KUALA LUMPUR: Ducati in Malaysia has officially launched the DesertX versatile enduro motorcycle with a base selling price of RM112,900.
The DesertX features a new steel trellis frame, which works in combination with long travel suspension and dedicated settings, to ensure effective operation even in the most demanding off-road conditions, while also offering uncompromised on-road performance with high levels of comfort.
The chassis layout of the new Ducati DesertX includes a new steel trellis frame, which works in combination with long travel suspension with dedicated settings, to ensure effective operation even in the most demanding off-road conditions, while also offering uncompromised on-road performance with high levels of comfort.
The optimisation of all components led to an efficient bike, all packed in dry weight of 202kg.
The choices in terms of chassis make the new DesertX an easy bike to ride with great capacity to absorb road imperfections, all while providing the right dose of engagement and safety on any surface.
On the suspension front, the DesertX stands out for its premium fitting.
It is offered with a 46mm diameter upside-down Kayaba fork with 230mm travel and Kayaba monoshock married to the aluminium swingarm and allows a rear wheel travel of 220mm.
Both front and rear elements are adjustable in compression, rebound and preload.
With a generous 250mm ground clearance, the DesertX is suitable for more extreme off-road adventures.
The new DesertX features unprecedented tyre sizes for a Ducati: 21-inch at the front and 18-inch at the
rear.
The original equipment tyres are the Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR, 90/90-21 and 150/70 R18: the perfect choice for a brilliant all-round use of the bike with remarkable on-road composure.
Like all Ducati motorcycles, the braking system of this new bike benefits from ABS Cornering functions.
The front features Brembo M50 monobloc radial calipers with four 30mm diameter pistons, axial pump with adjustable levers and double 320mm discs with aluminium flanges.
At the rear there is a single 265mm diameter disc with a twin-piston floating caliper by Brembo.
The braking calibration offers great modulation in off-road riding as well as on slippery surfaces, while
also granting responsive stopping power in road use.
The ergonomics of the new DesertX have been developed over long and demanding test sessions.
The saddle-footrest-handlebar triangulation gives its best in stand-up riding and offers a good level
of comfort for on-road riding.
The result is a bike with an extremely slim fitting area and perfectly linked surfaces that guarantee the rider maximum control and handling.
The saddle is 875mm high and can be reduced by a lowered saddle, available as an accessory, and can be further lowered by an add-on kit.
Excellent range for longer journeys is possible with a 21-litre fuel tank that can be complemented by an eight-litre second tank in the rear area available as an accessory.
The proven 937 cc liquid-cooled Testastretta 11° Desmodromic valvetrain engine delivers 110hp at 9,250rpm and a maximum torque of 92Nm at 6,500rpm in Euro5 configuration.
The engine can count on all the improvements already seen on the Monster and Multistrada V2, which boasts engine weight savings of 1.7kg compared to the previous version.
The gearbox has different dedicated ratios compared to those of the Multistrada V2 where ratios have been shortened overall on all gears up to fifth, to ensure responsive on-road characteristics and exciting off-road performance.
The DesertX comes with six Riding Modes working in combination with four Power Modes – Full,
High, Medium, Low – that modify the power and responsiveness of the Testastretta engine.
The primary new features are specific settings for the Enduro Mode and the introduction of the new Rally Mode, in addition to Sport, Touring, Urban and Wet.
These riding modes also work in harmony with the various electronic controls available such as Engine
Brake Control (EBC), Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC), Ducati Quick
Shift (DQS) Up & Down and ABS Cornering.
ABS Cornering also offers high adjustability and can be set on three levels to be able to adapt to
whatever the situation and rider skill.
The dashboard of the DesertX, vertically oriented and positioned to offer clear information also in a
stand-up riding position, features a high resolution five-inch full-TFT colour display, which is integrated
with the Ducati Multimedia System.
The rider may choose between Standard and Rally as standard Info Modes.
The double front full LED headlight has two twin-function poly-ellipsoidal modules with Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and has been designed to ensure excellent visibility, particularly important for a motorcycle
capable of travelling in all conditions.
The new DesertX can also be further customised through Ducati Performance accessories, among them the rally saddle which combines the rider and passenger seats for greater effectiveness in off-road activities, the additional eight-litre tank, aluminum side panniers which combined with the top case give the bike a total load capacity amount of 117 of litres, additional LED spotlights, central stand, and heated grips.
Termignoni exhausts are also available, both homologated and racing.
The latter increases the values of power and torque of +7% thanks to the dedicated mapping.
The DesertX will also be offered with a host of exclusive packages to further enhance the riding and ownership experience.
This includes a 40% offer on DesertX Bike Accessories Packages and a 35% offer on Genuine DesertX Apparel Packages.
In addition, all Ducati and Scrambler Ducati models will be offered with an exclusive Ducati Corse Credit financing option.
The financing plan offers:
> Tailor made for Ducati and Scrambler bikes
> Flexible repayment scheme
> Faster approval
->Interest rate as low as 4.88%
> 10% downpayment option
Ducati Malaysia head of company Dennis Michael said the all-new DesertX is, in every way, an incredibly unique Ducati model from its head-turning design to its robust engineering.
“When the team at Ducati Malaysia had its first riding experience of the bike, we were all in agreement that the DesertX is just exceptionally special.
“You could be dominating an off-road rally route, going hard on fast twisty roads, or just comfortably cruising long distances on a highway – the DesertX will do it all; it’s the kind of machine that brings infinite satisfaction across all types of riding,” he said.