QUICKSPIN I 2023 Ducati DesertX
P74
The DesertX utilizes a version
of the 937cc 11° Testastretta
motor found in the Monster,
Supersport, Hypermotard and
Multistrada V2, but with revised
gear ratios from first to fifth gear
to give a more optimum off-road
performance. Those shorter
gears (especially in first and
second gear) are like when you
put your four-wheel drive in low
range, allowing it to creep down
hills smoothly and sedately with-
out stalling.
Ducati is claiming 110 horse-
power and 68 lb-ft of torque for
the $17,095 DesertX, putting
it almost on par with the KTM
890 Adventure R (103 hp/73
lb-ft) and Triumph Tiger 800
XCA (95 hp/58 lb-ft) and ahead
of the smaller capacity Yamaha
Tenere 700 (74 hp/50 lb-ft) and
Aprilia Tuareg (80 hp/51.6 lb-ft).
Of course, it's also the most
expensive in this category, even
outshining the Triumph by $900,
but the good thing with the
Ducati is you're only buying one
bike with no electronic lockouts
you need to pay to get past.
This is the first Ducati to be
primarily developed for off-road
use and, as such, comes with
a tubeless 21-inch front and 18-
inch rear wheel laced with Pirelli
Scorpion Rally STR rubber as
standard. Ducati's four-bikes-in-
one machine in the Multistrada
was always designed first as a
street bike, an off-road capable
bike second, and comes to the
market with an asphalt-focused
19-inch front and 17-inch rear
wheel configuration.
The DesertX, on the other
hand, is firmly in the dirt as its
home of choice. A tall 9.06
Rugged DesertX looks are a definite departure
from the more modern Multistrada line.
