Ducati gets dirty.By Bruno dePratoDecember 9, 2021

Ducati’s off-road heritage runs deep. An array of models have explored the sandy washes of many lands, including the original Ducati Scrambler of the 1960s, the 450 RT, but Ducati’s off-road adventures have been short run. Until now.

Ducati took the opportunity via its sixth episode of this year’s World Première to unveil the 2022 DesertX: A modern-day, adventuring-touring offering with focus on off-road performance. And it looks to be Ducati’s most capable bike yet.

Until now, the Multistrada 1260 Enduro has handled Ducat’s big-displacement off-road ADV demands, but is still essentially an adapted version of the company’s popular road lineup. Not to mention the Multistada is $5300 more expensive than the DesertX, weighs 50 pounds more, and rides on a 19-inch front wheel.

The all-new DesertX is fully conceived to handle the task of off-road adventures. It utilizes an all-new steel trellis chassis and rolls on 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wire-spoked wheels wrapped in OE-fitted Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR rubber, allowing for maximum ground clearance and off-road mobility. A longish 63.3 inch wheelbase complements the steering geometry of 27.5-degrees rake and 4.8 inch of trail for stability on full-dirt sections. Claimed dry weight of the DesertX is 445 pounds.ADVERTISEMENT

It’s undeniable that the DesertX is a big motorcycle, but Ducati emphasized development on a well-balanced ergonomic triangle for on- and off-road comfort. Claimed seatheight is 34.4 inches, but can be lowered via an accessory saddle. Additional control is said to be the result of a very narrow between-the-leg shape, including the 5.5 gallon fuel tank.  Interestingly, removing the passenger seat opens spaces for an auxiliary 2.1 gallon fuel tank offered in Ducati’s accessory catalog.

Ducati has utilized a fully adjustable, long-travel Kayaba 46mm fork and single shock to handle the damping needs of the DesertX. Both units are mechanically adjustable, forgoing the use of pricey, semi-active units seen on other Ducati models. Suspension travel is 9.1 inches at the front and 8.7 inches at the rear, also contributing to a generous 9.8 inch ground clearance.

It’s no surprise that Ducati has adopted the trusty 937cc 11° Testastretta V-twin powerplant as seen in the Multistrada V2 and Monster models, which is rated at 110 horsepower at 9,250 and 68 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 rpm. Like the other current models, the DesertX utilizes an eight-plate clutch and other improvements used to reduce engine weight in comparison to previous models. That said, the DesertX gets dedicated internal gear ratios with emphasis on off-road performance, with first through fifth being much shorter in comparison to the Multistrada, while sixth is longer for tarmac stretches of riding. The Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) system allows for clutchless up and downshifts.

As on seemingly all modern-day Ducatis, the DesertX takes advantage of Borgo Panigale’s sophisticated,  six-axis Bosch IMU-based electronic rider-aid suite. In total, there are six selectable riding modes that offer preset parameters, including the traditional Sport, Touring, Urban, and Wet modes. Furthermore, an Enduro mode reduces power and increases electronic intervention while Rally model enables full power delivery and reduced intervention.

Another interesting and appealing feature of the DesertX is the 5-inch TFT display, which is placed vertically much like an old-school roll chart. The dashboard offers visibility to pertinent riding information and the ability to adjust the rider aids, including: riding modes, Engine Brake Control (EBC), Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC), and ABS Cornering.

The Ducati DesertX is said to be available in North American dealerships beginning in June of 2022. Starting MSRP will be $16,795.

There’s no question that Ducati has put serious focus on the all-new DesertX. And if it has been taken half as seriously as Ducati’s superbike models, it will conquer the sand dunes and rock gardens like the Panigale V4 smashes apexes.