Australia with its 10 deserts and 70% arid landscape must surely be the new homeland for Ducati’s latest new model, the DesertX.
The bike, announced overnight, won’t be available in Australia and New Zealand until the third quarter of 2022, but Ducati Australia has already revealed the pricing.
In Australia, it will cost $A24,200 ride away, while in New Zealand the retail price is $NZ24,995.
We wonder what this will do to sales of the Multistrada 950 ($21,500) and S models ($24,000).
DesertX is powered by the 937cc Testastretta 11° engine from the SuperSport 950, new V2 and Multistrada 950.
Interestingly, Ducati hasn’t down-tuned the engine from its 81kW/92Nm output in the V2 and Multistrada 950, so it should be a lively performer in the toughest of conditions.
This bike is a dedicated off-roader suitable for Australia’s many sand dunes and arid landscapes.
Chief off-road characteristics are the 21” front spoked wheel and 18” rear, Kayaba long-travel suspension, generous ground clearance, Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres and Dakar-style 21-litre fuel tank.
It looks like something you could race in the gruelling Dakar Rally with its big tank and twin headlights.
Perhaps we will see a few of these competing in the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia next month.
Ducati backs the bike with a two-year warranty or four years if your country has Euro5 emissions standards.
It also features generous service intervals of 15,000km (9000 miles) or every two years with expensive valve clearance intervals of 30,000km.
On the downside, fuel economy is a thirsty 5.6 l/100km, possibly because it weighs 223kg when filled with fuel.
The DesertX also features a host of electronic rider aids such as corner traction control, riding and power modes, wheelie control, a two-direction quick shifter and cruise control.
It also has Brembo brakes, LED lights, USB and 12V sockets, self-canceling turn indicators and a steering damper.
The bike is set up to also accommodate their multimedia system, an antitheft system, turn-by-turn navigation app, fog lights and heated grips.
There’s even an auxiliary fuel tank you can add so you can compete in the Dakar Rally … or maybe the Hattah or Finke desert races in Australia.
DESERTX
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Ducati Testastretta 11°, L-Twin cylinders, Desmodromic valvetrain, 4 valves per cylinder, liquid cooled |
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DISPLACEMENT |
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BORE X STROKE |
94 x 67.5mm |
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COMPRESSION RATIO |
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81kW (110hp) @ 9250rpm |
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92Nm (68lb-ft, 9.4 kgm) @ 6500rpm |
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FUEL INJECTION |
Bosch electronic fuel injection system, 53mm throttle bodies with ride-by-wire system |
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Stainless steel single muffler, catalytic converter and 2 lambda probes |
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PRIMARY DRIVE |
Straight cut gears, ratio 1.85 : 1 |
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1=38/14, 2=31/17, 28=28/20, 4=26/22, 5=24/23, 6=23/25 |
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FINAL DRIVE |
Chain, front sprocket Z15, rear sprocket Z49 |
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Slipper and self-servo wet multiplate clutch with hydraulic control |
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Tubular steel trellis frame |
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FRONT SUSPENSION |
KYB Ø 46mm upside-down fork, fully adjustable |
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FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL |
230mm (9.06″) |
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FRONT WHEEL |
Cross-spoked, tubeless, 2.15’’x21’’ |
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FRONT TYRE |
Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR 90/90 – 21 M/C 54V M+S TL (A) |
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REAR SUSPENSION |
KYB monoshock, fully adjustable, remote preload adjustment, aluminium double-sided swingarm |
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REAR WHEEL TRAVEL |
220mm (8.66″) |
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REAR WHEEL |
Cross-spoked, tubeless, 4.5’’x18’’ |
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REAR TYRE  |
Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR 150/70 R18 M/C 70V M+S TL |
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FRONT BRAKE |
2 x 320mm aluminum flange semi-floating discs, Radial mount Brembo monobloc 4-pistons calipers, Bosch Cornering ABS |
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REAR BRAKE |
265mm disc, Brembo floating 2 pistons caliper, Bosch Cornering ABS |
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INSTRUMENTATION |
5’’ TFT colour display |
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DRY WEIGHT |
202kg (445 lb) |
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KERB WEIGHT* |
223kg (492 lb) |
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SEAT HEIGHT |
875mm (34.4 in) |
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FUEL TANK CAPACITY |
21L (5.54 US gal) |
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NUMBER OF SEATS |
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SAFETY EQUIPMENT |
Ducati Safety Pack (Cornering ABS, Ducati Traction Control) |
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STANDARD EQUIPMENT |
Riding Modes, Power Modes, Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC), Engine Brake Control (EBC), Ducati Quick Shift up/down (DQS), Cruise control, full LED lighting system, DRL, Ducati brake light (DBL), USB power socket, 12V socket, self canceling turn indicators, Steering damper |
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Ducati Multimedia System (DMS), Antitheft system, Turn by turn navigation via app, fog lights, heated grips, auxiliary fuel tank |
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com