If you make a list of the world’s leading motorcycle companies, Ducati will naturally appear near the top. Although Ducati is mainly famous for their high performance sports and naked bikes they entered the world of dirt focused adventure motorcycles just four years ago. 

At the recent EICMA trade show Ducati revealed the first look of the new DesertX model which comes four years after the original and is built around Ducatis 890cc V2 IVT engine replacing the previous Testastretta, meaning Narrow Head V twin.

Ducati Reveals First Look of New Generation DesertX

According to Ducati even though the new adventure tourer moves away from the Bologna brands signature desmodromic mechanical valve actuation and drops 74cc of displacement compared to the previous version its performance and power delivery remain almost identical. The power and torque figures are stated as 108bhp at 9000rpm and 68lb ft at 7000rpm. 

Along with the engine change the new DesertX sheds about 4kg bringing its weight down to 206kg. Part of this weight reduction likely comes from the removal of the previous version’s trellis main frame. While Ducati has not yet revealed full chassis details the new DesertX is expected to move away from the tubular steel trellis frame and adopt an engine as stressed member layout similar to what we have seen on the new Ducati Hypermotard. 

According to automotive engineers using the engine as a structural component eliminates the need for a conventional frame resulting in a more compact design with improved torsional rigidity. Whether this design affects long term durability during off roading remains to be seen. However this approach is nothing new for Ducati as they have been researching and refining this design since 1971 and many other manufacturers used the concept even earlier in the early 20th century.

The arrival of the IVT engine also marks the end of the long running Testastretta engine across Ducati’s entire lineup as the company transitions to the new Euro 5+ standards. The DesertX is expected to be the last model to undergo this change. As before the new setup remains firmly dual purpose with a familiar 18/21 inch wheel combination suitable for proper off-road use. 

The bike also gains an improved progressive rear linkage system for better suspension actuation although details about the specific fork or shock absorber have not yet been disclosed. So far only the first look of the bike has been revealed. Ducati announced at the event that full details of the DesertX will be released in February 2026 with the European launch scheduled for May. North American deliveries are expected to begin in June 2026 followed by Japan and Australia around August.

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