Rennie Scaysbrook | December 9, 2021
Two years after Ducati unveiled the prototype at the 2019 EICMA Show in Milan, we now have the production-ready machine in the 2022 Ducati DesertX.
Notable as Ducati’s first tilt at the uber-competitive midsize ADV market, the DesertX runs the same liquid-cooled, 937 cc 11° Testastretta L-twin motor as the Monster, producing 108hp at 9250 rpm and 68 lb-ft of torque at 6500 rpm. The company claims a wet weight of 492 lb, which puts it at the higher end of the class in terms of weight.
Just like the Paris-Dakar glory years! Ducati’s nailed the design but time will tell how the DesertX stacks up against the competition.
The gearbox runs different ratios compared to when it’s used in Monster or Hypermotard guise, with a shorter first and second gear for better low-speed behavior and a taller sixth gear for highway cursing.
There’s plenty to be excited about with the DesertX. Running bodywork reminiscent of the 1980s Paris-Dakar monsters but featuring full LED lighting and all the mod cons like a six-axis IMU, six riding modes, power modes, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC), Engine Brake Control (EBC), Ducati Quick Shift up/down (DQS), Cruise control, DRL, Ducati brake light (DBL), and a 12V USB power socket, the DesertX comes packing a similar amount of tech to bikes like the KTM 890 Adventure R and the Aprilia Tuareg 660.
The riding modes feature two dedicated off-road modes in Enduro and Rally, where you can disengage the Cornering ABS entirely for better off-road performance.
This is also the first Ducati to run the off-road-specific, tubeless 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel setup, with the Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tire as standard fitment.
The trademark steel trellis frame is found on the DesertX, with Kayaba handling the suspension duties with a 46mm fork and monoshock out back, both fully adjustable. Front-wheel travel is a substantial nine inches, with the rear offering 8.6 inches. Brembo provides the braking power with the four-piston M50 caliper and master-cylinder arrangement.
Ducati has also announced the DesertX will run a 5.5-gallon gas tank, but hardcore long-distance riders will love the auxiliary tank mounted at the rear that will offer and extra 2.1 gallons for 7.6 gallons in total. The machine runs on the standard tank until a certain point, whereby a message is displayed on the dash for the rider to switch to the auxiliary tank.
The 2022 Ducati DesertX will set you back $16,795 MSRP and should be available by May 2022.
