Cleaning the Ducati Desert X Air Filter 

That really puts me off buying a desert x…. That’s a insane amount of work for a job that needs to be done every major ride.

Bike looks stunning and all but nowadays it’s not acceptable to have this kind of stress to replace or check the air filter…

In Australia, there is a oil impregnated foam filter available from an Australian manufacturer. That type of filter is better than a paper filter in very dusty environment. Also, when re-installing screws that are threaded in platic material, an easy trick to avoid "rethreading" the female part of the screw/receiver combo and ending with a part that wears out prematurely or has an inferior holding power, is to put the screw in, and with a light pressure on the screwdriver or Allen key, you turn backward till you feel the screw falling down into the original thread, then you scew it in. It helps to keep everything together the way it was intended to.

Put me off wanting one of these bikes. never seen such faff to remove a simple air filter

This would never be a deal breaker for me… This is how you get to know your motorcycle…. Is it a pain compared to other bikes, sure. But a small trade off for sure. Great video. Next service will be faster!

Very informative. Now you know why they send you to the shop for a simple air filter. At least you didn't have to remove the crashbars!

Damn Italians know how to make a sweet machine, but they never said they’d make maintenance cheap and easy. Immensely helpful, thank you.

You are a very patient man. I guess I wouldn't bother and turn it off. Thanks for the video. In fact, I can say that I watched it like a movie.

I can do this job on my KTM 890R in about 5 minutes with no tools. Enough said. Ducati created a great bike that is basically designed to ride to Starbucks unless you have unlimited time on your hands which I don't.

Thank you for taking the time to film this - very informative. Next up - an oil change video😊

Great video! You've saved a lot of people a lot of time. Thank you!

Thanks for taking the time to film the process in good detail.

Holy shit that’s so much work. Thanks for posting this, after watching this I don’t think I’ll ever get one. Imagine if you got the bike flooded in deep water and had to do this trail side ?? 😂

As a new owner of the desert x, this is absolutely ridiculous. Makes me want to trade this in for a 890r

I am so disappointed. I was really thinking about buying that bike. Ouch!!!!!!! I think somebody at Ducati hates us. Excellent video. Thank you for the information.

Great how to video. Thank you. I wish Ducati made this easier.

An excellent video. Thank you for the very clear presentation. Desert X is an adventure bike but the adventure should be in where you ride it not in the basic maintenance. This complicated procedure for what should be a very simple job removes this bike from the list of long distance adventure bikes.

Thank you for this video. It was exactly what I wanted to see about the air filter. Red Loctite requires heat to undo. (Or brake cleaner if you can get to it) Here are the basic colors of loctite: Red: probably not going to disassemble in the future Green: Almost the same as red. (wicking) Blue: medium strength, removable with tools (no heat) Purple: Low strength for things that are getting disassembled later. There are different versions of Blue such as 242, 243, and 248. Some applications will specify which exact type to use, along with the correct torque value. There are also products for metal to plastic, and plastic to plastic.

Thank you & it's safe to say that I will be taking this off my short list. The Triumph Tiger 1200 rally explorer keeps looking better & better. CHEERS!

Good vid. I’ve been eager to see this from the moment i first read they want the bike at the dealer to do it.

I would give you two thumbs up just for effort! Love my KTM 790 adv R with RR box!

Sorry if I am laughing. But making it THAT complicated to change an air filter is really bad engineering. Under dusty conditions the filter needs to be replaced or at least cleaned several times between regular service intervalls, a weekend of a group ride in summer on dusty forest roads is sufficient. Not to talk about some ”desert” riding! 😂 Getting to the air filter of a KTM 790/890/901 takes about as long as you need for seat and front screen removal! That’s what I call clever engineering!

A great video that highlights the failure of form over function!!! I was seriously considering buying a Desert X but instead am going to stick with my 1988 R80GS. It may be slower and not have all the mod cons, but at least it’s easy to maintain!!!

Way too hard ..... I believe Ducati has made a huge mistake not providing suitable and hassle free air filter access.

Подивився. Передумав куплять. Дуже дякую.

How to change air filter on Ducati, proceeds with 40 minute video. Now we see why the owner's manual says 'see your Ducati dealer' for every maintenance instruction. I'd love to see the size of the actual maintenance manual.

God was looking over me when I asked for my deposit back for this bike. This is insane. Imagine trying to do this on the road. I wonder how much Ducati will charge to do what should be one of the easiest DIY maintenance tasks at home as part of the pleasure of playing around with our beloved escape machines.

