Ducati DesertX 937 2022 — Specifications

When Ducati decides to get its boots dirty, it doesn't go unnoticed. The Bologna manufacturer, temple of hot tarmac and knee-down cornering, ventured in 2022 onto terrain that had never been its own with the Ducati DesertX 937. A genuine off-road machine, not a road-biased adventure bike dressed up with "adventure" stickers. A 21-inch front wheel, 18-inch rear, long-travel suspension with 230 and 220 mm of travel, and a tubular steel trellis frame designed specifically for off-road use. The message is clear. And so is the lineage, as Bologna openly claims the heritage of the Cagiva Elefant 900, the one Edi Orioli rode to victory in the 1990 Paris-Dakar. The twin round headlights, the tall and stripped-down silhouette, the zebra stripes on the white livery: everything harks back to that era when rally bikes made you dream in front of the TV. The nod is deliberate, but sincere.

Beneath the bodywork, the 937 cc L-twin Testastretta engine delivers 110 hp at 9,250 rpm and 92 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm. A well-known and proven powerplant, shared with the Multistrada V2 and the Monster, whose six-speed gearbox has been reworked for off-road use: the first two gears are shortened for improved responsiveness at low speed, while sixth remains tall to cruise the motorway without fatigue. The standard up & down quickshifter makes life easier when riding hard. The trade-off is weight. At 223 kg wet, the DesertX tips the scales nearly 20 kg heavier than the Yamaha Ténéré 700, its most obvious rival. The extra 37 horsepower more than compensate on tarmac and fast trails, but in deep sand or technical single tracks, those kilos will make themselves known. That's the price you pay for such a generous engine.

The electronics, on the other hand, set the bar very high for the segment. Six riding modes, including an Enduro mode limited to 75 hp with dynamic throttle response for riders discovering off-road, and a Rally mode that unleashes full power for the more experienced. In both these modes, cornering ABS can be fully deactivated. The 5-inch TFT display, mounted vertically like a rally road-book, stands in stark contrast to the Ténéré 700's unapologetic minimalism and its small LCD instrument cluster. Traction control, anti-wheelie, engine brake management: everything is adjustable from the dashboard. The standard equipment exceeds what is typically found in this price category.

In terms of range, the 21-litre tank is sufficient for most uses. But Ducati offers an optional 8-litre auxiliary tank mounted at the rear, bringing total capacity to 29 litres. Enough to rub shoulders with the big adventure tourers like the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure and its 30 litres. Fuel transfer is managed from the dashboard via a dedicated pump. Clever. Unfortunately, the in-house aluminium luggage is not compatible with this auxiliary tank. An annoying detail on a machine priced at €16,290 that clearly has its sights set on long-distance expeditions.

Competition is shaping up to be fierce in this segment of mid-size adventure bikes built for off-road. The Aprilia Tuareg 660, the Husqvarna Norden 901, not to mention MV Agusta's Lucky Explorer projects claiming the same Cagiva heritage. The Ducati DesertX 937 plays the card of extra power, onboard technology, and Italian prestige against rivals that are sometimes lighter or cheaper. It's aimed at riders who want an adventure bike capable of holding its own on the road as well as on the trails, without giving up the character of a true desmo twin. Hard-core off-road purists will fault it for its heft. Touring riders seeking versatility and thrills will find an endearing, well-bred machine that proudly wears its racing roots.