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The last time an Italian manufacturer won the Dakar Rally was way back in 1994. That year, Edi Orioli piloted the Cagiva Elefant to his third Dakar victory. Nearly 30 years later, Ducati evoked memories of that Dakar-winning Cagiva — a Ducati-powered machine — with the introduction of the 2022 DesertX adventure bike. It seemed like a reach for rally heritage at the time, but it also indicated the direction in which the DesertX was headed.
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 |
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