Where did you go and why?

"I got the opportunity to go to Marseille in Southern France for an exclusive insight into what the Ducati DesertX can do. I was greeted by fantastic sunny weather which lastest the entire trip. This event was in place to let dealership staff truly test out the model and all of its capabilities - then compare it to the other bikes on the market that had also been provided. These included some big adventure kings like Yamaha's Tenere 700, Honda's Africa Twin, KTM's 1290 Super Adventure and a BMW 1250GS. So it was immediately clear that Ducati was confident in their new adventure model!"

What was the event like and what did you do?

"There were quite a few people at the event, all arriving from different countries. It was quite interesting to talk to the multi-national attendees as each of us had a different list of wants from the motorcycles as each of our countries offer different riding conditions.

There was a range of DesertX models to jump aboard, with the brand new livery on display as well - and let me tell you now, this livery is stunning as the black really compliments the styling of the bike! For this event I was on a white version and it was fully set up for off-road riding with the appropriate ergonomics, including higher handlebars and the gear lever & brake pedal in the off-road position. This was great as it made it easier to stand up whilst riding, which I felt is a great example of how versatile the model is and how easy it is to modify for your riding environment."

How did the bike perform?

"The DesertX exceeded my expectations. Its off-road capabilities were very very good - I'd almost go as far as to say the DesertX is my favourite adventure motorcycle. I was surprised with how quickly a novice off-road rider such as myself could grasp control of this motorcycle as it seemed to help you along. As Ducati aren't necessarily associated with off-road riding, it's clear they've taken the time to make sure this motorcycle is spot on for the market they're trying to break into. It felt focused and everything was in sync with the terrain. The bike was able to work well on its own, it's fantastically balanced and it wants to stay upright - which gave me the confidence to really get stuck in.

It was great to get hands-on with the model in an attention-grabbing environment. I think sometimes when you test ride a motorcycle on the road, it can become so like your everyday ride that you can overlook some details. That wasn't the case at all for this event - we did some pretty tough trails that I've definitely never attempted before. The event was remarkably run by a host of Dakar legends, in addition to Antoine Meo too - who not long ago shot a promo video for the DesertX.

In comparison to the other models on the day, this Ducati model truly blew it out of the water for me. I was very impressed."

Ducati

DesertX

The DesertX was made for exploring, built for performing and rides like a dream. Go further than you've ever gone before with the latest adventure addition from the iconic motorcycle manufacturer.