Ducati DesertX – The Cadillac-Jeep of the Adventure World
At RideMex, we put our bikes through some of the most grueling backcountry terrain Mexico has to offer. With over 13,000 kilometers of combined rugged riding on the Ducati DesertX and DesertX Rally, through seven Mexican states and seven US states in the cold and heat, we can confidently say Ducati has delivered something truly special to the adventure motorcycle world.
Unlike many motorcycles fresh off the showroom floor, which often suffer from bolts backing out, squeaky plastics, or delicate parts breaking, the DesertX lineup has proven to be a tank in premium clothing. Both the standard DesertX and the Rally variant have held up to intense use with almost zero mechanical issues. In fact, the only hiccup we've experienced was a faulty seat locking mechanism – a minor issue that was quickly resolved under warranty by our top-notch Ducati dealership in Guadalajara.
From a reliability and quality standpoint, Ducati deserves high praise. These bikes are incredibly well-engineered, with attention to detail that makes a difference when you're deep in the backcountry and need everything to work perfectly. Unlike other bikes where you need to "tune out" the quirks, the DesertX requires almost no adaptation. Everything just works.
Take it from someone who has a KTM 1290 Super Adventure R, a machine we absolutely love and regularly put through its paces. But despite its raw power and off-road prowess, the 1290 has had its fair share of issues: bolts backing out (even with red Loctite), fragile components breaking under stress, a failed start/stop switch, and a battery dying within 18 months. None of these problems have surfaced with the DesertX.
We met a fellow adventure rider who rode his DesertX from California all the way to Ushuaia, Argentina – with zero problems. That’s the kind of reliability and comfort you want from an adventure machine.
Ergonomically, Ducati nailed it. The geometry is spot-on, making technical riding feel natural and controlled. The bike's rake and length offer exceptional balance and poise, and once the suspension is dialed in, it glides over holes, rocks, and whoops like a Cadillac on rough terrain. Our DesertX Rally, after suspension tuning, gave us that rare feeling of being in perfect sync with the machine – a true "Cadillac-Jeep" experience.
Sure, there’s a minor throttle lag at the initial twist, but it’s a small blemish in an otherwise stellar performance. It’s surprising given how well Ducati got the rest of the performance package so right. We’ve even bottomed the forks a couple of times at high speed through deep holes – but only in extreme conditions.
Another standout feature of the DesertX is the intuitive electronic rider aids. In Rally Mode, it’s incredibly easy to adjust traction control, engine braking, wheelie control, ABS, and power output. Ducati designed these systems to be accessible and user-friendly – far more so than other brands we've used. In the heat of a ride, simplicity matters, and Ducati delivered.
It says a lot about Ducati that they created a top-tier adventure bike, the Desert X, then came out with the Desert X Rally! Ducati improved the already great suspension of the Desert X with even better, 48-mm closed-cartridge KYB forks. Then they added reenforcement to the frame, put on a carbon fiber skid plate and Excel rims, a high mudguard on the front, and an adjustable Öhlins steering damper. Sure, you don't get these improvements for free, but you have to love it when a company makes a great product they really don't need to improve and then they make it even better!
And on the subject of making a good bike better, Ducati really understands the hardcore adventure market: you can get factory-engineered rear fuel tanks that hold an extra 8 liters in addition to the 21 in the front tank. Range anxiety is a real concern when you are truly out in the backcountry, exploring wild places. Getting almost 600 kilometers of range (if you are easy on the accelerator) puts the mind at ease. Some of you are going to point out that Ducati did miss the mark by putting the air filter under the tank, making it quite inconvenient to change or clean. And, yes, you are right, that wasn't the wisest choice even though its location means that it doesn't need cleaning as often as it would were it close to the rear wheel. Aurora Rally Equipment will sell you a carbon fiber tank that enables you to do a quick change on the air filter for US $3,800. That is a lot of cash to take 5 kilos of your bike and do a quick air-filter change, but the components are quality, and your engine will breathe cleaner.
Bottom line? Ducati knocked it out of the park with the DesertX and DesertX Rally. These bikes are not only stunning in design, but also rock-solid in performance and reliability. For aggressive off-roaders, technical trail lovers, and long-haul adventure riders alike, they represent a new benchmark in the ADV world.
Ride on, and we’ll see you on the trails.
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