertX is just exceptionally special. You could be dominating an off-road rally route, going hard on fast twisty roads, or just comfortably cruising long distances on a highway – the DesertX will do it all; it’s the kind of machine that brings infinite satisfaction across all types of riding.” 

The all-new Ducati DesertX is offered in the Malaysian market at a base selling price of RM 112,900. Let's check out the first impression of this new adventure bike in town.

Ducati DesertX design 

Ducati’s new off-roader presents a new design language with inspirations from the African Rally history. The solid and clean-looking appearance of the bike is composed of three main elements - a single central volume, the windshield integrating the double headlight, and the saddle. The saddle-footrest-handlebar formation has been designed ergonomically to offer the best in stand-up riding and good comfort for on-road riding.

As per the automaker, the DesertX features a “Robust Design” effect that blends form and function. It was created after several demanding test sessions that resulted in a slim fitting area and flawlessly linked surfaces ensuring the rider perfect control and handling.

Ducati DesertX dimensions

Seat height	875 mm (a lowered saddle available as option)
Ground clearance	250 mm
Wheels & tyres	21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel wrapped with tubeless Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres - 90/90-21 front and 150/70 R18 rear
Dry weight	202 kg
Fuel tank	21-litre with an additional 8-litre tank in the rear as an optional equipment

The DesertX seems suitable for extreme off-road adventures with its generous 250 mm ground clearance and Pirelli equipment tyres. The availability of two fuel tanks, on the other hand, ensures an excellent range on longer off-road excursions.

Ducati DesertX engine specifications

At the core of the Ducati DesertX lies a 937-cc Desmodromic 11° Testastretta water-cooled engine that kicks out 110 hp of maximum power at 9,250 rpm and 92 Nm of peak torque at 6,500 rpm. The engine is specially tuned for off-road use with a weight savings of 1.7 kg compared to the predecessor.

The power is sent to the wheels with the help of a 6-speed transmission paired with a hydraulically actuated wet-multi-plate clutch and final chain drive.

Modifying the power and responsiveness of the Desmodromic 11° Testastretta engine are four power modes - Full, High, Medium, and Low, which work in tandem with six riding modes, including Sport, Touring, Urban Wet, Enduro, and Rally. The latter two modes are specifically added to the pack for off-roading; the Enduro aids the less-experienced off-roaders while the Rally takes the off-roading experience to the next level for the most aggressive dirt riders.

Ducati DesertX features

The Ducati DesertX is post-heritage as well as digital at the same time and the proof is its long list of following tech features -  

• Engine Brake Control
• Ducati Traction Control
• Ducati Wheelie Control
• Ducati QuickShift Up & Down
• ABS Cornering (three levels)
• Cruise Control
• High-resolution 5.0-inch full-TFT colour display paired with the Ducati Multimedia System. The vertically oriented display has two viewing modes - Standard and Rally

• Double front full LED headlight with twin-function poly-ellipsoidal modules and Daytime Running Lights
• Ducati Brake Light
• USB power Socket
• LED spotlights (optional)
• Heated grips (optional)

Ducati DesertX suspension & braking

The tubular steel trellis frame of the bike comprises a long travel suspension with dedicated settings, offering effective performance in extreme off-road terrains along with uncompromised on-road performance. Part of the suspension setup is a fully adjustable KYB 46 mm inverted front fork with 230 mm travel and a fully adjustable KYB piggyback-reservoir rear shock with a travel of 220 mm. 

The braking system along with ABS cornering includes twin Brembo M50 Monobloc four-piston callipers with double 320 mm discs at the front and a two-piston calliper with a single 265 mm disc at the rear.

Ducati DesertX accessories packages

Further enhancing the riding and ownership experience of this ultimate riding bike are the exclusive packages offered by Ducati. These include a 40% offer on DesertX Bike Accessories Packages and a 35% offer on Genuine DesertX Apparel Packages.

Summing up

Overall, the new Ducati DesertX appears solid as well as functional at the same time. It ticks all the boxes right when it comes to tackling the wildest paths with no compromise on city street cruising. You can check out this versatile two-wheeled machine at all authorised Ducati dealerships now.

With the Ducati Corse Credit financing plan, you can enjoy faster and more convenient ownership. It offers several benefits like faster approval, a flexible repayment scheme, an interest rate as low as 4.88% and a 10% downpayment option.

Also read: Ducati introduces the next-gen Scrambler in three variants