DesertX MY26
Motorcycles
Vehicle Manufacturer
2025-12-05
Author
João Pereira
The Testastretta’s replacement is Ducati’s V2 engine, which is simply named after its V-twin configuration rather than adopting a more romantic-sounding title. While it’s still a liquid-cooled four-valve-per-cylinder motor with a 90-degree V-angle, it uses conventionally sprung valves instead of the complex desmodromic system, which closes the valves with additional rockers and cam lobes to eliminate the possibility of valve float. That desmodromic system was seen as the secret sauce behind hundreds of race wins, allowing higher revs and more power than V-twins with conventional valves, but it also needs expensive valve clearance adjustments and regular cam-belt changes. The new V2 engine with chain-driven camshafts is no longer called upon to represent Ducati on the international racing stage and is a logical step, but the old desmo twins will still be mourned by Ducatisti.
Ducati displayed a very lightly disguised example of the upcoming DesertX V2 at the EICMA show in Milan, and while it revealed little in terms of details (apart from the fact it uses the same 890cc V2 engine that’s already spread to the Panigale V2, Streetfighter V2, Multistrada V2, Monster, and Hypermotard V2) there’s plenty to be gleaned from the images of the upcoming bike.
Powered by the new V2 IVT engine, it delivers 110 hp at 9,000 rpm and 68 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm, ensuring smoother and more immediate performance. With advanced off-road capabilities, progressive rear suspension, increased lightness, and a curb weight of 451.1 lbs without fuel, the new DesertX offers superior versatility and driving precision, both on and off-road. A motorcycle with a new design, created to meet the needs of the most adventurous riders thanks to technical solutions that improve its off-road capabilities while maintaining the same riding pleasure on asphalt.
Where the new DesertX is likely to benefit most from the V2 engine is in its weight. The current model comes in at 463 pounds without fuel in its 5.5-gallon tank, but the V2 engine is both lighter than the old Testastretta and designed to work as a structural chassis part, eliminating the need for a separate frame. In the 2026 Hypermotard V2, that combination amounted to a weight reduction of nearly 30 pounds. The DesertX is likely to see similar savings in its new 2026 form.
In front of the rider is a landscape-oriented TFT dash in place of the current bike’s portrait-oriented version, and a glance at the gearshift linkage shows there are two height settings for the lever, so you can swap between standing and seated setups. The rear brake pedal achieves the same effect with a grip section that can be rotated 90 degrees to change its height by a similar amount.
Ducati has confirmed that the new DesertX will be revealed in full in February 2026 and come to US dealers in June next year.
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