Ducati has unveiled its Desert X and Motard concepts at EICMA, after teasing them before the show.
Both the Desert X and Motard are part of the Scrambler line, which Ducati has been attempting to spin as a sub-brand since its debut. At first, the Scrambler line was only built around Ducati’s air-cooled 800 L-twin, but the line has since expanded to also include machines built on the 1100 L-twin as well.
The Desert X is one of the bikes that’s built around the bigger engine. Ducati says it’s supposed to be more offroad-worthy than the standard 1100 Scrambler models, similar to the 803 cc Desert Sled model. It’s supposed to be a throwback to the great open-class rally raid bikes of the ’80s and ’90s, although that picture really isn’t complete without a big cigarette advert plastered to the side of the bike.
Ducati says this machine is intended for production, and we’d expect to see it unveiled by next year’s World Ducati Week.
Then there’s the Ducati Scrambler Motard.
This is based off the 800 Scrambler, with a few chassis tweaks, re-routed exhaust and obviously some new bodywork and seat.
Although we think of supermotos as a modern concept, they’ve really been around a while. Not sure if this bike is supposed to recall the early days of su-mo, though, or take the Scrambler line in a more modern direction? We’ll know more when this bike is released, as Ducati says it’s going to be.
Seems a bit late to the party and a little too much like, ‘me too’. Pass.