2022 Ducati DesertX | Real World Review (should you buy one?)

[@BigRockMoto]

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[@AzTurboMini]

Great review bud. Ever since I owned a 2014 Multistrada, I haven't really enjoyed bikes I've owned since near as much. The latest a 2017 AT DCT which feels and rides huge and I'm 6' 237lbs. I'm seriously considering year 2 of the Aprilia tuareg 660. Anyway, thanks again. Be careful and be blessed. 👍🙏

[@TheMartinH13]

Ian what's your thoughts on the new electric adv, the zero dsr/x ? Would really love to see you review that one-day.

[@victorpapillon1487]

Does your wife love you loooong time?

[@DennisMerwood-xk8wp]

Silly bike! Jack of all trades - master of none! No good off-road - and terrible street bikes! These tyres are dangerous in the wet! Get a Monster if you want a real Ducati - and be much happier!

[@Carlisho]

I love how you dont re-film or cut the parts where your daughter comes in, it gives the video a personal and friendly touch and shows how things dont always have to be 100% serious or professional, even if its your job.

[@MLoms]

I think it stayed professional, yet genuine.

[@RadDadisRad]

I agree. The world needs to understand that people have families and these families are important.

[@kaiboshvanhortonsnort359]

Yup, definitely the right call.

[@horeica]

It was weird however.. "ignore the small child" he could've talk about her no problem like she's he's child and not like a child that wondered from the street. Something to consider. Otherwise a extremely well made review!

[@aaronmwangi8453]

​@@horeica I agree he talked like it wasn't his child he sounded kinda arrogant

[@trailrunnermike]

I just read 900 comments. I will summarize them all in one sentence. Ian is an excellent and honest communicator!

[@idratherberiding3456]

Yes, the right to repair. I have a Ducati, a 2013 Multistrada. When an engine light appeared in the dash a couple of years ago, the regular OBDII did not work on the Ducati. First you need to convert Ducati's 5 -prong connector (or was it 4?) to the OBDII. Second, it will not communicate with regular OBDII readers (my 2019 KTM 790 does work with regular OBDII readers). However, if there is a will there is a path. I don't have a Ducati dealer near me, so not being able to work on the bike myself is a deal breaker, pun intended. It took me several days of research along a period of months to come across a French dude who developed a software, JPDiag, that reads Ducati (and other brands) error codes and turns off oil and service lights. I downloaded the software, asked for the code, made a voluntary PayPal contribution to the dude, bought a specific OBDII cable per instructions (besides pin converter), and bingo. I got the code connecting my PC to the bike using the JPDiag software, and less than 50 dollars later, and one week for shipment, I had the part (air pressure sensor, horizontal cylinder) and in 30 minutes (a couple of panels removed around the tank, and plug and play) and the bike is back to good. Yes, I agree, if you can't adjust the chain or change the air filter, it is a deal breaker for an adventure motorcycle. In my case, it is the distancer to the dealer PLUS the $$$ for a service ANYONE could do following basic instructions. I apologize for the long comment. I will eventually make a video about this, I have photos of the entire process I went through. But I'm not an official youtuber, so I need time and most of all, the motivation to make videos after a long day of work in front of a computer. Love your channel dude.

[@DorkintheRoad]

Bro, you have to stop setting the bar so damn high. There's almost no point to the rest of us doing bike reviews at all. I am continually in awe of your thoroughness.

[@BigRockMoto]

nah, the more the merrier!

[@pmjcr]

Greetings from Europe. Most of people around this channel already said something about these amazing reviews that Ian is making but I have to say that this one is one of the most comprehensive reviews, unbiased and best content quality I've seen on any media stream platform in the recent times. Keep up this amazing work!

[@alanprice9938]

I should have subscribed earlier - your reviews are exceptionally good, and really well thought out. Thank you for being one of the guys who sets increased standards, and tells us what we really wanna know. I’m gonna try a desert X in the coming weeks, but I love what I’ve seen here. What a bike, what a review, what a channel! Superb 👍

[@phreenom]

Just bought a Desert X... After less than 100 miles (on the road so far) it has me questioning the need to even keep my Monster 1200s, it felt that good as a sport bike. And this is before it's even broken in and I have to go a bit easy on the throttle. I know it won't be as good off road as the fe501s I will be selling now, but I wanted something capable of being that "one bike". Definitely planning to get in to the dirt soon, but I'll be avoiding the tight technical single track I don't hesitate to take the Husqy on. I remember lifting the old WR250R at about 300lbs on a switchback, that sucked, so 500 lbs would likely be impossible in some situations... Can't have it all, but this certainly seems like the best bike for just riding everywhere; long trips, back country camping, urban romps... And it looks awesome!

[@jamescampbell4334]

👍 I've had my '23 DDX for 5 months, did a 6k mile oil change yesterday. 😀 The DDX has been brilliant. I started riding motorcycles in the '70s, stopped riding in the late '80s. I've spent 5 hours in the saddle with a 20 minute break. I have the 3.3k full race Termignoni exhaust w/EVO tune, bash plate, crash bars. Weight with full tank weight is 485 lbs. Weight before crash bars was 478 lbs. Both of these weights are with passenger pegs removed.

[@beer3029]

Can it power wheelie in 1st and 2nd gear?

[@Dave-sw2dm]

Ian, you put together the most comprehensive motorcycle reviews on KZbin. Definitely not one of these kid motovlogger wannabees. I like to watch daily rider with Zack for fun content, and you for serious down and dirty, everything I should consider when trying to decide between bikes.

[@BigRockMoto]

I appreciate that!

[@defylifeadventure]

Yeah, the difference between Ian and some of the 'motovogger wannabes' (you mention), is that Ian is doing a public service. No ego, no bravado, just good solid information.