Nice video😁 However... When I replaced my air filter I didn't remove the front screen. I removed the Steering Damper and the fairing/side panel bolts closest to the fuel tank. Remove the seat and disconnect the wiring under the tank next to the fuel taps. Disconnect fuel hoses at the taps lift the tank up and disconnect the hoses from under the tank. You only have to remove 4 screes to remove the airfilter from it's housing, the 2 rear screes can stay in. The Unifilter works extremely good. The amount of dirt I had trapped on top of mine didn't affect the performance of the bike. It's only a 30minute job.

I had the same experience with my Triumph XC800. It’s the only thing stopping me buying a DesertX. I’m a Ducatisti since the 1970s. This is ridiculous for an ADV bike. Ducati need to rethink the air filter access and the fuel tank as well.

A good video for all those who claimed that old Yamaha XTZ 750 motorcycles are problematic in the service.

very similiar to the 1190r...Run the tank low on fuel and get parts and dig in.

Unbelievable! 😮 On my Aprilia Tuareg 660 it takes about 5 minutes to remove the air filter

lol what an absolute nightmare! Anyone who buys this with the intention of dusty off road riding should have their heads examined!!! great video!

I saw a Desert X on a ride this weekend and wow what a pretty bike. Prettiest adventure bike made IMO. I have owned two street Ducatis and loved them and had zero issues with them. No Desert X for me though. Will stick with my ugly KTM 890r. It is designed much better for off road despite KTM's reputation for iffy reliability. No issues with mine so far. Fingers crossed!

I have to remove the seat for an air filter change on the CB500x. If I could just get those extra 60 hp!

Great video Padu.

This is the main reason I bought a Husqvarna Norden 901. 🙀🙀

The video that clearly explains why not to buy that bike. Thank you.

I didn't think there was an air filter harder to change than those in a Goldwing or KTM 1x90. Ducati, you win!

Very interesting video Padu ! Just a question , not about the air filter : are you happy with those crash bars ? I am looking for an alternative to the original expensive ducati bars . Thanks in advance.

Thanks for doing this. I've been waiting for some clever dude to do it. That did not look like a very dirty air filter to me (just some sand). How much dust and sand did you ride in. Does the design keep the air filter cleaner than your other bikes?

Hi Padu I also have the steering stabilizer and was just wondering if you used the spacer on the big mount? It doesn't show it on the diagram/instructions. After install mine can move freely up and down at center mount a lot which seems wrong but Im not sure ? I wish you would of done a video on that! Be safe

PPL - don't listen to anyone's whinging "its all too hard don't buy a DesX" - they are just a bunch of soft ccks... its a big job the 1st time only, but its easy-peasy ~20mins every time after that.

Nice video! Thank you. Buy the way, what is the manufacturer of such a nice decals?

Good thing you don't have to cut the frame. That could be a problem. Especially on trips. Now only 4 hours and done. good job Ducati.

Hi, thanks to sharing this video. Would be possible to share with me the service manual, which is on you screen in video please? Thanks a lot, Lukas

By the way...for what it is worth, as an aftermarket air filter, the Aussie guy uses a Uni Filter. See minute 46:40 of that same video.

Aprilia Tuareg: 6 screws, plastic off; 4(?) screws; airbox out..

At 20:00 minutes is there a tab from the tank that’s cracked which has a grommet? Above the fuel pump.

Thanks. Where did you find the online parts/schematics ?

This is the video that made me go with a Norden over a Desert X.

Do you think it is possible to relocate the air filter/box with custom fabricated parts?

Imagine you have to clean the AF because the Bike strugles with dirt... No sorry, that's why im happy with my T7! Seat off, remove 4 bolts and finish 🙃

Africa twin is a nightmare changing the two air filters you have to remove crash bars aswell how many times really do you change your air filter per year once twice max

I thought it can't be harder that accessing the V-strom 650 air filte but it is... I am almost sad I got this and not the Tuareg. :))

I thought the air filter access on my honda vtr1000 was absurd, but this is orders of magnitude worse. IMHO a serious design fail.

I do not think this will by the deal breaker, but still think its too complicated. Thanks

I love this bike, but there is zero chance i would actually buy a bike a bike that requires a 41 minute video on cleaning the air filter. Simply a no go for too many areas I ride. Such a shame, that bike is so awesome in so many ways, and what I truly wanted, but ended up with a Norden so still pretty happy 😁

I would clean it up and take it back for a refund

Now I see why they say, "Just bring it to the dealer!" They don't design it for you to work on it!!

@19:54 is that a cracked gas tank tab? :(

Do you have a link to that gas cap?

This is madness, 29 minutes before you lay your hands on the filter! Insanity, who would build this!

Not to be to much of hassle Mate, how can i get one of those sticker kits? Lokks awesome!

