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When Ducati began its series of virtual introductions of new 2022 models, it was clear from the start that they were saving what they thought was their best — most interesting, most significant — for last: the DesertX, the production offspring of a 2019 concept bike. Now we know just what the DesertX is. It's the dirtiest Ducati yet.
The DesertX gives Ducati an adventure-touring option that's equipped for real off-pavement action, as they emphasized with lots of dramatic video of riding through endless dunes in the United Arab Emirates and an endorsement from five-time world enduro champion Antoine Méo. Sand like that is not something you'd have taken on lightly with the Multistrada Enduro, which was previously the most off-road-oriented bike in the Ducati lineup but still weighed 500 pounds, cost well over $20,000 and wore a 19-inch front wheel.
The DesertX starts with the 21-inch front and 18-inch rear cross-spoked wheels that allow tubeless tires, longer suspension travel, higher ground clearance and (somewhat) lighter weight that's needed to transition from Multistrada (strada means road, after all) to DesertX. The DesertX not only undercuts the Multistrada Enduro by about 50 pounds, but also by about $6,000, with an MSRP of $16,795 in the United States. So if this is going to be the Ducati adventure-touring motorcycle for gnarlier adventures (#DreamWilder, in Ducati marketing), let's see what's under the hood.
"Post-heritage" and modern running gear
Ducati described the appearance of the DesertX as "post-heritage" and "a modern take on the 1980s enduro bike." That makes it an interesting mix of classic lines and modern features, like the dual round headlights that are actually powerful LEDs surrounded by LED daytime running lights. The five-inch TFT dash is vertical, perhaps bringing to mind an old-school roll chart, but looking like your smartphone was melded into the machine. And of course it provides full connectivity, multiple display choices and turn-by-turn navigation options.
The DesertX is powered by the 937 cc Testatretta 11° L-twin engine with some revisions. Ducati reduced the weight of the engine by 3.75 pounds and made some internal changes, particularly in the gearbox. The DesertX has a hydraulically actuated eight-plate clutch. New ball bearings support the selector drum in the transmission and Ducati Quick Shift allows up and down clutchless shifts. The result, according to Ducati, is smoother and more precise shifts. Maybe more noticeable to the rider will be the revised ratios, in keeping with the DesertX's off-road brief. First gear is 14.3 percent lower, second gear is 8.7 percent lower, and so on, up to sixth, which is just 1.7 percent lower.
The L-twin provides 110 peak horsepower in the DesertX, according to Ducati, and the bike comes with a full set of electronic aids to tune that power. There are six riding modes, as shown in the chart above, and two, Enduro and Rally, are specifically for off-road use. ABS can be turned off in the two off-road modes. For street use, the ABS is lean-angle-sensitive.
Kayaba suspension front and rear provides full adjustability but without the complication and expense of electronic control found on pricier Ducatis. Electronic adjustment is convenient, letting you change settings by pressing a button instead of digging out the tool kit, but some riders who plan to beat up their motorcycles off-road also see it as an unnecessary cost and potential failure point. Ducati describes the DesertX as sturdy, simple and minimalist, but also very capable, and the choice of suspension components reflects that. Travel is 9.06 inches front and 8.66 inches rear.
Ducati also has a range of accessories to make the DesertX more adventure-worthy, starting with a 2.1-gallon auxiliary fuel tank that attaches to the rear of the motorcycle. Once the fuel in the main tank drops below a certain level, the fuel in the rear tank can be transferred, using a control on the dash. Other off-road accessories include upgraded engine guards, radiator guard and handguards. There's also accompanying gear, which Ducati named its 21/18 line, recognizing the importance of the wheel sizes that signal a motorcycle's off-road intentions are serious.
And since you might not have a Ducati dealer nearby on far-flung adventures, the maintenance intervals are manageable. Ducati calls for oil changes at 9,000 miles and valve clearance checks at 18,000 miles.
The DesertX will be available in dealerships in North America starting in June 2022 at an MSRP of $16,795 in the United States, $19,295 CAD in Canada and 382,500 pesos in Mexico.
The DesertX "effectively enlarges the boundaries of what can be done with a Ducati," the company says, and given that it's a significant step into adventure-touring territory and off-road capability beyond any Ducati that came before, that seems a fair statement.
| 2022 Ducati DesertX | |
|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $16,795 |
| Engine | 937 cc, liquid-cooled, eight-valve, L-twin |
|
Transmission, final drive |
Six-speed, chain |
| Claimed horsepower | 110 @ 9,250 rpm |
| Claimed torque | 68 foot-pounds @ 6,500 rpm |
| Frame | Tubular steel trellis frame |
| Front suspension | Kayaba 46 mm inverted fork, adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping; 9.06 inches of travel |
| Rear suspension | Kayaba shock, adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping; 8.66 inches of travel |
| Front brake | Dual Brembo M50 four-piston calipers, 320 mm discs with cornering ABS |
| Rear brake | Brembo two-piston caliper, 265 mm disc with cornering ABS |
| Rake, trail | 27.6 degrees, 4.8 inches |
| Wheelbase | 63.3 inches |
| Seat height | 34.4 inches |
| Fuel capacity | 5.4 gallons (plus 2.1 gallons in the optional rear tank) |
| Tires | Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR, 90/90-21 front, 150/70R18 rear |
| Claimed weight | 445 pounds dry |
| Available | June 2022 |
| Warranty | 24 months |
| More info | ducati.com |
