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Ducati Unleashes Its First-Ever Hardcore Off-Road ADV Bike with the DesertX

Originally debuting as a render in 2019 before being revealed in concept form in April of 2020, Ducati’s DesertX is a brand new model from the Italian marque, as well as its first true dedicated hardcore, off-road-ready adventure bike.

Penned at the Ducati Centro Stile, the DesertX takes visual inspiration from the Ducati-powered racers that won the Dakar Rally in ’90 and ’94, with a full suite of rally raid-style bodywork complete with a navigation tower, a full skid plate, a side-by-side circular headlight arrangement, and a tail-mounted auxiliary fuel-cell. Unlike the concept that was based on the 803cc Scrambler platform, the 2022 DesertX is constructed around an all-new trellis frame that houses the same 110-hp 937cc Testastretta 11° Desmodromic engine from the Multistrada V2 (and base model Monster). The new chassis was engineered for off-road performance and has been paired with a long travel Kayaba suspension setup — affording 9” of travel up front and 8.66” in the rear — and an all-terrain 21” front, 18” rear wheel set, a first for Ducati. Weighing 445lbs (dry), Ducati’s new adventure bike also sports 9.84” of ground clearance, a rally-style exhaust, Brembo M50 monobloc brakes, a tall 34.44” seat height, a quick-shifter, half-a-dozen riding modes (two of which are dedicated off-road modes), a 5” full-color TFT display, and a six-axis Bosch IMU-regulated electronics package with engine braking, wheelie, slide, and traction control functions. The Borgo Panigale brand is also offering a host of optional add-ons including a supplementary 8-liter fuel cell and a suite of aluminum hard luggage.

Ducati has yet to reveal official pricing or a full spec sheet, though the 2022 DesertX is scheduled to hit dealerships in May of 2022.

Learn More: Ducati

Photo: Ducati