[@AdventureGlide]

*_That's one heck of a review. Thanks, Ian. I really enjoy the long-form reviews. 2 thumbs up!_*

[@cackle6682]

That a 937cc Ducati is called "mid-sized adventure bike" shows how insanely big the ADV bike engines have gotten. I love it.

[@Ritalie]

I can't believe how big and expensive, and heavy, all the adventure bikes are. I remember when I first started riding, my friend had an XT500 single, and i had an XS400 twin Yamaha, both had exactly 27 horsepower and he paid $300 for his absolutely mint 1977 Yamaha XT500. My 1977 Yamaha XS400 only had about 2500 miles on it, all original and it was free, as someone traded me for some work I did. I'm not sure who can own a $20,000 motorcycle? I'm in WA state, and ride a Hayabusa, because it was actually affordable, at $7,500 with only 5,200 miles on it, a 2008 model. Considering how much engineering you get on a Hayabusa, $7,500 for the amazing stump pulling torque engine (1340cc stock stroker engine with all titanium valves and 8 fuel injectors, counterbalanced) it's tough to justify trading it in to go down from 114 ft lbs of torque, to 68 ft lbs of torque for more than twice the price. New motorcycles are SO awesome, but they have such horribly low resell value, and it's just tough to justify $20,000.

[@PimRademacher]

@@RitalieI’m definitely with you on this, but that’s why you should never buy one new at the dealer. Let someone else lose 30-40% of the value by buying it new. I think if you can buy a 2 year old Africa Twin, GS, Tenere etc you get an amazing bike for your money. I got a Tenere 700 and a 1250 GS for less than the price of a new GS. Both amazing pieces of engineering. I came from a 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 and this new generation adventure bikes is absolutely fantastic.

[@chrisvodka2412]

​@@PimRademacherthat is so damn true! I did the same with my R1250GSA, bought it 2/3 of its original price, not even a year old.

[@ThisTall]

@@Ritaliethere’s a massive market for ADV riders because it lends itself to be less aggressive, older riders. So $20,000 really isn’t that bad.

[@sv650nyc7]

Absolutely outstanding review. This is a benchmark for how all adventure motorcycle reviews should be done. Pick up test, handling impressions, air filter location and serviceability, cost of ownership and accessories, low speed behavior and steering lock range, fuel range, balance and subjective feel of weight, etc. You hit all the important points of how an experienced rider would assess a bike. Kudos to Ducati for lending you one out and they should quickly make sure to offer a comfort seat option and an expandable windshield so this bike can become a true long distance adventure tourer.

[@ryanmalone2681]

THIS is the review of this bike I’ve been waiting for. This is the one I find the most valuable and trusted.

[@JCintheBCC]

Nice review, as always, but the highlight for me was family cameo. Especially in the wake of your video last year discussing the decisions around continuing to ride with a little one at home, it's refreshing to see family in the video and in a motorcycle video, generally. I think so often motorcycling is portrayed as a solo endeavor or something to do "with the boys (or girls)" and not something that is compatible with family. Thanks for keeping that in the video. Edit: For context, my 4yo is voting for me to get a Multistrada "because it has a seat for a little kid, so we can ride together!" Luckily, she's nowhere near reaching the shifter, yet, so I'm safe for a bit.

[@glossblack1098]

Thanks Ian. Have watched many reviews on this bike and you are the first to mention the air filter access issue. That’s a deal breaker for me. Lots of dust here in Australia and I like to clean the air filter and air box regularly on my 690. It would be interesting to see how much a Ducati dealer would charge to just replace the air filter. Cheers

[@JakeyJay26]

💯

[@anxiousappliance]

You can do it yourself - first tie will be a pain - moving forward it will be a pain, but take less time.

[@glossblack1098]

@@anxiousappliance yeh definitely, hopefully less than an hour job. Someone will make a KZbin video on it.

[@dancarlin5434]

@@glossblack1098 knowing Ducati, it will require proprietary tools that only thier techs can buy

[@dancarlin5434]

Probably $250 or more

[@MagnumMuscle1000]

I will not buy any motorcycle from any manufacturer that refuses to sell me a service manual and expects me to use a dealer for routine maintenance. It's absurd.

[@paul.vanhout57]

I have had my DesertX for about 1.5 months and 3500 miles. Your review is insightful and balanced. Seat comfort not an issue for me and the wind noise while noticeable is tolerable with ear plugs (where all the time anyway). Complaint about the challenges for DIY maintenance is legit and hoping the community addresses this. Well done👍

[@kee7678]

Did you try the Triumph Tiger RP900 ? Curious how you felt it compared.

[@paul.vanhout57]

@@kee7678 - I did consider the Tiger. It is an excellent all rounder but I felt the DesertX was more off-pavement capable and a few pounds lighter. Also, I have a Street Triple RS and was looking for something different to have in the garage.

[@kee7678]

@@paul.vanhout57 wow. MORE off road capable ??? wow!!! Tha'ts shocking to me. congrats on your new bike.

[@keyboarddancers7751]

New *Big Rock Moto* content is always an event.

[@fallinginthed33p]

Make a cup of coffee, sit back and cast in on the TV.

[@ryanbrown7240]

One thing I want to mention is about reliability. I had a Ducati multi-Strada Enduro 1200 model year 2017. It was one of the most amazing motorcycles I’ve ever had but left me stranded four separate times over the course of 12,000 miles and ended up needing a total engine rebuild and transmission rebuild at separate times. Over the two years I on the bike and spent four months in the shop. They ended up lemon lawing the motorcycle and I went with a BMW R 1250 GS. This is not a random scenario also a good friend of mine had the same motorcycle and had all sorts of electronica issues with it needing a whole new wiring harness it’s 16,000 miles! I love Ducati their motorcycles are about as emotional as they get but for a touring off-road adventure rig I would love to see more engineering go into reliability

[@paultheboxer]

Had similar issues with mine, from changing two radiators to the electronic fork being changed twice, the starter motor breaking in bits and finally the motor being dusted. Never completed a multi day ride without something going. It did spend a fair few months in the workshop also, must admit I did love that bike when it was working. But it has scarred me from going back, I have an 890r now.

