Launched: Ducati DesertX Rally--For Those Who Thought The Standard DesertX Wasn't Hardcore Enough

Ducati has launched the DesertX Rally in India. The Italian manufacturer’s most off-road capable bike now comes with even more kit which enhances the bike’s capability to tackle extreme off-road adventures. The ADV also gets new bespoke liveries.

What Is Its Price? Who Are Its Rivals?

The Ducati DesertX Rally is available at Rs 23,70,800 (ex-showroom India), with deliveries starting in the last week of May 2023. It will rival the BMW R 1250 GS Pro and Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Special.

What’s New?

The Ducati DesertX Rally features an all-new ‘Dedicated Iron Giant livery’ to distinguish itself from the standard variant. The DesertX Rally comes with a new off-road suspension setup used in motocross and enduro bikes. The ADV gets a 48mm KYB fork with 250mm suspension travel and a monoshock with 240mm travel (both fully adjustable), 20mm more travel at both ends as compared to the standard DesertX. Thanks to the longer travel suspension, the ground clearance has been increased to 280mm (30mm more than the standard variant). 

The Ducati DesertX Rally is equipped with 21-inch front and 18-inch rear Takasago Excel wire-spoked wheels, which are stronger and lighter. The ADV comes with 90-section front and 150-section rear Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres as standard, but for those who tour more than riding off-road, Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tyres are also available as an option.

The seat height has also been increased to 910mm, it can be reduced to 885mm with a low seat accessory. Despite all these enhancements and upgrades, the DesertX Rally weighs 211kg, which is just 1kg heavier than the standard DesertX. 

What’s Unchanged

The DesertX Rally is powered by the same 937cc Ducati Testastretta liquid-cooled L-twin (90-degree V-twin)  engine that produces 111PS at 9250rpm and 92Nm at 6500rpm.

The ADV features a 5-inch colour TFT display mounted vertically for better readability even when straddling. It gets the Ducati Multimedia System that provides smartphone connectivity for music control, call management, and optional turn-by-turn navigation. Moreover, the DesertX Rally offers six riding modes: Sport, Touring, Urban, Wet, Enduro and Rally, it also has cornering ABS, traction control and wheelie control.

ZigSays

With the launch of the DesertX Rally, Ducati has enhanced its off-road performance and taken an already capable motorcycle to a whole new level. However, all these upgrades come at a hefty premium of Rs 5,37,600 over the base variant’s Rs 18,33,200 (ex-showroom) price tag. Now, yes, while that's a lot of money, the DesertX Rally offers impressive off-road capabilities. Some might even argue it's the best road-legal off-roader you can currently get in India. Ultimately, it's a niche product that is something hardcore off-road enthusiasts will enjoy.