The high front mudguard, as standard on the DesertX Rally, is designed to prevent the buildup of mud and debris when riding on the toughest off-road terrain. A functional solution that accentuates the bike’s rugged, purpose-built character, enhancing its distinctly rally-inspired styling. 

The DesertX Rally mounts a one-piece rider’s seat that combines a sports design with functionality to suit off-road riding needs. Its shape facilitates a rider’s freedom of movement, allowing them to easily move forwards and backwards and adapt their position to the terrain. Transitioning from a seated to a standing position is natural and immediate, for greater agility and control over more challenging sections.

DesertX Rally mounts the Termignoni titanium silencer as standard, an element that adds to the bike’s sports character and strengthens its racing identity. This solution helps create an even more striking and dynamic look, in keeping with the bike’s off-road spirit.

The DesertX Rally engine guard is produced in 4mm aluminum. 1.5 mm thicker than the guard mounted on the standard DesertX, it provides an additional mounting point to better distribute impact load. The guard is also compatible with the center stand.

The Rally livery adds to the DesertX Rally’s distinct sports character and reinforces its racing identity. The Plexiglas with dedicated graphics offers the rider greater visibility in the area close to the front wheel but also helps define the rugged and immediately recognizable look, while red accents on the seat and graphic details across the livery create a dynamic visual, underlining the bike’s sports spirit. In addition, the body panels are not painted but made from coloured-through material, making them more durable and less prone to scratching.

The 890 cc 90° V-twin is complete with IVT Intake Variable Timing system and a valve train with coil-spring valve return. With power of 110 hp at 9,000 rpm and maximum torque of 68 lb ft (92 Nm) at 7,000 rpm - of which 70% is already available at 3,000 rpm - the engine ensures immediate traction at low speeds, for a very smooth output.

The Intake Variable Timing (IVT) system helps deliver exceptionally smooth, strong power at low revs, without compromizing Ducati’s sporty character at mid and high revs. Thanks to this technology, the engine remains smooth and controllable from as little as 2000 rpm, allowing riders to tackle even technical, trial-style sections and steep, narrow trails with precision at low speeds. This tangible benefit comes from the variable valve timing system, which adapts engine performance to different riding conditions.

The DesertX Rally’s gearbox ratios have been designed to deliver maximum versatility in all riding conditions. The final drive ratios for first and second gear are shortened to improve low speed rideability and provide stronger drive, even under full load, while fifth and sixth gear are lengthened to make road journeys more comfortable. In sixth gear, at 80 mph, the engine runs at a lower speed than the previous generation (5,800 rpm), for greater comfort and smoothness. The new flywheel further contributes to smoother power delivery, improving the riding experience across the entire rev range.

The DesertX Rally is complete with a premium suspension package. The 48 mm closed-cartridge KYB fork offers 250 mm of travel, 20 mm more than the DesertX, and is designed to offer a more progressive response even on challenging terrain. The independent, pressurized oil chamber ensures a supple response through the initial part of the suspension travel, while providing firm support under more intense loads – a characteristic of professional-grade suspension systems. The fork is adjustable for compression and rebound on both legs, with a quick compression adjustment system that allows its response to be rapidly tailored to different riding conditions.

The DesertX Rally fork undergoes specific surface treatments to reduce friction and ensure smooth operation. The Kashima coating on the outer tube and the DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) treatment on the inner stanchion helps optimize fork functionality, for a smoother and more precise response during off-road riding.

DesertX Rally is equipped with a KYB rear monoshock with Full Floater linkage system and increased travel of 240 mm, 20 mm more than the DesertX. Thanks to the Full Floater system and pressurized air chamber, the suspension offers a smooth, progressive response and can absorb small bumps in the terrain while ensuring the necessary support under the most demanding conditions. Fully adjustable for high- and low-speed compression damping, rebound and remote preload, the monoshock allows the rider to precisely adjust setup to suit the terrain and riding speed.

The DesertX Rally features an adjustable Öhlins steering damper that helps improve the bike’s stability on even the roughest off-road terrain. The system can be adjusted according to rider preference, riding sensitivity and the conditions/terrain.

The DesertX Rally is equipped with Takasago Excel wheels that are designed to tackle the most challenging off-road conditions, combining strength and lightness with the practicality of tubeless technology. The 21” front wheel and 18” rear wheel feature internally positioned spokes for better protection against impacts and scratches. Lighter than those of the DesertX, the wheels help boost the bike’s agility, thanks also to a rear wheel that is 4” narrower. The 36-spoke configuration, with four more spokes at the rear compared to the previous generation of DesertX Rally, also ensures greater strength and durability, even under the most demanding riding conditions.