[@richm4402]

Me too! Traded in my Ducati for an Africa Twin!

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

​@@richm4402 You downgraded from an amazing V-twin to a pos Parallel twin 😂 Buying a new Africa Twin or a new V-strom basically means you got scammed. Cause those companies took advantage of the green agenda to make a cheaper product with a worse engine, to increase their profit The og Africa Twin had a proper V-twin. You should've gotten one of those. The 90s Africas are going to outlast all of these cheap downgraded new Africa Twins

[@juanjosegrafico]

In Costa Rica ,we get 3 years warranty unlimited mileage and thats for all the European bikes (BMW , KTM , APRILIA , DUCATI , MV AGUSTA,etc). Awesome video by the way! thank you

[@floboboman]

Do you ever wake up and think man... I have the best job ever? Thanks for another great review.

[@BigRockMoto]

yes!

[@crazieN8]

Your reviews are insanely awesome. Man you go deep into it. Much appreciation for all your work getting these videos out, not only testing and reviewing but there's a mountain of behind the scenes we don't see. Thank you brotha, I'm currently looking to buy an adventure bike and You're doing a great deal into helping make that educated decision

[@Matt-vo1ge]

Oh hell yeah, going to grab a coffee when I get home and watch this on the TV.

[@beborodner930]

I love the level of detail and honest opinion you give in your reviews. This Desert X was one I've been waiting for. My opinion is that it's the best looking adv bike out there. Glad to hear the performance is there to match it's good looks. I'm frustrated to hear about the maintenance/dealership bias buyers are almost forced into. Part of pleasure of bike ownership, for me, is doing the maintenance. Only Yesterday went to flush the transmission fluid on my wife's car only to find there was no dipstick. This infuriated me.. And then today in this review you brought up similar issues happening in the motorcycle world. This attitude from a manufacturer is becoming a BIG deciding factor with my future purchases. THANK YOU Ian for having the large gonads to bring up this point..

[@TheTaoOfMusic]

Dude! (no apologies) you knocked it out of the park today. Family cameo (beautiful family!) and a spreadsheet comparison! I've been a fan a long time and this raises the bar! Well done!

[@sierrarider]

I have had for a couple of weeks now and I can say it has been the most fun I have ever had on a motorcycle!! It feels extremely light and flickable with a ton of power - more fun than my KTM 500excf!

[@iananderson1422]

The fact that Ducati feels owner should bring their bike to the dealer for a chain adjustment is nuts. I have done all my own maintenance on my bikes for years. For this reason alone this bike is a no go for me. Premium price and outrageous service costs kills this bike to me. Thanks for your great reviews. Always top notch.

[@Romenet310]

It’s a shame too. They essentially discourage their own customers from doing simple support. Actually mostly what they do is lose customers with this type of attitude.

[@PooyanDoozandeh]

You raised a good point about do-it-yourself maintenance, and how Ducati is no longer considering that. I’d definitely consider this when I’m buying a bike or a car, because I’d like to do the maintenance myself! We should probably look into older models that are still in the market!

[@anxiousappliance]

Maintenance on these bikes, apart from the valves and belts, is dead simple. No mysteries apart from tanl removal to get to the upper cylinder plug.

[@ksheehan330]

I just bought this bike! So nice to come home and watch this right after. Superb review. Man, you really do such a nice job. Read the manual cover to cover! This will be my fourth Ducati. I also currently own a Hypermotard and the MS V4S. Both have very high mileage so I have to get another one. Today, while adding the accessories, my dealer who sells the most Ducati Desert Xs, showed me your video on the Denali’s which I am also adding. I’m also going with the bark busters, Ducati engine guard and skid plate, SW Motech radiator guard as I leaned that cover the exhaust headers better. Using soft luggage too. Yes, Ducatis are expensive, but my dealer gave me a discount on a 24 model and I know and trust them to take care of me as they always do. We are blessed to be able to ride these awesome machines!

[@rc51bigdaddy]

Great and surprising review. I was not expecting Ducati to do so well with their first real ADV bike. I have owned a couple of more recent Ducati street bikes and both were impressive. I was very surprised that you feel that the Desert X is more confidence inspiring than your 890r Rally. Might be fun to do a video about that. Tempting bike but not enough to make me want to part with my 2022 890r. The 890r is still lighter and at this point has more aftermarket support. Happy that Ducati has made this bike though. Impressive!

[@Ritalie]

I believe Ryan with Fort Nine, the biggest motorcycle channel on the internet, the man who talks and looks like Charlie Sheen, with his genius script writing, and productions, he actually bought a Desert X as his permanent bike I believe?

[@dancurran3854]

Over 1,100 reviews already - says something about your in-depth, unbiased reviews. Great review - good to hear you laugh while riding too.

[@connorspies]

Been waiting for this one! Thanks for consistently putting together such kick-ass content, Ian!

[@hypnotic1151]

I'm 187 cm and one of the reasons to choose this bike was how well it blocked the wind. Not saying it is not noisy but there is no pull back. Head and shoulder are well protected ... Still waiting for the bike to arrive due to the uge demand... But during the test drive, even at highway speeds I felt quite confortable. PS: great review! Easy bike to fall in love after you ride it.

