Ducati DesertX A Quick Review: Off-road Champ

Meant to pay homage to the Cagiva Elefante, which was Ducati’s Dakar rallying icon, the Italian company built a machine that could very well do everything that could enable you to possibly do the Dakar rally and still traverse the length and breadth of the earth. Aptly named the DesertX, it is perhaps Ducati’s most hardcore off-roader motorcycle in its lineup and here’s the stuff that’s good about it and stuff that you should be wary about:

POSITIVES

Strong Flexible Engine

The 937 cc Testastretta L-twin motor is one of the most versatile engines in the big bike space, powering five bikes of various genres. On the DesertX, Ducati has managed to tune the motor (108.6 bhp/92 Nm) in such a manner that you still get that excitement of riding an L-twin engine while being tractable enough when taken off road, a great trait to have when negotiating tight and tricky trail sections.

Fantastic Handling ADV

Despite the tall stance, long legs and a 21-/18-inch spoke wheel setup, the DesertX dances from corner to corner as though it were a naked motorcycle. Ducati engineers have found a way to make the vagueness that one associates with a 21-inch front wheel disappear. It is a joy to ride hard and fast and there’s an exciting soundtrack to match.

Off-road Champ

With a name like DesertX, the ADV is bound to take on the gnarliest of terrain. It is very balanced and well packaged, the suspension tune is adjustable and yet very adaptive and its footprint is large enough to remain stable when hooning around. And boy can it kick up a dust cloud. It takes flight naturally and you can feel like a Dakar rally legend astride one in an instant.

NEGATIVES

Enduro-like Stance

Shorter riders will find the DesertX quite intimidating as the 875 mm saddle height and 210 kilo kerb weight are on the higher side. It does require a bit of technical know-how to find yourself comfortable on the bike, which includes you having a bit of off-road bike skills to enjoy its enduro-like riding stance thoroughly.

Not Quite Feature Rich

Given its retro ADV look, Ducati couldn’t give it quite a lot of bells and whistles on the Multistrada V2. So, no semi-active suspension, no standard smartphone connectivity, a basic TFT layout and even the windshield is non-adjustable. 

Touring Limitations

Also, since the DesertX is an off-road focused ADV, things aren’t quite as convenient for touring purposes. The pillion seating space isn’t quite as spacious, the grab handles are far too narrow to grab on to and in order to mount luggage, there is no tail rack. The latter can be fixed with accessories but official Ducati ones cost a bomb. 

BUY ONE: YES, BUT…

The Ducati DesertX has set the template of what one should aim for if you want a proper big ADV that can actually go off-roading, and I mean proper off-roading. It has a beautifully balanced ride with almost intuitive handling characteristics and incredible amount of approachability and finesse when you decide to go off the broken path. Whether it is the urban jungle that you have to conquer or make a beeline for the Thar desert to bash some dunes, the DesertX will happily do so, provided you are ready to live with its few character traits.

Yes, it will not be as pillion-friendly or allow you to mount luggage with as much ease as a Multistrada V2 would. And it is taller and not as fast as its touring-focused ADV either. Not to forget, you would have to shell out ₹ 18,33,200, which is nearly ₹ 2.5 lakh more than the Multi V2 to get this. And hence, buying this bike is not one that you make from your head, it is well and truly something that you do with your heart.