Q Is it too off-road for the road?
Absolutely not; the Desertx makes for a brilliant middleweight adventure bike that feels perfectly at home on tarmac. The fairly upright riding position is very relaxed and the tall screen does a surprisingly good job of sheltering you from the elements while the seat, although certainly a touch on the firm side, is far from uncomfortable and is good for over 200-mile stints with ease. And it really handles...
The Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres may have a chunky enduro tread pattern but they deliver in terms of grip levels in both the wet and dry (the rims are tubeless in their design) and Ducati has done a hugely impressive job when it comes to the Desertx’s suspension. Designed specifically for the bike by Kayaba, the forks and shock are firm enough to remove any unpleasant pitching under hard braking or acceleration while also delivering a very controlled and plush ride quality.
What this means on the UK’S backroads is that you can really motor on and the Desertx remains planted on the road and agile in bends. And it stops too, with the twin Brembo monobloc calipers more than up to the job, as you would expect. Importantly, and this isn’t always the case on off-road-focused adventure bikes, the Desertx also remains totally stable at motorway speeds despite its chunky rubber. Did we discover any downsides during a 250-mile road ride?
Looking at the pillion pad, we’re not sure it would be a great place for a passenger and the seat height of 875mm is quite tall for those shorter in the leg, although Ducati does sell a 20mm lowering kit if required. In town, its height makes filtering a bit tricky as its brush guards are at car-mirror height and the dash isn’t the best if you want to know anything other than basic information. The clutch is light, up/down quickshifter and gearbox excellent, it has loads of turning circle and even with a full tank of fuel, doesn’t feel top heavy. What’s not to like?
‘It’s a brilliant middleweight adventurer’