[@elgeffe503]

That's interesting. I'm the exact same height, own a T7 and the wind buffeting is terrible! I've just installed a smaller screen so I'm praying that helps haha. You think the fact that the Ducati's screen is smaller (I think) helps with the noise?

[@hypnotic1151]

@@elgeffe503 not with the noise. But the wind does not hit you directly. I tried the T7 also and it is not the same I agree. It is hard to explain you need to try it to understand it.

[@jettadsg1]

A brilliant analysis. The term “review” does not do justice to your comprehensive and insightful commentary. Ducati made a sharp call putting this the bike into your hands early. Here in Oz the Desert X hasn’t landed yet but it is eagerly anticipated. More so now in my case.

[@tomarcher7520]

Thorough and unbiased review as usual Ian. It seems to me that the Desert X really highlights how we're forced to make tradeoffs with any ADV bike. Not surprisingly, Ducati seems to have emphasized style and performance over function, reliability and ease of maintenance. And for that reason, this bike would never be on my list of choices based on the types of riding/adventuring that I do. Remove the fuel tank to service the air filter? A non-starter for me. It also seems that adding luggage is going to be difficult. In the end, it kinda seems like they've developed an "adv/rally" bike, rather than one that is suited to hard core adventuring. I just completed 8 days solo in SE Oregon in very remote areas on the Tenere 700. I had very little concern about reliability, the ability to get parts (in some reasonable timeframe), or to get the bike running so I could get it back home. I can't say that I would have had the same confidence on the Desert X. Beautiful bike nonetheless.

[@ciocanelwar]

Suzuki VStrom 650 is a great bike (had one), the filter was under the tank and the only annoying thing was the plastics that you had to remove. Got to test and look at the Desert x, it seems easy to get to the filter. Also the AfricaTwin, has aome plastics that are annoying to remove in order to get to the filters.

[@tomarcher7520]

@YouTubin you're correct, no first-hand experience with the Desert X. it's based on my and others overall impression of Ducati reliability compared to other brands. Is anyone going to argue that Ducati reliability is as good as the Japanese brands - Yamaha and Honda? I suspect not. Nothing wrong with that, but for those of us that travel in remote areas, it's a trade off many of us are not willing to make. Time will tell I guess.

[@anxiousappliance]

They're easy to work on. aprt from the desmo - so every 18-20,000 miles it costs something - like every other bike.

[@justathinker8669]

Actually, I've heard that the new Ducatis are reliable.

[@shassabo]

“It’s about the most fun I’ve had on an adventure bike.” Yeah, that sums it up. Great review! The touring screen just started shipping BTW.

[@PovilasPanavas]

Do you mean the one offered by Ducati? It's just 2.5cm higher. Does it actually makes any difference with buffeting?

[@shassabo]

For some it made a difference, but I had to go to a short rally screen.

[@PovilasPanavas]

@@shassabo thank you for your reply. So, shorter screen removes the buffeting and leaves only clean air?

[@cousteaufan]

Thank you Ian. The way you're going all in in an organised way makes all the difference with other reviewers. Hope to meet you one day to thank you in person. Greetings from Belgium

[@shoakimoto2517]

Great review Ian. Glad you mentioned the maintenance issues with the airfilter change. Taking the tank off to access the air filter might be acceptable on a street-oriented bike but not on one you expect to take on the dirt often.

[@brucerossonthetube]

My Africa Twin is not much better. I must remove both side fairings and loosen the tank. So depending on how thisbis accessed it might not be any worse.

[@DrGonzo-vq2zi]

@@brucerossonthetube There is a video now on youtube where a guy documents the filter change. It looks pretty horrific. Hopefully there is a simpler way but it looks really time consuming and frustrating. He had to remove the ecu and even then, didnt have good access to the bolts for the cover over the filter.

[@brucerossonthetube]

@@DrGonzo-vq2zi i see that there was another one on KZbin where he can do it in 20 minutes. I dont see it as a deal breaker.

[@noostNL]

T7

[@Ritalie]

I ride a Hayabusa and you have to take off the front half of the fairing to change the oil filter, which is really irritating. Fortunately I think changing oil filters is how people destroy their engines, because they lose prime unless you hold the throttle wide open and do a "flood clear" mode and crank the engine for 30 seconds until the oil light goes out before you take off. Nobody seems to know that all fuel injected engines have "floor clear" mode if you hold the throttle at 100% and crank it, it shuts off all the fuel. Reading the forums, some new Ninja bikes lose prime once you install a new oil filter, and you have to loosen the oil filter and crank the engine to restore the "prime" of the oil pickup tube in the engine. I would find it difficult to trust any dealer with oil changes, because they obviously aren't going to worry about if your engine is running dry for 10 seconds after an oil change. I think it's worth the hassle to do it yourself, so you know what kind of oil you used, and you didn't start your engine with the oil light on.

[@KO-pk7df]

Picking a heavy bike up. Hey! I don't want to come off as a know-it-all but, I have a bad back with 3 surgeries and I have a BMW 1200 GS Rallye. A BMW Adv rider showed me this and it works so well for me. Bike on side, in gear. Say tight side, turn handlebar to left, grab right bar end for lifting with the most leverage, both hands grab bar end between legs facing bike, lift straight up using best lifting method for you. Take advantage of all the leverage the bar end gives you. It may seem like the bars will bend or brake, but they don't. Then balance & control bike from there. This works for me on the R1200GS and a Yamaha FJR1300. I hope that helps, it did for me and my bikes. I also saw a video from Wales where the guy did the same thing in his R1250GSA. Love your videos and your location, it's so beautiful out there to me! Also because of my back issues I am thinking I would be very happy with the KTM 390 Adventure but have not gone down to try one out yet.

[@jaredandersen82]

Amazing video - well done!! I’d love to see a follow up video dissecting it against the competition more!! Tiger 900 / 890AR / Africa Twin….that’d be so helpful and I know you could do a great job keeping it objective!!

