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On Thursday afternoon, the press release for the Ducati DesertX Discovery hit my inbox. Unlike the base model, the trim wears red paint and bold new graphics. It gains crash protection, heated grips, and a center stand. Lest we forget its game-changing touring windscreen.
Like any jaded journalist, I said to myself, “Money grab,” and kept it moving. To the Archive folder, the e-mail went.
Only after speaking with Lance about Ducati’s grubby move did I challenge my knee-jerk assumption. Yeah, the Discovery houses the same 937 cc Testastretta twin. No, it doesn’t make more power (110 horses) or torque (68 foot-pounds). Sure, Ducati probably rummaged through its parts catalog, slid its painters a 20 spot, and shazam, the DesertX Discovery materialized. Probably.
But whether it’s a parts-bin special and whether it’s a good deal for the customer are two different questions. Two things can be true at once.
To put my initial statement to the test, I surfed over to Ducati’s bike configurator. After all, the Italian manufacturer offers the Discovery’s components as elevated options for the ground-floor DesertX.
Ducati lists the new variant with reinforced hand guards, engine guards, a radiator grill, and a reinforced sump guard. That’s essentially the brand’s Off-road accessory package, which retails for $1,620.53, and raises the DesertX from $17,995 to $19,615.53. Toss in the Touring windscreen at $240.47, center stand at $418.75, and heated grips at $405.83, and the bill bumps up to $20,680.58.
That means the $19,995 Discovery saves $685.58 on a similarly accessorized DesertX. Plus, Ducati tosses in a trim-specific paint scheme (that's pretty snazzy, if you ask me). Of course, only customers who intended to equip the regular DesertX with the same add-ons included on the Discovery will save money.
For Ducati’s purposes, the Discovery not only slots between the standard model and up-spec Rally variant but also functions as the touring-friendly option among the bunch. If your needs align with the upgraded — and upcharged — DesertX purposes, sure, it's worth the extra moolah. Otherwise, you're better off sticking with the base model.
Customers will also have enough time to determine whether the 2025 DesertX Discovery stands to benefit their checkbook, as Ducati expects the model to arrive in North American dealerships in fall 2024.
| 2024 Ducati DesertX Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $19,995 |
| 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 46 mm inverted fork, adjustable for preload, compression, and rebound damping; 9.06 inches of travel |
| Rear suspension | Kayaba shock, adjustable for preload, compression, and rebound damping; 8.66 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 | 63.3 inches |
| Seat height | 34.4 inches |
| Fuel capacity | 5.4 gallons |
| Tires | Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR, 90/90-21 front, 150/70R18 rear |
| Claimed weight | 463 pounds wet (without fuel) |
| Available | Fall 2024 |
| Warranty | 24 months |
| More info | ducati.com |
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