-Gets more off-road-focused componentry than the standard DesertX
-Has lighter wheels, carbon sumpguard
-Bookings open at all dealerships in India
Ducati India has announced the opening of bookings for the DesertX Rally. The ‘Rally’ gets special components that enhance the already incredible off-road capabilities of the Ducati DesertX.
Lighter components
Chief among the differences between the standard DesertX and the DesertX Rally is that the latter gets lighter yet stronger Takasago Excel wire-spoke rims with billet aluminium hubs. Further, lighter wheels should help with a lighter steering feel and more control.
However, these rims are shod with tube-type tyres instead of the tubeless ones that you get on the standard Ducati DesertX. The company says that this was done to have central spoked wheels that are less exposed to stones and damage while riding on hardcore trails. Speaking of tyres, the rear tyre on the ‘Rally’ is narrower than that on the standard bike.
The other weight-saving measures are seen in the form of the inclusion of a carbon sump guard and billet aluminium rear brake and gear levers.
More off-road-focused suspension
The DesertX Rally gets dedicated off-road suspension that’s developed by KYB. At the front, there’s a 48mm USD fork and a monoshock, but the notable part is that it gets 20mm of additional travel. In all, you have 250mm suspension travel at the front and 240mm wheel travel at the rear. This should significantly improve the ability of the suspension to handle big jumps, as well as rocky and sandy terrain that one encounters off-road.
Also worth noting is that the front fork is a closed cartridge type which keeps the oil inside pressurised and prevents the formation of vapour bubbles that would’ve reduced the damping efficiency of the fork while riding off-road, given the amount of movement that happens while riding on such terrain.
Other distinctions
Visually, the DesertX Rally looks markedly different from the DesertX. Ducati has used a new mass-coloured paint technique for the plastics. This essentially means that they are coloured using a paint pigment during their formation and not painted over – which is usually the case. This ensures that whatever little scratches that the bike may pick up while being ridden off-road will be a lot less visible. Even the graphics on the bike are of the PVC adhesive type that offer some protection to the surfaces of the bike.
Other visually different bits are the high-mount front mudguard and the 910mm rally seat that, as Ducati claims, has a special texture to make it easier for the rider to slide forward or backwards while riding off-road. Lastly, the red and white colour combination, including the red paint on the subframe makes the DesertX Rally quite striking to look at.
Same engine
Powering the DesertX Rally is the 937cc, L-twin engine that makes 108bhp at 9,250rpm and 92Nm. The engine is paired with a six-speed gearbox. As expected, the DesertX Rally is loaded with electronic rider aids such as multi-level traction control, ride modes, ABS modes, etc.
Launch and prices
Since the bookings for the DesertX Rally have begun, the launch is expected to take place soon. While the DesertX is priced at Rs. 18.33 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi, the Ducati DesertX Rally should cost Rs. 2-3 lakh more.
