The Ducati DesertX line-up now expands with the introduction of the all-new Ducati DesertX Rally model. The motorbike now features new styling and increased off-road capabilities. The bike is set to launch globally in January 2024.
The price is yet to be announced but if Ducati does launch it in India, the price would be anywhere around the Rs 20 lakh area, considering the standard DesertX retails here for Rs 17.91 lakh (ex-showroom).
Ducati DesertX Rally – What’s new?
The Ducati DesertX Rally retains the same design language and electronics as the standard DesertX and the first major change you will notice is the tall fender that replaces the standard mudguard and gives it a more dirt bike look.
Apart from that, the DesertX rally also gets a new paint job on the bodywork called coloured plastic. According to Ducati, this helps in hiding scratches. The graphics are done in a thicker PVC material which means they will last against the rough life this bike is designed for and also ensures greater scope for customization.
Oh, and the colours and graphics of the new livery are borrowed from the DesertX with which Antoine Meo triumphed in the Erzbergrodeo Prologue.
The motorbike sports centrally mounted spokes on the new Excel Takasago rims which are less prone to rock damage and lighter in weight as well, saying goodbye to the side-laced spoked rims with tubeless tyres from the standard DesertX. The Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres were the same sizes as the standard DesertX at the front and rear.
Now, the suspension is more sophisticated now, with a closed cartridge front fork and a new rear monoshock of 48 mm and 46 mm. Both ends are adjustable and at the rear, the compression damping adjustment further has a higher speed and low-speed damping.
The front and rear shock, made by Showa are more advanced now than the standard bike, and the travel has now increased by 20 mm at both ends with 250 mm and 240 mm at the front and rear. The ground clearance is now 280 mm which is 30 mm more than the standard DesertX.
Talking about the ground clearance, the bike’s seat height is now 910 mm, which is much higher than the standard’s 875 mm. However, the Ducati provides a low seat option that brings down the height by 885 mm, which is still quite high. So, short guys have to manage.
The weight has also been saved by the billet aluminium used for wheel hubs and foot levers, tubed tyres and the use of new equipment. Oh, and if you think the bike is light, you’re wrong since the bike now weighs 1 kg more than the standard’s 223 kg.
Ducati DesertX Rally – Engine
The engine is a 937 CC L-twin that churns out 110 hp @ 9,250 RPM of power and 92 hp of torque @ 6,500 RPM with no changes in the gearbox. Only the suspension changed as mentioned above.
Ducati DesertX Rally – Rivals
The Ducati DesertX rally rivals the likes of the KTM 890 Adventure R, Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro, Honda Africa Twin and the BMW F 850 GS Adventure.
The DesertX rally is not the only bike that is upcoming from the brand. Ducati’s new single-cylinder Hypermotard has been spotted testing and will be unveiled soon. We hope both these beauties are brought to the Indian market by Ducati.