[@bseidem5112]

See Fortnine's vid on this bike.

[@AdventureGlide]

It might not feel super fast, but it sure sounds good. Thanks for taking us out on a first ride Ian. It’s not for me, but there definitely is something special about that bike.

[@kellyheath6293]

Your channel just keeps getting better and better. Your hard work is evident in how thorough your reviews are. You deserve many more subscribers, in my opinion. As a dedicated enthusiast I just want to say thank you.

[@michaeldobson8859]

I am glad you pointed out the service manual problem with manufacturers. They don’t want competition with their dealers and mechanic shops. Dealers really exist on service because it is repeat business. Sales are a one time sale.

[@bseidem5112]

They really need to change their business model to be user friendly.

[@Ably1972]

Thank you Ian for adding the basic maintenance info and costs to your reviews! I believe you have taken your incredible videos to a whole new level of service to your subscribers! On to the bike: desmo valves and possibly timing belt engine no thank you! For all it’s impressive features it’s time for Ducati to modernize their power plants, if this bike had hydraulic lifters and cam chains I would buy one tomorrow!

[@terenceharding4792]

Re the user manual not providing any information beyond, “go to the dealer”. I was able to download the Ducati service manual for this bike. Sorry, I forget the website where I found the manual. It cost me $50 for the download, but the manual is 1175 pages long and is the actual Ducati technician’s service manual. It is very detailed.

[@JordanLedbetter]

Should have included the Tenere in your comparison, IMO. Cost is just one of the factors and the Tenere is one of the most popular mid-sized ADV bikes out right now and will undoubtedely be on the short list for many buyers in this segment.

[@BERZERKERSV4]

BINGO !!!!

[@silveriojohan]

Desert X looks 1000% like a Tenere 700. Everywhere

[@massi0729]

Recently bought a new T7, waiting for the shipment. I'm stoked for the next riding season. :-) The best thing about the T7 is there will be spare parts available for years.

[@fredrik999z]

Yamaha T7 have nothing of the electronics, low power and crappy suspension so it's much more of a budget bike. Aprilia Tuareg 660 is a better comparison since you have similar electronics and suspension setup but at a much lower price point then Desert X.

[@silveriojohan]

@@fredrik999z Ducati bikes are Ferraris, beautyful and full of technology but unreliable.

[@americandude3825]

Reviews like this is why you’re one of the best two wheeled channel on yt.

[@mickleblade]

I agree with your comments about servicing, it's a deal breaker for me

[@michaelskinner896]

Thanks Ian, what a great review! I really liked the longer format. I think the best part about your reviews is that you don't beat around the bush. Your narrative while riding in different scenarios is so informative and entertaining. I'll keep tuning in.

[@bikersquest]

I absolutely do hate the direction motorcycle manufacturers are going in terms of right to repair. I heard Suzuki even stopped allowing customers buy service manuals which is just sad IMO.

[@H.A..]

"Visit a Ducati Dealer or Authorized Service Centre" Sure, I'll just drop by one of the many Ducati Service Centres when on a long haul in Central Asia. Oh wait, there are none over there. I mean for god's sake, even here in Canada we have a just a handful of them with thousands of mile between them. Better not run into any problems while out there on a Ducati or you might have to tow it all the way back to Bologna for service. Great review though, very thorough and informative. Thanks!

[@mikeguitarification]

Tremendous review video. Very thorough and really appreciate the comparison matrix. You are definitely one of the better reviewers out there.

[@zqs1850]

Great video on the DesertX. Will there be a Multistrada V2S review?

[@hamsterclamper]

Very comprehensive review, as always. I believe those front brakes are ‘only’ M50s; Stylemas are the next step up👍

[@kee7678]

Great review man! Loved seeing your family too Ian. Put them in anytime !

[@painsrides]

If I can't work on a motorcycle(especially one to be used off-road), its off my buy list, no matter how good it might be.

[@viralsheddingzombie5324]

Is it possible to relocate the air box with custom parts? Might be an interesting project to make the filter accessible.

[@MRGS48]

Great review Ian as usual. For the base price of around 17K I still would go with a BMW GS 1250… If you farkle it out you prolly come close to the GSA…

[@MattKritzstein]

I was sold in this bike when I first saw it, and even more so after your review...UNTIL you got to the maintenance part. Completely unacceptable that the tank needs to come off for an air filter change, and that I need to go to the dealer, even worse. They are selling an off road 'adventure' bike that will get dirty, particularly here in the SW USA, filter maintenance is a big deal, often done in the middle of trips (we often pack spare filters as standard tool kit stuff), for that alone I unfortunately have taken this bike off my purchase list in 2023...maybe Ducati will improve on this down the road, but I would bet they dont care to make it more user friendly and are happy keeping this as a boutique ADV bike. They're Italian...form over function is the norm :)

[@f18a]

Great video, as always. And the spreadsheet is gold for potential buyers. The bike looks awesome, but it's super-expensive and seems to suffer a fatal flaw for an "adventure bike": out of the box you can't tour on it. Terrible seat and wind management. In my experience, the first can be made better, and usually much better. But fixing buffeting is sometimes not as easy as a bigger and/or adjustable windscreen. As an engineer, I was surprised when I ran into this with one of my bikes. So I personally would never buy one until the aftermarket proves that wind management can be solved.

[@eomat]

Love the family touch in this video. So cute. Keeps it grounded. So much more real.

[@brianq103]

Ian, you mention the fueling being spot on, but I would take that with a grain of salt. When I had the stock exhaust on my Monster 1200, it wanted to stall and was very lumpy down low. I added the Termignoni exhaust and it sounded great but the big benefit was it also came with a remap that fixed all the fueling issues the bike had. If this Termi comes with the same remap, I would try to test one without the Termi to see if the bike has the same feel.

