In the final episode of the Ducati World Premiere 2022, Ducati has unveiled the highly anticipated DesertX. The new DesertX is, according to the Italians, a bike with serious off-road attitude, with which the route can be completed right through the desert dunes of Morocco. Or a gravel path in the Ardennes, just what you want.
It is undeniable that Ducati has put a striking appearance on the market with the new DesertX, but we do feel that the designers in Borgo Panigale were inspired by something from Mattighofen, something that bears the Husqvarna label and Norden 901 by life goes. Replace the Norden’s single headlight with the DesertX’s double and you’ll come a long way.
According to Ducati, the design of the DesertX, the project of which started in 2019 when a concept under the same name was presented to the general public at the EICMA in Milan, represents a contemporary interpretation of the lines of the Enduro bikes of the 1980s from the previous century.
DesertX is visually composed of 3 main elements: a unique volume that includes the tank and the side panels, the seat and the windshield that embodies the signature double headlight and further enhances the originality of this motorcycle. In addition, stylistic emphasis is placed through the use of black and white surfaces. The surfaces in contact with the rider are sufficiently large and harmoniously connected to better support each off-road riding phase.
The chassis of the new Ducati DesertX features a new tubular steel truss frame, which, in combination with the long suspension travel with special settings, should do its job effectively even under the most demanding off-road conditions. Ducati claims that optimization of all components must have resulted in an efficient bike with a dry weight of 202 kilos.
Nice words from Ducati, but what is it actually about. The DesertX can be seen as the next level Multistrada Enduro, with the Italians now consciously going their own way, instead of launching yet another copy of the GS.
The wheel choice of 21″ front and 18″ rear indicates that off-road has had the highest priority. As far as the suspension is concerned, Kayaba has been called upon, the 46mm upside down has 230mm of travel, the monoshock generates 220mm of travel at the rear wheel. Ground clearance is 250mm, generous enough for serious off-roading.
The DesertX is powered by the well-known 937cc Testastretta 11°, which today serves in the Monster, Hypermotard 950, Supersport 950 and Multistrada V2. The desmodromic four-valve V-twin delivers 110 hp at 9,250 rpm and maximum torque of 92 Nm at 6,500 rpm.
The engine has had the same updates as the Monster and Multistrada V2, including the extremely lighter and compact 8-place clutch and gearbox with bearings to reduce friction. Compared to the previous version, 1.7 kilograms in weight have been saved.
Compared to the gearbox of the Multi V2, the transmission ratios have been considerably adjusted. The first and second gears have been made much shorter, to prevent the block from falling dead quickly during tough off-road passages. The sixth gear, on the other hand, has been made longer to run less on the highway – and thus to reduce consumption.
As far as electronics are concerned, DesertX has 6 driving modes, where you can choose from 4 Power Modes: Full, High, Medium and Low. The main new features are the specific settings for the Enduro driving mode and the introduction of a new Rally driving mode, in addition to Sport, Touring, Urban and Wet.
The Enduro Riding Mode, thanks to the lower power and specially designed control settings, allows the rider to tackle the most demanding unpaved roads with greater safety and makes it easier for less experienced users to ride off-road. Rally Riding Mode, on the other hand, with full engine power and reduced electronic assist, is designed for more experienced riders who want to get the most out of the DesertX’s off-road performance.
Thanks in part to the presence of the Bosch IMU, each riding mode can change the character of the engine by adapting the Engine Brake Control (EBC), Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC), Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up & Down and ABS Cornering.
The latter can be set at 3 levels to adapt to any situation. In the off-road riding modes (Enduro and Rally), ABS Cornering can also be turned off completely via a specific button on the handlebar.
The DesertX dashboard, which Ducati says is positioned to be legible both sitting and standing, consists of a high-resolution 5” TFT color display. The TFT has Bluetooth connectivity to integrate the Ducati Multimedia System, for music, incoming/outgoing calls or the optional Turn-by-Turn navigation, which displays the route directly in the dashboard.
You can choose from two standard Info Modes: Standard and Rally. The Standard option provides all road information: tachometer and speedometer are clearly visible, as are the gear engaged, fuel level and other useful travel information.
The trip master function is part of the Rally Info Mode. This simulates the operation of the tripmaster used on rally motorcycles and allows manual adjustment of the mileage using the buttons on the left of the handlebars.
As mentioned, the ergonomics of the new DesertX have been developed with off-road in mind. The triangular relationship saddle / footrest / handlebars therefore comes into its own when you are on the scooters, but must also offer good comfort when driving on the road.
The saddle is 875 mm high, but it is slim in shape so that you can easily get your feet on the ground. A lowered saddle is available as an accessory and thanks to an ad-hoc kit, the saddle height can then be lowered even further.
A petrol tank with a capacity of 21 liters is provided as standard. If that’s not enough for you, an additional 8-litre tank can optionally be mounted at the rear, with petrol automatically being moved from the rear to the front tank as soon as the fuel level in the main tank drops below a certain level.
The DesertX will be available at official Ducati dealers from the end of May 2022 for Euro 18,390 in the Netherlands and Euro 16,290 in Belgium. There is also a 35 kW version for drivers with an A2 license. Ducati offers the exclusive “4Ever Ducati” warranty, valid for 4 years with unlimited mileage, which relies on the service offered by the entire network of dealers.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.