Ducati had plenty of fantastic bikes, but the new 2022 Ducati DesertX is at the top of the heap for me.
Styled after the Cagiva Elefant and some of the other enduro icons of the 1980s, the DesertX brings retro Dakar styling into the new age.
Let’s take a closer look at this exciting new motorcycle.
2022 Ducati DesertX – Ready for Anything
Back in 2019, Ducati crafted a concept known as the DesertX. We all expected it to make production. The ADV segment is hot, and that’s exactly what Ducati has done.
The Ducati DesertX keeps most of the concept’s styling intact, which is a very good thing. The powerplant differs from the concept. Ducati went with a liquid-cooled 937cc Testaretta 11-degree Desmodromic engine that makes 110 hp and 68 lb-ft of torque. It’s attached to a six-speed transmission that’s exclusive to the DesertX via a slipper clutch. A quick-shifter comes standard, too.
You get a 21-inch wheel up front and an 18-inch wheel at the rear that should gobble up terrain easily. With 5.5 gallons of fuel onboard (7.7 gallons with the optional rear tank), this bike is ready for pretty much any adventure.
The bike comes with a 492-pound wet weight, so it’s not a small bike, but it’s not quite as big as some other large ADV bikes. I’m seeing this called a middleweight ADV bike, but it seems odd to say a nearly 1000cc machine is a middleweight offering.
The machine comes with six ride modes (Sport, Touring, Urban, Wet, Enduro, and Rally). There’s ABS that can be disabled, traction control that can be adjusted, and wheelie control you can also switch on or off.
As for the chassis, it’s a new steel trellis frame with an aluminum swingarm. A Kayaba fork is at the front of the bike and a Kayaba rear shock sits at the rear. You get a little over nine inches of travel up front and a little over eight and a half at the rear. You have 9.86 inches of ground clearance.
There’s two Brembo M50 monoblock radial-mount four-piston calipers at the front, and a twin-piston floating caliper at the rear. Those wheels I mentioned earlier are wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires.
The DesertX will come with an MSRP of $16,795, which is a little more expensive than some of the competition, but not outrageous by any means. I expect Ducati to sell plenty of these. If you want to learn more head over to Ducati’s website.
If you’re interested in Ducati’s bikes, but want a used one, check out eBay’s listings.