[@Back2TheBike]

Ive just traded my Monster R with Termi for a MS V2S. On the R its a no brainer, sounds better, lighter and 3hp gain. I considered the Termi for the MS but after extensive research, it seems to add very little performance, reduces negligible weight and doesnt sound significantly better than the stock unit. And that for a premium of £1500 or so. Seems an expensive badging exercise! I'm happy to be corrected if someone's done it.

[@tommaples9174]

I own a 1987 Cagiva Elephant. So yes I would love to own the Desert X motorcycle. I rarely go the dealership but owning a bike like this you have to be able to figure it out and customize your way. Be self reliant.

[@simonwebb3425]

Another great review, Ian. The best I have seen or read on the Ducati DesertX. Many thanks for the thoroughness and objectivity, as always. I bought the Ténéré World Raid rather than this for a host of reasons, despite the many attractions of the DesertX.

[@eugenux]

I would like to see the world raid compared to all the current mid-size adv bikes. It seems that the new suspension does change its capabilities a lot!

[@ipsectunnel]

I just want you to know, your review is so good and feels so honest that I watched it, and the next day I literally went to the dealership and purchased my desert x, got it delivered the next day (last Saturday). Loving it so far, my only complaint is like you said the difficulty to get a repair manual, but at least I knew what I was getting into beforehand thanks to you heh

[@andrewewan624]

Always quality, detailed reviews. ..and real world thoughts Stay safe

[@Jefsc3]

Great review. Love your videos. You are right on point about manufacturers making it hard to service their bikes. My Ducati dealer wanted $350 to put the service manual on a thumb drive. And each time I did a service they wanted to charge $60 to reset the service light. I got around that by changing the date in the settings but it still pissed me off each time I did a service.

[@racnruss]

Love the comparison chart for these middle weight adv bikes. Are the weights from a trusted scale or manufacturers claims? Thank you, and love the content you are putting out there.

[@mattsutube]

Truly comprehensive review. I've learned Much More Than if I went to a dealer (and was even afforded a test ride). Love your test videos . You have a new fan and regular viewer.

[@TallRider101]

Hey, waited for this one. One to consider Ian, please can you make comparison with Tenere 700? If yo do you will be the only one. Regards

[@urbanadventurer5]

I got the chance to see and sit on one of these for the very first time in person today. It’s a really impressive bike. I was shocked that at 5’6” with a 29” inseam that I could flat foot with one foot on the ground and one on the peg and barely tippy toe with both feet given the 34.4” seat height, but I now see that Moto Deals had the same experience. That was really cool. The bike is easiest the best looking ADV bike I have ever seen in person. The videos and pictures really don’t do it justice. It felt much lighter than a Tenere, Tiger 900 or KLR on the showroom floor and that surprised me as well. Even with all of that being said, the price is tough to get over and when you add in the idea of having to spend $1000-$2000 more to get it serviced occasionally and expensive parts to replace or add, it starts to become a less attractive option quickly unfortunately. I absolutely love this machine now, but I am not a fan of the financial reality that would accompany it however. It’s really too bad too because it would be at the top of my list otherwise.

[@assassin11fly]

Very good review Ian! I am waiting for an in depth review of the Moto Guzzi V85TT from you. Please do it soon! :D

[@michellefleming6819]

I own a desert x , I agree with all your comments . and as a mechanic in queensland australia am pissed off that I can't get even basic specs for maintenance . owner's manual says go to dealer to have chain adjusted..On the ride from brisbane to darwin .3500 km's there is no DEALER . Australia is a BIG sparsely populated country. We need information to keep our bikes running,, please ducati..

[@brook_slider]

Nice review Ian. Having owned a Ducati and then moving to KTM as my riding preference changed to off road I saw potential in this bike. However the one thing that is a deal breaker is the dreaded maintenance. I would not buy a bike I intend to use for off-road if I cannot access the air filter quickly and easily. I like to perform maintenance on my own bike also as it makes me feel more connected. Ducati are making it clear that this is a premium bike and therefore would not suit people like this by providing no maintenance manual. Harley is premium also however many owners are hands on and I know of many Ducatistas that are that way inclined. Bad move IMO by Ducati and this will not swing ex- Ducati owners back such as myself.

[@H.A..]

I believe you are mistaken bud, Ducati do provide a maintenance manual. It reads "Visit a Ducati Dealer or Authorized Service Centre" on every single page. Oh... I see what you mean now.

[@brucerossonthetube]

While i have not done mine yet, i watched the video where it takes 20 minutes. Honestly, it looks no worse than my Africa Twin was.

[@Paiadakine]

Your daughter is so caring. Nice family. I like your in-depth reviews.

[@ryansandefer6887]

Great video Ian, as always. I’ve owned my desert X for about 2 weeks and concur with almost all of your assessments. I recently told a friend a I wish I could own two of them, one that I could set up for hardcore off-road and one that I could make a sweet street/touring missile. It’s so good on the road, that Ducati street DNA is so apparent. I’m curious how good it could be off-road if one were so inclined to take that direction with it. I’m always chasing the unicorn, and seem to to switch bikes every year or so (I usually own two at a time haha) but so far, I’m loving it. Keep it up man! What bike is next for you??

[@colmdoherty49]

Just get two sets of tyres

[@stankmaster1821]

god bless this man for doing the headlight check. no one else does this.

