I'm a proud owner of the "original" Desert X. My previous adv was a 2017 AfricaTwin which amazed me with its on and off road capabilities but after 2 years my chronic back problem vs the top heavy AT meant a rethink was needed. I tested many options but as soon as i set off on a test ride of the DX i was smitten. My 20 minute test ride became 1 hour (sorry Seastar Superbikes Norwich!!) and on my return i said "yes please, how long ???????) Ive added crash protection and a rally seat (Im 6'5" so its perfect) and i have a bike for life. It is stunning in every disguise but never scary or out of control. A very happy happy man with 2 wives.
I rode the 'normal' Desert X and was pleasantly suprised. I too find it better looking than the Multi V2, even the Multi V4, better looking than most of today's adventure bikes. I believe it has more soul than its siblings, I've ridden both, it's a cracking bike to ride fast on the road and fairly easy for a bad offroader like me to ride in the dirt. I would consider buying one if I was in the market for a purposeful trail bike.
This video neatly sums ups the difference between the dream (as sold) and reality (as actually ridden) of the putative adventure scene You start by explaining that the bike is a more fully focused off road adventure machine - and then immediately take it for test ride on the road. What's all that about then? This isn't intended as a criticism of the review as such - more an observation of the marketing bull that sits behind so much of the industry. Like you, I too am a relatively new rider ( a late returner actually) and I absolutely love it, but it seems to me there's such a huge gap between what we are sold (told?) and what we actually need and use. Anyone going a genuine adventure would - I'd suggest - be better off with a smaller. lighter and cheaper machine. And as those roads you were riding are pretty local to me, I'd venture the Multistrada (and its ilk) isn't really the best bike for them either. For all that - liked the videos and your honest style - good that they're not too long either.
Thanks for that - a more detailed and considered comment than the average on RUclips and an entirely valid point about the pivot from talking about its off-road cred and then reviewing it on the road! But, as you say, inadvertently making your point about the marketing dream and the reality of how most get used. But the plan is to return to Sweet Lamb in the future and do the off-road course they run with the bikes and hopefully test the theory it really can do the do. Watch this space on that. As you'll have got from the vid although generally sceptical about this format of bike I genuinely enjoyed it more than I expected. But, you're right, if you were doing a long trip in the wilds you'd probably take that Himalayan I mentioned in comparison. And use the money saved to fund the expedition! Anyway, thanks for watching, for the observations and hopefully there will be more on the channel for you to enjoy in due course. /Dan
I have the Rally, and despite it’s size/weight ,the bike is excellent off road, and actually quite easy to ride. This much thanks to it’s longer build , excellent frame, this generates a stabile bike. One must also not forget the software based rider aids the contribute to this. The bike is additionally very good on tarmac as well, surprisingly so for an off road focused version. The engine creates the character only Ducati Desmo engines can do. With the Termignoni race exhaust, you not only get the sound you want in a Ducati, but a bike with 118hp and close to 100 Nm of torque, at your disposal when you need it. A solid bike that is easy to fall in love with.
I'm a proud owner of the "original" Desert X. My previous adv was a 2017 AfricaTwin which amazed me with its on and off road capabilities but after 2 years my chronic back problem vs the top heavy AT meant a rethink was needed. I tested many options but as soon as i set off on a test ride of the DX i was smitten. My 20 minute test ride became 1 hour (sorry Seastar Superbikes Norwich!!) and on my return i said "yes please, how long ???????) Ive added crash protection and a rally seat (Im 6'5" so its perfect) and i have a bike for life. It is stunning in every disguise but never scary or out of control. A very happy happy man with 2 wives.
@@petegrimshaw530 Brilliant, what a lovely story and for someone of you height it must fit like a glove!
I rode the 'normal' Desert X and was pleasantly suprised. I too find it better looking than the Multi V2, even the Multi V4, better looking than most of today's adventure bikes. I believe it has more soul than its siblings, I've ridden both, it's a cracking bike to ride fast on the road and fairly easy for a bad offroader like me to ride in the dirt. I would consider buying one if I was in the market for a purposeful trail bike.
This video neatly sums ups the difference between the dream (as sold) and reality (as actually ridden) of the putative adventure scene You start by explaining that the bike is a more fully focused off road adventure machine - and then immediately take it for test ride on the road. What's all that about then? This isn't intended as a criticism of the review as such - more an observation of the marketing bull that sits behind so much of the industry. Like you, I too am a relatively new rider ( a late returner actually) and I absolutely love it, but it seems to me there's such a huge gap between what we are sold (told?) and what we actually need and use. Anyone going a genuine adventure would - I'd suggest - be better off with a smaller. lighter and cheaper machine. And as those roads you were riding are pretty local to me, I'd venture the Multistrada (and its ilk) isn't really the best bike for them either.
For all that - liked the videos and your honest style - good that they're not too long either.
Thanks for that - a more detailed and considered comment than the average on RUclips and an entirely valid point about the pivot from talking about its off-road cred and then reviewing it on the road! But, as you say, inadvertently making your point about the marketing dream and the reality of how most get used. But the plan is to return to Sweet Lamb in the future and do the off-road course they run with the bikes and hopefully test the theory it really can do the do. Watch this space on that.
As you'll have got from the vid although generally sceptical about this format of bike I genuinely enjoyed it more than I expected. But, you're right, if you were doing a long trip in the wilds you'd probably take that Himalayan I mentioned in comparison. And use the money saved to fund the expedition!
Anyway, thanks for watching, for the observations and hopefully there will be more on the channel for you to enjoy in due course. /Dan
I have the Rally, and despite it’s size/weight ,the bike is excellent off road, and actually quite easy to ride. This much thanks to it’s longer build , excellent frame, this generates a stabile bike.
One must also not forget the software based rider aids the contribute to this.
The bike is additionally very good on tarmac as well, surprisingly so for an off road focused version.
The engine creates the character only Ducati Desmo engines can do. With the Termignoni race exhaust, you not only get the sound you want in a Ducati, but a bike with 118hp and close to 100 Nm of torque, at your disposal when you need it.
A solid bike that is easy to fall in love with.
Looks good bike ❤ but how does it compare to the new BMW 900GS? 😊
Why are you testing a bike you can barely handle?
Well, you've got to take these opportunities when they come up, even if it's perhaps pushing your limits a bit. Nothing ventured, and all that! /Dan