2024 Ducati DesertX Rally

Ducati turns its slick retro-raid rally tool a little bit hardcore

It’s one of Ducati’s most interesting models – which looks as sharp as it rides. And now Ducati’s acclaimed DesertX middleweight adventure bike has been given a dirt-focused chassis upgrade, to produce the DesertX Rally.

The big changes are to the suspension: the new bike features a trick new Kayaba competition setup, with a 48mm closed-cartridge pressurised front fork, and a rear monoshock with a 46mm piston. Both are fully adjustable, with the fork featuring both Kashima coating and DLC layers on the sliders, to reduce stiction. Travel is a mighty 250mm front and 240mm rear, 20mm more than stock, which gives 280mm ground clearance, up 30mm. Ducati’s also fitted a new Öhlins steering damper behind the top yoke.

Away from the springy parts, there are new billet yokes, and reinforced offroad rims from Takasago Excel, which are much tougher than before, fitted with a choice of Pirelli rubber: Scorpion Rally STR as original equipment, with the option of more off-road Scorpion Rallys or Scorpion Trail II if you prefer to ride the bike on asphalt. Finally, there are new stronger adjustable brake and gear pedals, and a new high-level front mudguard more suited to the dirt.

The engine is the same excellent 937cc 110bhp Testastretta V-twin as seen across Ducati’s upper-middleweight range, with the same electronics package, but with revised calibrations to suit the more off-road focus.

The new DesertX Rally costs from £18,995, and is available on the Ducati website now: www.ducati.com

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 *

*Equipment and features exclusive to DesertX Rally