[@RL-un3yq]

Ian, great content as usual. Would love to hear your thoughts on 890 Adv R. I'm liking the 23 redesign. My thoughts are to use it as a daily commuter and for BDRs. What are your thoughts on reliability? Seems like you have had various issues with your 790 R, Norden, and even your 890 Rally. Forums seem to report all kind of issues. I'm guessing most people are too busy enjoying their bike to sing its praises. Shock seals, brakes, dirt ingestion, TFT moisture, clutch oiling issues, etc. All add up to be concerning. Makes me want to consider the AT or maybe even the T7 for Japanese reliability and just budget for suspension upgrades. I fear that with those, they just won't be as spirited/fun. Maybe your insight could help guide me. I want a fun and offroad oriented bike. This would replace my KLR650. I also own a 23 500 EXCF. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[@gregicon5442]

Ditto - I'm also considering a '23 890 Adv R, would love to see a real world review...

[@llama233]

Wow that was an epic review! A lot of work went into that and you've knocked it out of the park, Well done. I also loved the family cameo!

[@klimistsakiridis2409]

What a terrific job you are doing sir! I really hope you're rewarded for it and you keep on! PS: Might have been answered somewhere before but do you have any plans on reviewing the new (2021-) KTM 1290 Super Adventure S/R? I'm really looking forward to hearing you talk about that bike. Cheers!

[@kjonasson10]

I second a need for a 21+ 1290 SAR review. Was considering the DX/1290SAR/AT1100 standard as a replacement for 2007 990 Adventure S. Went with the 1290SAR however as I could not wait for the DX.

[@klimistsakiridis2409]

@@kjonasson10 DX seems like the perfect bike. If it weren't for the lack in proper wind protection... :(

[@kjonasson10]

The 1290 SAR is a bit better then the 990 regarding wind imo. I have OEM screen.

[@klimistsakiridis2409]

Have you hade reliability issues as a KTM owner? I really think of going for a 1290SAS but I’m very intimidated by what I hear about the brand’s reliability

[@kjonasson10]

@@klimistsakiridis2409 No, not really. Only a slight vibration from the fairing around the headlight. It´s a great bike an these 160 horses are like an addiction. But then it can be buttery smooth as well.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3XLZKyBZqaVqa8 Check this out ;)

[@orangefuture4910]

Best review so far . got mine a month ago. it is expensive ..... but when you factor everything in , its the best value. And 4 yr warranty is awesome. Even roadside assistance is for 4 years.Ducati built my ultimate bike. KTM have a lot to learn about what their customers want. also seat can be sorted as I did with a coolcovers mesh . Exhaust needs the full decat system and ecu map. £2100 .

[@kashsres1064]

KTM 890 and Africa Twin 1100 are a great value in my opinion. It just depends on what kind of riding you do more.

[@Thelingerer]

I was also going to say this. The stats are pretty similar to the base AT, let alone the AT being cheaper and having the great honda reliability.

[@kashsres1064]

@@Thelingerer yeah Japanese reliability is second to none. And they are also cheaper to maintain.

[@kamudankemter]

I would probably never buy a Ducati but watched this till the end. Thanks!

[@MandrilSolo]

IAN as always, a very HONEST review brother. Thank you for taking the time and effort to do this video. No messing around. Simply the BEST. ❤

[@Michael_Shay]

Probably one of the best people to get ahold of one of these things for a thorough review.

[@xpllmmff]

For recent advance of European adv bikes, such as Tuareg 660, DesertX, tiger1200 Explorer, 890ADV, Pan America, etc. are fancy product purely from tech gimmicks/ spec paper perspective, which dwarf their Japanese competitors (AT, tenere or grandfather KLR and DRs). But in the true and deep mind of real world adv riders like me, the reliability and long-term credit of those time-proven Japan bikes are of equal importance if not more

[@AzTurboMini]

My 2014 Multistrada was the best ADV bike I've owned. I regret buying my 2017 AT as it isn't near the bike... form, function or reliability. To each their own though. 👍

[@Justen1980]

The DesertX is so cool. I'd love to have one. But I do note that most Motovloggers who have had a ducati will have some videos about the mechanical problems and bad experiences with dealerships, warranty work, etc. Same with Aprilia, Triumph..And BigRockMoto went through this with his brand-new Husqvarna Norden 901 earlier this year. I want to buy a mid-size ADV next year, maybe the Transalp will be at least a little bit cool and I'll forget about the DesertX dream bike.

[@alxs2666]

Most Ducatis will barely get a taste of the trails on week-ends, i don't think world adv riders are who they're after...

[@UmustBk1dd1ng]

Maintenance costs will be a real issue for a lot of people. I own 3 Ducati street bikes, and if I did not do all of my own maintenance, I could not afford to own them. My local dealer charges $160+ an hour, 1 hour minimum, (and they won't work on older Ducati's), so if owners follow the manual on the DesertX they could be spending a couple of hundred dollars a week having chain adjustments and air filter cleanings. Also, the nearest dealer to me in Central Florida is a two hour round trip. I'm only aware of three dealers within a 270 mile radius, so the sparse dealer network is an issue. If one does go adventure riding, where in South America or on the Alaskan Highway or in the deserts of Africa will you find a dealer every few hundred miles to perform the simple owner maintenance? For my older Ducati's (2001 - 2012), the owner's manuals had detailed technical data and all of the shop manuals and parts manuals were freely available online, but this new effort to force people into having to go into an expensive dealership service department to do basic owner maintenance is disconcerting and impractical. It sort of kills any thought I might have had of swapping out one of my owner maintainable road bikes for an off road capable DesertX with the "Do Not Touch" sign on the mechanical parts.

[@MeerkatADV]

I do think Ducati really came out swinging with this bike. Time will tell if it will hold up as a real adventure option. It definitely has some quirks, not a fan of the stock skid plate mounting choices, and the air filter issues you pointed out could be problematic. Long term durability will probably say a lot.

[@fallinginthed33p]

It might not be a good choice for solo long distance offroad trips, fine if you're near a dealer garage.