Very detailed and informative, thanks, but what an absolute pain in the backside for something as simple as a filter change! Not something that's really possible on a long tour or easy to do unless you've got a nice spacious garage. It's also not really something I'd trust a ham fisted dealer mechanic to do without forgetting to properly tighten or not cross thread a screw either. A lovely bike, but Ducati haven't made regular maintenance particularly easy.

As good as the bike is I would never buy a bike that takes so much effort to clean the air filter if you ride a lot of dirt.Cheers.

I wonder what the Ducati Dealership Service Department would charge for this service?

And we all thought the 990 Adventure was bad for air filter access...

Almost bought DX, this filter nonsense stopped me. Now I own a KTM 890 ADV R, 2500km on the clock and have already washed filters with a pre-filter three times. I can not imagine how to maintain DX after every heavy dusty ride. Will be the first in the line to buy DX if theywill fix this.

Which crash bars do you have there?

What a pain

What a pain in the rear!! And to think this needs to be done at every oil change?? All for a bike that cost 18k in the US and that just bare bones with no crash bars or luggage.. Ducati really messed this one up!! Every Ducati dealer in my area have all least 2 in stock and have had them for over 6 moths

You have to just remove the tank after emptying, you remove almost everything that you don’t need 😊

I think it has to be the worst in the world to replace, after 3hr doing my BMW R1200 RT air filter and complaining I have nothing on yours, no way you can do that on a multi day race

This not a cleaning video - this is a disassembly video. I just pop the seat on my Tuareg and take out the filter... :P

All this to get to the air filter. Holy shit Ducati!!! Just to put more money in your pocket. I am a fan of this bike but just because of this reason, I won’t consider this bike. Honda…take my money

Well, I will never again complain about having to change the air filter on my GSA. What a poor design for an adventure bike.

All this to maintain an air filter, I meant to change a paper air filter? I don't understand why all of the "Offroad Beast" advertisement!

Ducati te la vende como una moto de aventura, pero no imagino a alguien cambiando el filtro en ruta, siendo tan difícil el proceso 😅😅🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️ tbn la venden como un moto de súper aventura pero tiene tantos componentes tan expuestos, y se ve vulnerable 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️😅😅🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️ hay muchas cosas q replantear en esta moto porque tiene madera.. pero los de Ducati parece que nunca estuvieron en una verdadera aventura fuer del asfalto….😅😅

that's crazy.. Got this bike to test for a couple of week and it's actually an amazing bike with incredible suspensions but this thing about the air filter is a complete -no sense-

I was hesitated to buy this magnificent Desert x. But it's ridiculous as everything's done to bring your motorcycle for anything to Ducati...

this is why it costs $1000 for small maintenance and $2000 for desmo on ducatis lol

Wow... what a nightmare. Lol

Has nobody here owned an Africa Twin? It's a good 90%+ as difficult as this, but like anything else, when you learn to do it, it's not bad. The fact that you did the ride you did sucking dust from a number of competitors and only had that much particulate tells me I'll be OK. I can probably get a season between changes riding the mountains near where i live. I wish it was easier for sure, but its not a deal breaker for me.

Ducati..... wtf?

You may not have noticed, but when you sprayed that dune out of the filter, you also sprayed camel seeds everywhere. Do you have a plan to handle 100 six-inch-high camels in your shop? So, you think the air filter is an easy roadside clean or replace? As easy as, let's say, DESMOS? And, dude, at least be running a VAC instead of blowing that fine silt all over the shop and bikes. Get a wide VAC head, and only flush where the head is.

One reason not to buy a desert x if you want to do serious offroad 😂😂😂

Thank you, now I know I want nothing to do with this bike and I really wanted one. I also have a deposit down on a Ducati monster, I better make sure I can service this bike as well.

MY God!! Really all that for an air filter, thats just a nasty engineering nightmare. How can this bike be called Desert X, cause thats not being changed in any desert. .

lmao that settles it, africa twin it is

Good for a laugh when you need a 41 minute video to clean the air filter

I was interested in this bike... before I saw this video :/

That is absolutely ridiculous amount of work to access filter...I'll stay with my Norden 901

I would NEVER purchase this bike for this design blunder alone. In two years the market will be flooded with used Desert X bikes with filthy air filters that "don't run right". Nice bike otherwise.

😂😂😢😢😢

Good initiative Padu but you took 4 times more than standard procedure THAT TAKES LESS THAN 20 MIN. YOU ARE REMOVING A LOT O PARTS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARY.

Total dry hump…. Ducati should be ashamed of themselves for making such a vital service item so difficult to access. I’m so happy I bought my 2022 KTM 890 ADV-R…

Excellent Video! Wow, that is definitely labor intensive.

Another reason to never buy a Ducati

I was all for buying a Desert X until I discovered how difficult they made it to access the ail filter. Unacceptable for a bike that is designed to travel dusty roads