Ducati DesertX Rally 2027 Unveiled at EICMA 2026

Ducati has shown the 2027 DesertX Rally at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan (press days 3 and 4 November 2026, public days 5 to 8 November). The off-road focused model moves from the old 937 cc Testastretta engine and tubular steel frame to an 890 cc V2 in an aluminium monocoque frame. The reported European price is 19,290 euros, excluding delivery costs, and European showroom arrivals are listed for April 2027. This article is based on reports from Il Sole 24 Ore and Motorrad as of 5 November 2026; Ducati's own press material was not opened for this article.

Background: the Rally version

The DesertX is Ducati's off-road focused adventure model, and the Rally version is the more specialised one, drawing on the maker's rally-raid racing experience according to Il Sole 24 Ore. Motorrad says the new Rally is based on the DesertX that was already updated for the 2026 model year. Ducati's stated aim, as Motorrad reports it, is to keep the Rally character while making the bike easier for less experienced off-road riders. The 2027 changes therefore sit mostly in the engine and frame, while the long-travel KYB suspension, the 21 and 18-inch wheels and the tripmaster carry over.

Key facts

• Engine: 890 cc V2 with variable intake timing, replacing the 937 cc Testastretta
• Power and torque: 110 hp (about 110 PS) and 92 Nm, figures the German magazine Motorrad says are unchanged from the older engine
• Frame: aluminium monocoque that uses the engine as a stressed part and holds the airbox; the rear subframe stays a steel tube design
• Price: 19,290 euros, excluding delivery costs (Motorrad)
• European showrooms: April 2027, with other markets after that (Motorrad)
• A2 licence version: 35 kW (48 PS), also planned

What changes from the earlier engine

Motorrad reports that peak power and torque stay the same, but the new V2 gives 70 percent of its maximum torque at 3,000 rpm, which should help in slow, technical terrain. The first four gears are shorter and the fifth and sixth are longer, aiming for a balance between off-road use and road comfort. Service intervals also change: valve clearance checks are listed every 45,000 km and oil changes every 15,000 km or two years.

Chassis and equipment

• Suspension: fully adjustable KYB closed-cartridge units, 250 mm travel at the front and 240 mm at the rear
• Wheels: 21-inch front and 18-inch rear tubeless spoked rims; the rear wheel now has 36 spokes, four more than before
• Tyres: Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR as factory fit, according to Motorrad
• Steering damper: Ohlins, per Il Sole 24 Ore
• Fuel tank: 18 litres, three litres less than before
• Weight: 209 kg without fuel, one kilogram less than the predecessor (Motorrad)
• Seat height: 900 mm, down from 910 mm; an optional low seat gives 880 mm
• Display: 5-inch TFT with Road, Road Pro and Rally views, keeping the tripmaster
• Electronics: six-axis sensor unit, cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control, engine-brake control and six riding modes (Sport, Touring, Urban, Wet, Enduro and Rally); ABS can be switched off in the off-road modes
• Gearbox aid: Ducati Quick Shift 2.0, which Motorrad says needs no external sensor

Accessories mentioned

Motorrad lists an extra 8-litre tank, crash bars, a larger windscreen and aluminium or soft luggage from Mosko Moto. A Termignoni racing exhaust that is not road legal is offered; with its own engine tune, Motorrad says it adds about 6 hp. Il Sole 24 Ore describes a Termignoni titanium exhaust as part of the specification, so the two reports describe the exhaust differently and buyers should check Ducati's final accessory list.

What is not yet known

The sources opened for this article do not give an Indian price or launch date, and no figure should be assumed for markets outside Europe. Prices elsewhere usually differ because of taxes and import duties. The article will not be updated; readers should check Ducati's official pages for current information.

For comparison, Motorrad gives the earlier Rally's tank as 21 litres and its seat height as 910 mm, which is where the 18-litre and 900 mm figures above come from. The reports also mention the high front mudguard, one-piece seat and reinforced aluminium engine guard staying in the design, and structured side panels intended to give better grip when riding standing up.

Sources

• Ducati unveils the new DesertX Rally, Il Sole 24 ORE
• Update für die Edel-Enduro: Ducati DesertX Rally 2027 mit neuem V2-Motor und Rahmen, Motorrad
• EICMA 2026: Which new models in Milan are really new, motorcycles.news

Image credits: Cover photo: Ducati DesertX in Barcelona edited.jpg) by Original: Artem Lepesin / Derivative work: Da, CC BY-SA 4.0; Picture in the text: Ducati DesertX by Artem Lepesin, CC BY-SA 4.0. Pictures from Wikimedia Commons.