[@brucerossonthetube]

For those with concerns, my 2010 Multistrada was used in the bush and on cutlines for the first few years before being retired to pavement tours when i bought a 2016 Africa Twin. The Multistrada was used beyond the design context and has had zero reliability issues. It also feels to be built to a higher level than my Africa Twin. After 75000 trouble free km, I'm confident enough to have purchased my DesertX this week. The Desert-X will replace both my Multistrada and Africa Twin going forward. With valve checks being the same frequency and cost between Ducati and Honda, the only incremental costs with the Duck are belt swaps every 6 years for a couple of hundred bucks, and resetting the maintenance warning on the Ducati. The latter is my biggest Ducati gripe, but i get around it with a mobile motorcycle mechanic who will reset the code for .5hr of time, vs the dealer who insist on charging for the full service.

[@MeerkatADV]

@brucerossonthetube I really hope it pans out. It seems to be a kick ass bike. And definitely one of the best looking bikes currently available.

[@SKgeostrat]

Ian, another excellent video. For me, the lack of a service manual and stupid placement of the air filter show that Ducati has good engineers who don't understand offroad riding. Who wants to buy a bike for adventure riding, if you cant't clean the air filter and change the oil out in the bush? It just makes no sense and will severely limit the sales of this bike to this market segment.

[@Speedytrip]

Great review as always. If it was a Japanese bike, I'd want one, but because it's a Ducati (with all that comes with that), it's a pass for me. :)

[@sspirito3130]

I have owned a few bikes that are generally considered expensive to maintain such as Ducati, BMW and Aprilia, but to be honest I did not find them more expensive than their japanese counterpart. Actually, in the last few years I found Yamaha particularly pricey with both servicing and parts

[@Speedytrip]

@@sspirito3130 If you compare the desmo service on the Desert X at 30000km vs valve check on Tenere 700 at 40000km (and on the Yamaha you can stretch that, on the Ducati, I would not push my luck), you'll find the price is quite different :)

[@JGKohlenberg]

Everyone says it “you do terrific reviews” I think you are setting the standard ✊ I must say the issue of owner repair/maintenance is Hugely important for riders. It’s early days so riders should insist on becoming Full owners not just income streams for dealers. Just my 2 cents. Keep up the great work !

[@charkswitlazers]

Stepping it up with the production quality. Nice. You’re also not far from me, I’m in riverside. I’ve recognized you’re likely in the San Jacinto mountains. Maybe someday I’ll see you on the freeway.

[@meto5595]

Nah...the tenere 700 still is the number 1

[@Ringer1982]

It would be a real competition if it had cruise control, it's a very big downside for touring.

[@meto5595]

@@Ringer1982 Thats why i like it it only has abs thats it no electric nonsense i like that there is a choice to chose a bike like the tenere 700

[@Ringer1982]

@@meto5595 That I understand, riding modes are not really necessary if a default mode is good enough. But cruise control really helps when touring. On my bike I don't have cruise control, and put a throttle lock and a plastic thingy on the throttle grip to be able to relax my hand, but it's not as good as a cruise control would be. If you are not touring it's not important for you of course.

[@erocnw1341]

I appreciate companies like Ducati that offer an alternative to Honda and other tamer and more civilized bikes.

[@Jeremybaland]

Would not buy. Anyone that is a serious rider that puts a lot of miles on a bike is going to do their own maint. The fact Ducati doesnt really allow this is contributing to this sport dieing.

[@victorsturdivant4731]

Good report Ian. Love that the family got involved with today's show.

[@phatsmitty]

Excellent review, Ian - and thanks Ducati for this treat!! Ok, here we go on the feedback...... 1) so nice to see Maggie and Sierra here, best to your family. 2) You mentioned that it was easy to ride the Ducati near a 10/10ths pace. Welcome to the fold, most of them are like that. My 1996 Monster 750 was certainly that way... dearly miss that bike. 3) You mentioned that the switchgear needs to be illuminated. That begs the question, why is that? Well, it is because everything has become so complicated. The basic controls of a motorcycle can, must and should be operable without looking. There are simply too many controls on many of today's motorcycles. Yes, most are in love with technology, but it has become a distraction. 4) Valve adjust interval - my '96 only had two valves per cylinder, and a professional mechanic did the inspection for about $300. I miss those days. 4) air filter service: the 90's era Monsters and supersports had a buckle and hinge on the gas tank, lift it up for full access to everything!!! Maintenance was an absolute joy of ease!!!! So what bike is the Ducati DX going to replace in your garage [c: Excellent review....

[@DMugsP]

Hey congrats your videos are simply amazing . Do you have any intention to review a multistrada v2?

[@jayblack3404]

The best review of this bike that I have seen. I currently have a HD Roadglide that I use for touring. I had a Multistrata 1260 pikes peak and was wanting a BMW GS 1250 Adventure or a Tiger 1200 Rally Pro Explorer but then I seen this Desert X in the showroom and can’t get it out of my head, Lol.

[@danmurphy1994]

@Big Rock Moto - Love this video and your channel. In particular I appreciate that you include pov ride footage with real time audio, so no lame music sound overlays, and the footage itself isn’t a video overlay that pops up while you’re still at home talking about your time with the bike. Many reviews of ADV bikes only feature POV ride footage in that way in videos that are otherwise quite similar to your video here. So in conclusion of my paradoxical review of your review I wanted to say thank you for the awesome content and keep up the great work. P.S. - you should avoid rounding up the wet weight of a bike you’re reviewing as every OUNCE - let alone 8 whole POUNDS (which is the amount you rounded up to arrive at that 500 pound #) are hugely important as you already know. The bike weighs 492lbs wet, according to every source I’ve checked.