Ducati has pulled the wraps off the second-generation DesertX, presenting a motorcycle that has been redesigned from the ground up around a new 890cc V2 engine and a monocoque frame.
The bike is priced from $28,100 rideaway, and is expected to hit local showrooms from June.
This time around, Ducati has drawn heavily on real-world competition experience, including stints at the Erzbergrodeo, Rally of Albania, Transanatolia and the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally, to inform the direction of the new model.
At the heart of the 2026 DesertX is Ducati’s new 890cc V2, described by the Bologna manufacturer as the lightest four-valve twin-cylinder engine it has ever produced. A standout feature is the IVT (Intake Variable Timing) system which adjusts intake valve timing to deliver strong, accessible power across the rev range.
Peak output is 82kW, with maximum torque of 92Nm. Ducati says 70 per cent of peak torque is available from 3000rpm, which should make the DesertX feel tractable and easy to ride in technical terrain. The gear ratios have been shortened through the first four gears to aid off-road performance, while sixth is longer for highway comfort. Valve clearance checks are due at 45,000km and oil changes every 15,000km or two years.
The new chassis is a significant departure from the previous generation. The monocoque frame uses the engine as a structural element and doubles as the airbox, reducing weight and increasing compactness. Ducati says the layout also improves air filter access.
A dedicated aluminium swingarm rounds out the chassis, with the whole package incorporating full-floater progressive rear linkage suspension, a setup that offers a softer initial response before firming up progressively under harder impacts.
Up front, a new 46mm Kayaba upside-down fork features independent hydraulic adjustment on each leg, giving riders more control over how the bike responds to specific terrain. Wheel travel is 230mm front and 220mm rear. Brembo M4.32 radial monobloc calipers clamp onto new 305mm discs, with an axially mounted pump and redesigned lever for better feel and modulation off-road.
Wheels are tubeless spoked units: 21-inch front, 18-inch rear, wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion Rally Street rubber. Triple homologation means riders can also fit alternative tyres from Pirelli’s Scorpion range to suit their preferred riding.
The riding position has been reworked with footpegs moved rearward and the seat and bars shifted forward, producing a stance more suited to standing riding. The new 18-litre polymer fuel tank is slimmer and lighter than before, with the fuel volume positioned low in the chassis to lower the centre of gravity.
Integrated crash pads offer protection during the inevitable low-speed tip-overs. Side panels feature a textured grip surface to aid contact with the bike when standing, while the front mudguard sits 20mm higher than on the previous model to allow more mud clearance.
The cockpit now features a horizontal dashboard with a utility bar and a 5-inch TFT screen, with Road, Road Pro and Rally display modes and a dedicated tripmaster function in Rally mode. Two USB ports are standard.
The DesertX’s electronics suite is centred on a six-axis IMU and includes cornering ABS with four intervention levels, two dedicated to off-road use.
Six rider modes are available: Sport, Touring, Urban, Wet, Enduro and Rally. The cornering ABS can be fully disabled in Enduro and Rally modes.
Ducati has developed a full Ducati Performance accessories range for the DesertX, including an eight-litre auxiliary rear tank, aluminium panniers with dedicated frames, a soft bag kit developed with Mosko Moto, radiator guards, bull bar, hand guards and a Termignoni-developed titanium exhaust with carbon end caps. Connectivity options include the Ducati Multimedia System (DMS) and turn-by-turn navigation.
The 2026 Ducati DesertX is expected to arrive in Australian showrooms from June 2026. The new model will be offered in Matt Star White Silk.
Spencer has a keen eye for hard news, and does some of his best living on deadline day. He loves more than anything to travel on his Aprilia Tuareg 660, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. He also knows how to operate the big computery thing in the office. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
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