2024 Ducati DesertX Rally hits the trail with dirt-focused chassis

Jump cut to Erzbergrodeo 2023. Five-time Enduro World Champion Antoine Meo wins the Iron Road Prolog aboard the DesertX, adding real rally credentials to the ADV’s resume. That victory set the stage for Ducati to roll out a model that truly realizes the platform’s off-road ambitions. That model is the 2024 DesertX Rally.

Tall(er) task

DesertX fans, fret not. Ducati’s 937 cc Testastretta L-twin and tubular steel trellis frame remain center stage. It’s the supporting roles that undergo a new casting call for the Rally. At the fore is a closed-cartridge KYB fork that Ducati says will stand up to the rigors of off-road riding with precise and consistent damping. Hard-anodized fork tubes and DLC-coated (diamond-like carbon) sliders also limit friction and wear over time. 

For additional rigidity, Ducati engineers adopt a billet aluminum triple clamp. An adjustable Öhlins steering damper enhances stability over rough terrain, as well. In all, the new front end boosts the Rally’s wheel travel up to 9.8 inches, a 0.8-inch increase over the base model. Several changes also shore up the rear. 

A fully adjustable, big-piston KYB shock absorber now connects to a swingarm with a repositioned pivot point. The revised setup also yields 0.8 inches of additional rear-wheel travel, lifting the total to 9.4 inches. Together, the new suspension layout results in 11 inches of ground clearance, whereas the regular ol’ DesertX lists 9.8 inches. Ducati didn't bring attention to this fact, but we should note that the new equipment also nudges the model's seat height up to 35.8 inches. 

Rounding out the Rally

To accept off-road race rubber, the Rally swaps Ducati’s standard tubeless wheelset for a set of tube-style hoops. Takasago Excel rims lace to machined billet hubs via carbon steel spokes, and come shod in Pirelli Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires. The Bologna brand also offers knobbier Pirelli Scorpion Rally or Pirelli Scorpion Trail II adventure-touring tires as options.

If you hadn’t noticed, the new trim wears its rally aspirations on its sleeve, featuring a high-mounted front mudguard and a dedicated livery inspired by Antoine Meo’s Iron Road-winning race bike. A forged carbon bash plate along with billet aluminum brake and shift pedals add the final touches to the up-spec DesertX. 

Ducati reports that the 2024 DesertX will arrive in North American dealerships in March 2024. The model starts at $22,995. That’s a considerable markup over the DesertX’s $17,995 price tag. Rally adjacency may be the latest craze in the ADV world, but it sure isn’t cheap.

2024 Ducati DesertX Rally
Price (MSRP)	$22,995
Engine	937 cc, liquid-cooled, eight-valve, L-twin
Transmission, final drive	Six-speed, chain
Claimed horsepower	110 @ 9,250 rpm
Claimed torque	68 foot-pounds @ 6,500 rpm
Frame	Tubular steel trellis frame
Front suspension	Kayaba 48 mm inverted fork, adjustable for compression, and rebound damping; 9.8 inches of travel
Rear suspension	Kayaba shock, adjustable for preload, compression, and rebound damping; 9.4 inches of travel
Front brake	Dual Brembo M50 four-piston calipers, 320 mm discs with cornering ABS
Rear brake	Brembo two-piston caliper, 265 mm disc with cornering ABS
Rake, trail	27.6 degrees, 4.8 inches
Wheelbase	64 inches
Seat height	35.8 inches
Fuel capacity	5.54 gallons
Tires	Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR, 90/90-21 front, 150/70R18 rear
Claimed weight	N/A
Available	March 2024
Warranty	24 months
More info	ducati.com