DUCATI DESERTX RALLY UPS THE ANTE

The DesertX is already the most convincing off-road model in Ducati’s range but for 2024 the new DesertX Rally raises the bar with higher-spec suspension, more ground clearance and competition-bred components.

Based on the modifications made to Antoine Meo’s competition DesertX, which he used to take victory in the Iron Road Prolog’s twin-cylinder class at the Erzbergrodeo this year, the DesertX Rally gets bigger, 48mm KYB forks – up from 46mm – with 20mm more travel than the standard bike at 250mm. They’re closed-cartridge forks, like those used on many motocross bikes, that use pressure inside the cartridges to prevent cavitation in the fork oil over rough surfaces. The fork sliders have a DLC treatment, while the legs have a Kashima coating, all in the pursuit of reducing friction and increasing the surface hardness.

At the back there’s also a 20mm travel increase, rising to 240mm, thanks to a new, fully-adjustable shock, and Ducati has added an adjustable Ohlins steering damper to the mix. Ground clearance rises from 250mm to 280mm as a result of the new suspension.

There are also new wheels with milled aluminium hubs, carbon steel spokes and Excel rims, designed to be used with tubed tyres. The diameters are unchanged, with a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear, but the back rim is half an inch narrower than the standard DesertX’s.

The extra weight of the longer-travel suspension is offset by lightweight components including a forged carbon fibre sump guard, those lighter wheels, and a selection of billet alloy parts including the gear lever and brake pedal. The result is a dry weight of 203kg, just 1kg more than the base DesertX.

Visually, the DesertX Rally gets a high, motocross-style front mudguard, and the bike’s graphics are entire made using thick PVC stickers on pre-coloured plastic parts to make the bike more resistant to scratches and damage.

There’s no change to the 110hp, 937cc Testastretta V-twin engine, which makes its peak at 9,250rpm and backs it up with 92Nm of torque at 6,500rpm, but Ducati offers a competition-only Terminignoni exhaust that promises a 7% increase in both power and torque as an optional extra. As on the standard DesertX, there’s a quickshifter, four power modes, wheelie control, engine brake control, cornering ABS with three settings and traction control with eight levels of intervention. A 21-litre tank is standard, with the option of an additional 8 litres in a tail-mounted secondary tank to boost range if needed.

The new DesertX Rally will be available in the second half of 2024 with a starting price of $36,600 ride away.

For further info on the Rally, head over to the Ducati Australia website here

DesertX Rally

Main standard equipment

• Testastretta 11° 937 cc engine with 110 hp at 9,250 rpm and 92 Nm at 6,500 rpm
• Tubular steel trellis frame with cast aluminium double-sided swingarm
• Tank capacity 21 litres
• High front mudguard with split brake line *
• Spoked rims with billet hubs 21” x 2.15” and 18” x 4”, carbon steel spokes and high-strength Takasago Excel rims with inner tube *
• Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres in sizes 90/90-21 at the front and 150/70 R18 at the rear (alternatively: Pirelli Scorpion Rally, Pirelli Scorpion Trail II)
• KYB Ø 48 mm closed cartridge fork, 250 mm travel, adjustable compression and rebound, Kashima Coating treatments on the fork tubes and DLC on the sliders *
• Fork clamps machined from solid *
• KYB shock absorber with 46 mm piston, 240 mm travel, adjustable in compression at high and low speeds, in rebound and preload *
• Ground clearance of 280 mm *
• Adjustable Öhlins steering damper fixed to the handlebar *
• 6 customizable Riding Modes (Sport, Touring, Urban, Wet, Enduro, Rally)
• 4 Power Modes on 3 power levels
• ABS Cornering Bosch adjustable on 3 levels
• Ducati Traction Control adjustable on 8 levels
• Ducati Wheelie Control
• Engine Brake Control
• Ducati Cruise Control
• 5″ colour TFT instrumentation with Ducati Link App support and turn-by-turn navigation
• Utility Bar
• Ducati Brake Light
• Ducati Quick Shift Up & Down (DQS)
• Full LED lighting system
• Dedicated Iron Giant livery *
• Adjustable brake and gear pedals machined from solid *