DesertX Rally is equipped as standard with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires, though other homologated solutions are available depending on a rider’s needs. The Pirelli Scorpion Rally, oriented more towards off-road use, and the Pirelli Scorpion Trail II, designed largely for road use, allow the bike to be adapted to different conditions of use, boosting its versatility.

DesertX Rally retains the functional solutions of the DesertX family, combining strength, ergonomics and practicality to respond to the needs of off-road riding.
The 4.8-gallon (18-liter) plastic tank comes complete with integrated impact protection for greater resistance in the case of a crash, while the narrow riding position facilitates a rider’s movements and their ability to touch the ground with their feet. Servicing is also simplified: the air filter is easily accessible for cleaning, while the rear axle’s hexagonal nut no longer requires a dedicated tool. This makes puncture repairs and wheel removal easier, even on the most demanding off-road adventures.

The DesertX Rally’s electronic functions are managed via the 5” color TFT display, redesigned to optimize the layout of the instruments and flanked by two USB ports as standard. Known as Info Modes, the three viewing modes - Road, Road Pro and Rally – automatically switch from day to night mode and can be selected on the left block. The display is positioned to ensure excellent readability also when standing on the footpegs, while the horizontal layout leaves room, in the upper section, for the installation of accessories such as GPS, thanks to the standard utility bar.

DesertX Rally adopts the second-generation Ducati Quick Shift (DQS), which replaces the traditional microswitch on the gear level with a sensor positioned on the gear drum. This solution gives the rider a more direct and precise shifting feel, with shorter, consistent travel and a less spongy action, particularly noticeable during sporty riding. The absence of an external microswitch also makes the control less exposed to dust, impacts and the elements.

The Ducati DesertX Rally Riding Modes allow the rider to choose between six different preset riding styles (Sport, Touring, Urban, Wet, Enduro and Rally), so that bike behavior can be perfectly tailored to the rider, the type of track and the environmental conditions, with two dedicated off-road modes. Each Riding Mode is associated with a different set of control parameters. Switching Riding Modes allows the rider to instantly adjust engine character and electronic control intervention.

Sport Riding Mode

The most performance-oriented on asphalt. In this Riding Mode, the engine delivers its full 110 hp to offer the most direct throttle response and High Power Mode.

Touring Riding Mode

Maximum power of the V2 remains at 110 hp, but delivery is smoother and more predictable. Active safety is increased with a higher level of DTC and DWC intervention.

Urban Riding Mode

Engine power is reduced to 95 hp and the throttle response is smoother, as in Touring mode. Ducati Traction Control and Ducati Wheelie Control are set at a very high level.

Wet Riding Mode

Designed for riding on wet asphalt. In this mode, the electronic controls are set to their highest level of intervention to ensure greater safety and stability even in unforeseen situations.

Enduro Riding Mode

This Riding Mode is designed to be efficient in all off-road situations, even on slower and more technical routes. The Power Mode limits maximum engine power to 75 hp, but the throttle response is rapid, for the right reactivity at all times. In this Riding Mode ABS is set at level 2 but can be deactivated. Ducati Wheelie Control is deactivated to allow the rider to clear obstacles by lightening the front end.

Rally Riding Mode

The most performance-oriented for off-road use, this mode allows expert riders to fully exploit everything that the DesertX Rally has to offer over fast off-road sections. The engine delivers 110 hp and the throttle response is particularly prompt. Ducati Wheelie Control is disabled, and Ducati Traction Control is set at a very low level, allowing for controlled rear wheel slide. ABS is set at level 1 and can be deactivated. 

The Ducati DesertX Rally is equipped with sophisticated modern electronics, based on the use of the 6-axis inertial platform, which can instantly identify the bike’s roll, yaw and pitch angle. The electronics package comprises:

• Cornering ABS adjustable to 4 levels. Can be disabled in Enduro and Rally Riding Mode

• Ducati Traction Control (DCT) with 8 levels + OFF

• Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) with 4 levels + OFF

• Ducati Quick Shift (DQS)

• Engine Brake Control (EBC) with 3 levels

The DesertX Rally is equipped as standard with two practical USB ports, one type-A and one type-C, for added versatility during any trip.