Ducati DesertX Rally Is So Fit for Off-Road It Can Make Short Work of Any Terrain

In the few years that have passed since that time the bike maker didn't bother to increase the offering in the range, so up until now we've only had a single model to properly enjoy. Come January of next year, though, that will change thanks to the introduction of the bike's Rally version.

What that means is that soon enough the model will have its own, purpose-built cross or enduro version, one that could just as easily be used for recreational purposes or during high-intensity competitions. And the gear Ducati installed on the bike is so impressive that we're pretty certain the Rally can make short work of any terrain.

At first glance the bike feels the same as the DesertX it is based on. We have the same tubular steel trellis frame as the core of the ride, holding in its embrace the 937cc Testastretta twin-cylinder engine. Just like in the standard version, it is rated at 110 hp and 92 Nm of torque.

The engine makes the spoked rims of the bike spin. Keeping true to the original DesertX, which by all intents and purposes was the first Ducati to wear a 21-inch front wheel in conjunction with an 18-inch rear one, the Rally uses the same dimensions. As standard, they are equipped with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires, but optionally people can go for Scorpion Trail II ones.

The centerpiece of the Ducati DesertX Rally however is the suspension system. Ducati went to KYB to supply the hardware, and what resulted is impressive to say the least.

At the front, the Italians used a closed cartridge fork which helps increase the wheel travel by 20 mm compared to the standard version, bringing it to a total of 250 mm. The shock absorber at the opposite end, backed by a larger piston and an aluminum swingarm, brings travel to 240 mm, also up by 20 mm compared to the regular DesertX.

Aside from increasing the bike's capability of going over uneven terrain, the new suspension system also keeps it higher off the ground. As per Ducati, the ground clearance of the Rally is 280 mm, 30 mm more than what we got before.

Despite fitting the above gear on the ride, the Rally is just one kg (2.2 pounds) heavier in terms of dry weight – the regular DesertX tips the scales at 211 kg (465 pounds).

As far as the systems backing up the ride go, we get the usual goodies, including cornering ABS, traction control, and wheelie control. Some of these functions, alongside all the others that require rider input for configuration, can be controlled by means of a 5-inch TFT screen.

There are six riding modes to choose from (Sport, Touring, Urban, Wet, Enduro, and Rally), and the bike supports smartphone connectivity, allowing access to functions such as music control, call management, and turn-by-turn navigation.

Although even in standard configuration the bike is impressive, Ducati offers a wide choice of personalization options for the DesertX Rally. For instance, the bike's range could be increased by up to 40 percent thanks to an optional 8-liter (2.1 gallons) fuel tank - the one fitted on the frame is rated at 21 liters/5.5 gallons.

Then, the engine's power output, both hp and torque, can be increased by as much as seven percent when choosing to fit a Termignoni aftermarket exhaust system instead of the original one.

And finally, luggage capacity, when all the case options are exercised, grows to as much as 120 liters (4.2 cubic feet).

As said, Ducati will release the DesertX Rally into the wild in January next year, but the bike has already proven what it is capable of. During this summer's Iron Road Prolog held as part of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2023 in Austria, a DesertX Rally prototype ridden by enduro and supercross champion Antoine Meo managed to snatch the win in the twin-cylinder category.

But that's a feat for the most experienced of riders. The rest of them will have to start from the ground up, and Ducati has thought about these guys and gals as well: the Ducati DesertX Rally will also be offered in a detuned version for A2 license holders. This one has all the capabilities of the larger bike, but can only develop 47 horsepower.

The Italian bike maker keeps one key aspect about the new bike under wraps, and that's the price. We're told nothing about how much the Rally will cost, meaning that as usual when it comes to Ducatis such a piece of information is something to be discussed between buyer and dealer.