‘X’ passes with flying colours
From the off Ducati have been clear about how good they think their new Desertx is off road. Chris Northover confirms it likes rocks and ruts as much as it does roads
You know the nerves you get when you’re about to do something naughty? That tightness in the stomach as you balance out risk vs reward? It’s lunchtime on the Desertx launch and all the other journalists and Ducati staff are eating or making notes, while I’ve managed to slip away. The risk in this case is crunching a brand new bike, while the reward is the warm feeling of relief that I got away with it. In my mind I can see Antione Meo sending the Desertx flat out around a motocross track. And through my goggles I can see an enduro playground full of jumps and boulders.
We all know where this is going and, normally, it doesn’t take long before something gets broken to remind me adventure bikes are not enduro bikes. Yet from crawling precariously across rocky outcrops to hopping off boulders, the Desertx not only survives, but laps it all up. Landing from metre-high drops the suspension bottoms, but remains controlled, with no bucking or kicking or horrible clangs.
Throughout the day we find more and more opportunities for stupidity – jumping gullies, rattling along rocky tracks and power sliding every turn in sight. But it’s more than just a bike for big hits and rally-style riding, Ducati have got some fundamentals right here, making it a forgiving and approachable off-road adventure bike for all riders.
The Desertx is slim between the knees, with a high handlebar and, a first for Ducati, wide footrests with decent grip. Nothing interferes with your legs and removable pillion footrests give more space and less risk of them bending the subframe in a fall. A short (by adventure bike standards) tank means you can get plenty of weight forward when standing up and still reach the handlebar easily when sitting. Importantly the bike carries its weight low and feels easy to manage at slow speed. The 21in/18in wheel set allows for decent mud-friendly tyre choices while that bigger, narrower front wheel compared with a 19in helps out particularly in sand or, more likely for us in the UK, muddy ruts.
My only real criticism is that on slow, stoney hairpins the stiffer suspension set-up feels a little nervous, making it hard to keep the front wheel where I want it, a trait accentuated by the more road-biased Pirelli Scorpion STR tyres. The Rally/enduro modes are easy to use and do improve the ride, particularly the off-road ABS. When it’s party time you can switch the TC off and skid around until you’re on the phone trying to source a new rear tyre. The Desertx is modern Ducati’s first dedicated off-road adventure bike but you wouldn’t think that to ride it. Fun to ride fast, strong enough to take abuse but still controllable enough to encourage riders of all abilities onto the dirt. But what impresses me most is how a bike this good in the dirt can still be so capable on a twisty road – the hardest thing about owning one will be deciding which tyres to fit.
‘What impresses most is how a bike this good in the dirt can be so capable on a twisty road – the hardest thing about owning one will be deciding which tyres to fit’