Ducati has supplemented its DesertX line-up with the new Rally model. As the name suggests, this bike is all about increased off-road capabilities and there are a few visual indicators that give this away.
- More advanced suspension than standard DesertX
- Greater ground clearance, new wheels with tubed tyres
- Bespoke colourway; tall, dirt-bike-esque front fender
First, there's a dirt bike style tall fender that replaces the standard mudguard, which will prevent mud from getting clogged between the wheel and the mudguard. Then there’s the single-piece bench seat, which comes as standard and along with the new suspension. This has pushed the seat height even higher than the standard bike’s 875mm. The DesertX Rally now has a towering seat height of 910mm, although an optional low seat can bring that down to a still dizzying 885mm. Finally, there’s a new engine bashguard made out of forged carbon fibre – a first on a production motorcycle as far as we can tell.
The engine remains the same 937cc L-twin that puts out 110hp and 92Nm and there are no changes to the gearing or sprocket sizes either. However, there are some big differences with the suspension. Still made by Showa, both the front fork and rear shock are different, more advanced units. Travel has increased by 20mm at both ends, now 250mm in the front and 240mm at the rear and ground clearance is subsequently up from 250mm to 280mm.
The suspension itself is now more sophisticated, with a closed cartridge 48mm fork up front and a new monoshock with a bigger 46mm piston. Both ends are fully adjustable and the compression damping adjustment at the rear is further split into high-speed and low-speed damping.
The DesertX Rally also moves away from the side-laced spoked rims with tubeless tyres on the standard bike. The centrally mounted spokes on the new Excel Takasago rims are less susceptible to rock damage, according to Ducati, and are lighter as well. Despite the new rims, the Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres are the same sizes as the standard DesertX, 90/90–21 at the front and 150/70–R18 at the rear. Further weight savings come from billet aluminium used for the wheel hubs and foot levers.
However, the weight savings are likely to have been offset by the new equipment and the fact that the DesertX Rally has tubed tyres. Ducati says kerb weight has gone up by 1kg over the standard DesertX which weighs in at 223kg.
Beyond this, the DesertX Rally retains the same style and comprehensive electronics pack, but the bodywork is now coloured plastic, which Ducati says is better at hiding scratches and scuffs. The graphics are also done in a thicker PVC material, which again, is designed to be more durable against the rough life a bike like this is bound to lead.
Prices have not yet been announced, but if Ducati were to bring it to India, expect it to retail somewhere around the Rs 20 lakh mark, given that the standard DesertX is already priced at Rs 17.91 lakh (ex-showroom, India).
Ved Janve
Vishal Venugopal
Dinshaw Magol
