The 2024 Ducati Desert X Rally is the new KING of off-roading | MCN Review 

This bike is almost 25.5k euros in the Netherlands. Absolutely ridiculous.

For most of us regular mortals, riding 70/30 road bias, the Tuareg 660 fits the bill better I would think. Esp at under $12k here now, in the US. That Duc is sexy and am sure is crzy competent… though not sure it’s worth $8k more…again for 90% of us anyway. Cool review! Thanks.

Best thing about it is it's not limited. Good on them for that. It not as good off road than the 890 R. Close I would say. But for that price it has to be a lot better. And maintenance costs on this are going to be stupid because it's a Ducati. It's very good looking for sure.

This is a high risk option, Honda or yamaha for me anyday

This bike looks amazing! I’d be tempted. But first, can you remind me how you change the air filter, though?

it looks awesome. i am loving it.

They look like a great bike, but their Achilles heel is the air filter access. If you can’t change / clean an air filter in less than 15 minutes they are a liability in dry conditions. If I win the lottery tomorrow I will but one though 😎

Enjoyed the review, well presented, good editing.👍🏻

Yeah, I'm not sure it's the king of offroad when the 890 exists. A close second or third behind the tuareg and 890.

Great review mate 🍻

Ducati's, always a bunch of hit and misses that make you think WTF? I personally don't see how anyone could make a Ducati a primary motorcycle as far ownership goes. I can see snagging one if you were wealthy enough to have a stable of motorcycles but otherwise I'll pass on owning a Ducati. :(

.Overpriced with a great name and high maintenance just like my girlfriend. She's a great ride too 😂

It's a nice review where you hit it's minor flaws what #Ducati need to improve in their next year's Desert X like the unavailable heated grips. Apart from that the Weight of the bike which is a bit too much is also hurdle, its quite smaller Windscreen, it's chosen stock Tires, & low front Fender on the non Rally base model. If all of those would be corrected. This bike would be amazing. Especially if you replace the exhaust with an aftermarket one. I guess the height of the bike is just enough because it's used after all into different terrain especially in rough roads. For some who can't able to reach the floor with their two feet. It's fine I think they could just adjust height into their preference. There are also some taller guys who wants this bike so it makes it even. Anyway, opting for shorter is way difficult as it makes their leg cramp in a long ride. Also on a side note why is this bike's red bar frame is bulging at the tail end. It really upset the looks which isn't normal to an adventure bike or it's rivals. Yes, it helps a bit when you need to yank the bike, but the Factory can able to put it on the side or maybe not. It doesn't matter anyway.

19k £ for 232kg wet and 110hp is nothing special ...

Sweet but sane people who work for a living will buy a Yamaha T700 for half the price.

You can't compare this against the ktm 890 adv R , the shorter wheel base of the ktm makes it alot better offroad and the ktm suspension is alot better than these kyb suspension, the stupid seat height on the ducati is going to stop anyone under 5 foot 10 even riding the the rally , you can see in every review vid out today that the suspension is still too soft for a experienced offroad rider and lots of money still needs to be spent to make it as good as the 890 ktm adv R offroad...I own a desert x I ride my mates 890 adv and mates t700 and they alot easier to ride and the ktm just oozes a proper offroad bike.

Should've launched this bike at Davos, it's for elites!

Great bike, but the difficulty in reaching the air filter is a deal-breaker

Why would you ever take the most unreliable and expensive to maintain bike brand off-road! Hey im sure its fantastic, maybe, perhaps as good as a KTM whilst riding. The problem is anything goes wrong, and something will, you wished you'd gotten a KTM or even a T7 Rally. On another note, you can get a well specced GS1300 at 19 grand. This bike is just too expensive

Have you actually ridden the KTM 890 Rally? It is a very bold claim for someone to make who claims is not an off road expert. I am sure it is amazing but I will stick with my KTM .

Africa twin way better

They shouldn't be able to use rally to market without even being a part of rally.

There's a bit too much of this creeping rip-off from manufacturers, most notoriously KTM, with electronic features that are built into the bike, but you have to pay extra for, like the heated grips mentioned, here,

typical journo comments. he doesn't really know what he's talking about.

Excellent review Carl, very honest and great footage, thanks for sharing the Cons not just the Pros. Awesome looking bike for a high premium. Like anything, you get what you pay for or can afford. 👍😎

Sadly it cost around $77,419 here in Nepal!!

Thanks, I really learned alot . That is one special bike.

great riding in Morocco‘s desert together, great review🙏🏽 cheers, Tibor

As someone who had to shell out $2971 Can for a replacement rear Desert-X wheel before it ever even saw a trail, the new wheels seem to be mandatory. As someone who has realized that Ducati doesn't stand behind their product, I will be giving this a hard pass

Beautiful looking bike, nice review but if old mate @ 6’2” has trouble I’d say that leaves a little of people out of the equation and then there’s the price…

Does it still weigh the same as a GS!?

Air filter buried under the tank still?

My 2018 ktm 1090 r is more powerful, has better suspension, longer range tank and lighter. Just tell the truth. This bike is aimed at the ducatista.

Xtz 750 laughts since like 30years. Well ducati finally got it done what yamaha was doing since decades😂

Even the bonkers 1290 Super ADV R is cheaper than that..🥺🥺🥺🥺😱😱😱

Great review, Carl. Nicely put together. Looks like Ducati really nailed it with this one.😊

Still doing more road than dirt, so I'll keep the standard one !

It’s your money so your choice. I get that. But that doesn’t change this is a bad choice. - Ridiculously more expensive. - Duc road bikes are expensive but have merits. This one? Why one needs more expensive to get, and difficult to maintain (this is a big part). Plus less reliable bike to go adventure tour… Let’s make a video to change or just clean the air filter in the middle of dessert 😂 the problem is evident. Design is decent just like duc but it’s kind of okay at best.

Back to tubed tires at that price point ??,,A Flat just ruins everyones ride. No one is that hardcore to ride off road to damage the original Tubeless Spokes. Tubes are NO-DEAL !!👎👎👎

Why’s he parked in disabled bay? 😂

I’d love to pay $19k my Ducati I payed $36k out the door for my Panigale! V4S!! @ 5’4” I have no chance of riding this the properly as much as I want to!!

Until they fix tank off for air filter change, no thanks.

I have a standard Desert X but I added a Tractive suspension ($4.5k including install) I added crash bars, skid plate, aux lights and an Ohlins steering stabilizer at roughly $2,500 more. All that to say the extra $4k is a bargain on the rally. I went that route vs waiting on the Rally because I wanted a 50/50 machine. I also have a KTM 890 Rally......both are amazing but I personally prefer the DX in the package I created. I would love to try one of these DX Rally's but then again, I may not want to....;-)

Who wants to take an anvil off road?

Great review. Cant wait to get mine

Nice review Carl - thanks for posting.

this bike has new ducati wheelie assist?

$23k

new king it is

Great bike for sure but no journo mentions what it takes to get the air filter out and clean it??Big fail for ordinary guys who just want to ride at the weekends with their mates in the Dirt and Dust.

SO SO

I'm kind of interested in why it has wheelie control. It's only a 100 odd horsepower bike and has less than 70 lb-ft. Those are roughly early R1200GS numbers while only being about 35lb lighter. Just seems like extra computer intervention where it isn't needed. Maybe I'm wrong though I haven't ridden one

My 2016 1190 would piss ball that all day long!

Hmm. Nope

£27k fully kitted out , £2k more than a 1300 GS fully kitted out 🤷‍♂️ road bike clutch in the Ducati not the best

Ktm 690 is all you need