Kiwi Rider January 2022 Vol.1 | Page 34

DUCATI DESERT X

If the Tuareg doesn ’ t hit that rally raid inspired look for you , Ducati ’ s DesertX might be just the ticket ! Visually inspired by the Cagiva Elefants , which participated in the Paris-Dakar Rally , the DesertX looks set to be Ducati ’ s most capable adventure steed to date . Sure , the Multistrada Enduro has some off-road chops , but it ’ s a heavy , intimidating beast . The DesertX on the other hand looks light and nimble by comparison with its minimalistic approach to the styling . At its heart is Ducati ’ s proven 937cc , liquidcooled Testastretta 11 ° Desmodromic valvetrain engine . In DesertX tune , the engine delivers 110hp at 9250rpm and a maximum torque of 92Nm at 6500rpm . Ensuring the DesertX is capable off-road is a 46mm upside-down KYB fork boasting 230mm of travel up the front and a Kayaba monoshock at the rear with 220mm of travel . Both are adjustable in compression , rebound and preload . Importantly , the new DesertX has a generous 250mm ground clearance for tackling tough terrain as well . Off-road , weight is the enemy and Ducati has revealed that the production DesertX has a 202kg dry weight . Add in fluids ( including the standard 21-litres of fuel ) and wet weight will be up near 219kg . If you don ’ t mind adding another 6kg , Ducati has a rear-mounted 8-litre auxiliary tank like a true Dakar racer as part of the accessory catalogue . In terms of pricing , you ’ ll be forking out $ 24,995 for this classic rally raid inspired adventurer .

OUTSIDE THE BOX Who ’ s it actually for ? Ducatisti and Dakar heritage fans . The competition : MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 9.5 .
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