This is the real thing
Most big adventurers suggest dirt prowess. The delivers it… Ducati Desertx Rally
After 100 miles of off-roading in the sizzling, brutal Moroccan desert on a large-capacity adventure bike, I would expect certain things. My back should be aching from landing jumps, my limbs battered from fighting over 220kg of machine through sand, stones and savagely fast trails. The bike will be feeling a little worse for wear in the 27°C heat, too. Yet none of this occurs with the new Ducati Desertx Rally.
Is it the best off-road adventure bike ever built? It could well be. The standard Desertx is a fine bike – it was our 2022 Bike of the Year, after all. But the new Rally takes things to the next level, both in terms of spec and stature. With even longer-travel suspension and a seat height of 910mm that near enough eclipses the sun, I almost require a Ducati accessory stepladder for my 28” inside leg.
But you soon realise this hurdle is worth it. Riding through the hectic, carnage-filled hustle of Marrakesh city, the Ducati’s incredible level of nimbleness comes into its own. Dodging donkeys and splitting traffic is a doddle thanks to the impressive KYB suspension and the Rally’s lighter wheels. With less unsprung weight and a higher perch, it darts with minimal input on the big, wide ’bars.
The Rally isn’t a bike built for urban riding, though, and hitting the open trails it bursts into life. A few miles out of the city the scenery opens into a pure riding haven, with huge open trails, vast dunes and ever-changing surfaces, mixing tarmac, huge stones, deep sand, jumps and climbs. The Desertx Rally is utterly unfazed by any of it. Unlike so many 200kg+ off-road machines there is no impression of weight at speed, thanks to the support from the forks and shock which work in perfect unison to deliver so much control – and yet are still progressive through the stroke. It’s absolute magic – even landing big bumps and jumps the Ducati never clouts its bump stops, soaking up landings with the prowess and essence of a motocross bike. Well, almost.
It’s the same set-up that Antoine Méo used to claim a win at the Erzberg Rodeo Prologue, yet even at my average (ready, steady…) pace the Desertx Rally isn’t intimidating but a confidence-inspiring weapon. It’s stable at a decent speed thanks to the Öhlins steering damper keeping everything in check, and you feel confident and willing to push; whether crossing in and out of ruts or motoring through thick sand. The Rally’s new seat and reworked ’pegs and levers make standing a natural and comfortable affair too – although it doesn’t take long for the stiff seat to start making my ass a bit numb when clicking off miles at down. Then there’s the 937cc V-twin motor. What a thing: utterly exhilarating when unleashed in full power mode, yet in its softer settings it’s about as docile as it gets. The electronic rider aids have incredibly gentle intervention, allowing massive slides at full throttle but with no worry of sending myself to the moon. The mighty Brembo brakes and Ducati’s incredible ABS are like a guardian angel too, the brilliant set-up genuinely being a collarbone-saver. With its posh suspension, lighter wheels and extra goodies, the Desertx Rally is a bit pricey though. £19,161 on the road is lots. That said, add its fancy bits to a regular Desertx and it would obviously cost more, and of course the Rally shares all the premium touches and sense of quality that make the base model so lovely. And the new Ducati’s closest rival, KTM’S 890 Adventure Rally, carries a price tag of £20,899. For the pure road riders among us (most of us, then), the more road-biased nature of the standard Desertx makes it the better choice. The Rally is a full-fat off-road weapon built for the small number of hardcore enthusiasts. It’s not the greatest road bike in the world – but it’s certainly one of the finest off-roading adventure bikes in the business… if not the best.
‘It’s absolute magic – even landing big bumps and jumps the Ducati never clouts its bump stops’