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Ducati DesertX Rally: adventure without limits

The DesertX Rally is dedicated to adventurous riders who crave challenging journeys and rallies

Unique and distinctive style with dedicated livery, high front mudguard, and benchmark technical off-road equipment such as suspension and dedicated wheels

Already proven in competition with Antoine Meo at the Erxbergrodeo, the DesertX Rally is arriving in North America dealerships in March, 2024

Sunnyvale, CA (United States), 3 October 2023 – With the third episode of the 2024 World Première, Ducati unveils the new DesertX Rally.

From the DesertX, the first Ducati equipped with a 21-inch front rim and 18-inch rear, now comes the new DesertX Rally model. Characterised by the best race-bred components: the DesertX Rally adopts high-quality solutions that are both specialised and effective in off-road use and sophisticated as with every Ducati.

Developed and tested also on racetracks, the DesertX Rally prototype was the protagonist of the Iron Road Prolog at the Erzbergrodeo 2023 with Antoine Meo (multiple Enduro World Champion and European Supercross Champion) who took it to the top step of the podium in the twin-cylinder category.

Like every Ducati, DesertX Rally has a unique and distinctive style. Thanks to the new livery and solutions typical of the off-road world that characterize its appearance, the DesertX Rally communicates its character from the very first glance. However, it is the technical equipment that the Rally becomes an even more capable off-road motorcycle.

The high front mudguard, the Kayaba suspension with increased travel with closed cartridge fork and big piston shock absorber are derived from the world of motocross and allow the rider to overcome any obstacle, while the new spoked wheels with sizes and characteristics specific to off-road racing make the Rally an unstoppable motorcycle on any type of terrain. These solutions together with a light, impact resistant forged carbon sump guard, gear pedal and rear brake lever machined from solid, unequivocally identify the Rally as a motorcycle designed to tackle the most extreme adventures.

Chassis

The DesertX Rally’s suspension is designed to tackle even the most difficult obstacles, improving the DesertX’s already high off-road capability. Both the fork and the shock absorber contain the same technologies used on professional Motocross and enduro bikes.
At the front end, the DesertX Rally is equipped with new billet aluminum triple clamp, rigid and light. The fork is a closed-cartridge KYB, a technology used on motocross and enduro racing bikes.

This solution involves pressurizing the oil inside the cartridges to avoid fluid cavitation to deliver consistent behaviour of the front suspension performance during the most extreme of uses.

Furthermore, to reduce friction and increase resistance to wear, the fork tubes are equipped with Kashima Coating and the sliders with DLC surface treatment. Wheel travel increases by 0. inches (20 mm), for a total travel of 9.8 inches (250 mm).

The rear is fitted with an aluminum swingarm with a different attachment point compared to the standard DesertX, with a fully adjustable large piston shock absorber to improve the bike’s behaviour in the most demanding off-road use. Rear wheel travel also increases by 0.8 inches (20 mm), for a total of 9.4 inches (240 mm). Finally, to improve handling on the most demanding off-road terrain, the DesertX Rally is fitted with an adjustable Öhlins steering damper, fixed directly to the handlebars with supports machined from solid.
The new enhanced suspension has allowed the DesertX Rally to increase the ground clearance, which is now 11 inches (280 mm) 1.1 inches (30 mm) more than the standard, enabling it to overcome even the most difficult terrain.

To further improve off-road performance, the DesertX Rally is equipped with wheels in specific dimension for off-road, being more robust and lighter thanks to hubs machined from solid, carbon steel central spokes and high-strength Takasago Excel rims with inner tube.

Finally, to underline the versatility of the DesertX Rally, as with the DesertX, is homologated with three style of tyres, with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR as original equipment. To enhance its off-road capabilities, it is possible to mount Scorpion Rally, while for those who prefer to ride the bike on asphalt, Scorpion Trail II is available.

Thanks to the use of high-level components, the DesertX Rally has a dry weight of just one kilogram more than the standard model despite the increase in length and size of the suspension.

Engine and Electronics

The DesertX Rally is equipped with the 937cc Ducati Testastretta 11° twin-cylinder with desmodromic distribution. Maximum power is 110 hp at 9,250 rpm and maximum torque of 68 lb-ft (92 Nm) at 6,500 rpm. This engine, characterized by linear and manageable power delivery, has been optimized for off-road use with dedicated gear ratios and specific strategies and calibrations of the electronic system.

The six Riding Modes of the DesertX Rally (Sport, Touring, Urban, Wet, Enduro, Rally) have Cornering ABS, Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) recalibrated according to the new chassis and for more challenging off-road use.

The electronic functions of the DesertX Rally are managed through the vertically oriented, high-resolution 5″ colour TFT display positioned to offer optimal visibility even when riding standing. This display is designed for integration with the Ducati Multimedia System which allows you to connect your smartphone, thus activating new functions such as music control, call management and Turn by Turn navigation* (optional) with road directions directly on the dashboard. Furthermore, the DesertX Rally offers the Utility Bar as standard for mounting the satnav.

Service intervals for the DesertX Rally are every 9,000 miles (15,000 km) or 24 months, with valve clearance checks every 18,000 miles (30,000 km).

Accessories and Apparel

The DesertX Rally has all the essential components for off-road use as standard, but those wishing to customize it further can do so by choosing from the Ducati Performance accessories catalogue. To extend fuel range, it is possible to mount an additional 2.1 US gallon (8-litre) tank which provides 40% more total fuel capacity, fit perfectly into the natural lines of the motorbike. Aluminum side cases are available which, combined with the top case, give the motorbike a total load capacity of almost 120 litres. For travellers who never stop there are also additional LED spotlights and heated grips.

The steel tube engine guards protect the tank and engine from falls or impacts during off-road use. Finally, enthusiasts who wish to make the image of their bike even more racing fosussed can choose the Termignoni homologated exhaust. Anyone wishing to use the DesertX Rally in competition can improve the power and torque values by +7% by means of a racing exhaust, again by Termignoni.

Enthusiasts who want to complete their look will be able to choose from various specialist apparel proposals with graphics coordinated with the DesertX Rally livery. The collection, which also includes the women’s line, is made up of the Explorer jacket-trousers set, Atacama gloves, Explorer T7 boots and Arai Tour-X5 helmet.

The DesertX Rally will be available in U.S. and Canadian dealerships starting from March 2024. The United States pricing will begin at an MSRP of $22,995. For Canada, the pricing will begin at an MSRP of $26,295 CAD.

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DesertX Rally

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