Ducati DesertX vs Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro – Which is the more hardcore adventure tourer?

After a long wait since its global unveiling, the Ducati DesertX has finally landed on Indian shores. Positioned as a more hardcore and off-road-ready motorcycle over the already available Multistrada 950, the new DesertX has come in at Rs 17.91 lakh. With this pricing, the DesertX comes as the most expensive motorcycle in the premium middleweight adventure tourer category currently ruled by the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro. How do the two motorcycles fare against each other? Let’s find out. 

Price

At Rs 17.91 lakh, the Ducati DesertX is much more expensive than the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro, which has an asking price of Rs 15.50 lakh. With its steep pricing, the DesertX is even more expensive than the slightly bigger-in-size and more powerful Honda Africa Twin, which belongs to one segment above.

(Both prices mentioned above are ex-showroom, pan India)

ALSO READ: Bajaj Pulsar P150 vs TVS Apache RTR 160

Engine and Chassis

The Ducati DesertX shares its four-stroke, liquid-cooled, L-Twin, 937cc with the Multistrada 950, though it has slightly less power and torque outputs (110 bhp and 92 Nm) when compared to the latter. However, it still offers much more performance when compared to the smaller four-stroke, liquid-cooled, inline-three, DOHC, 888cc of the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro, which delivers 95 bhp of power and 87 Nm of torque.

When it comes to mechanical hardware, the Ducati DesertX and Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro offer upside-down telescopic forks at the front and mono-shock with double-sided aluminium swingarm, both of which are fully adjustable. However, the KYB-sourced front and rear suspension of the DesertX offers slightly lesser travel when compared to the Showa-sourced front and rear suspension of the Tiger 900 Rally Pro. Both the motorcycles boast the same front and rear tyre widths, though the 18-inch rear wheel of the DesertX is slightly bigger than the 17-inch rear wheel of the Tiger 900 Rally Pro. The DesertX also has a slight edge in the braking department, with a larger rear disc, though both the motorcycles here get the same size for the front disc brake.

ALSO READ: Kawasaki KLR 650 vs Royal Enfield Himalayan

Dimension

Triumph has not disclosed the length of the Tiger 900 Rally Pro. However, considering that the wheelbase of the DesertX is more than that of the Tiger 900 Rally Pro, it is expected that the former is long out of the two motorcycles here. The DesertX is also wider and lighter in weight than the Tiger 900 Rally Pro, though it is the latter which is the taller motorcycle here.

Design and Features

The Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro has become a comparatively more familiar motorcycle than the newly-launched Ducati DesertX, which wears a completely ground-up design. Both the motorcycles here look distinctive and purposeful, though it is the DesertX which looks more off-road ready in comparison.

The DesertX is nothing like any other Ducati on sale in India, with the overall design being too functional and off-road-specific. The beefy-looking semi-fairing and fuel tank, along with the quirky-looking dual-rounded headlamp setup at the front, give the DesertX its own identity. However, like any other modern-day Ducati, the DesertX also gets a host of modern-day features, including a 5-inch TFT instrument console, riding modes, power modes, Ducati Traction Control, Ducati Wheelie Control, Engine Brake Control, Ducati up/down quick shifter, cruise control, self-cancelling indicators and steering damper.

In comparison, the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro looks sleeker and sharper, but equally purposeful as a go-anywhere motorcycle. The minimalist all-LED headlamp with eyebrow-shaped LED DRL gives it a compact face in comparison, while the edgy-looking fuel tank and tail section make it look like a sharper motorcycle. It also gets several contemporary features like a 7-inch TFT instrument console, traction control, cornering ABS, up-and-down quick-shifter, backlit switchgear, six riding modes (road, rain, sport, off-road, off-road pro and user), tyre pressure monitoring system, heated seats and auxiliary lamps.

ALSO READ: Moto Morini X-Cape 650 vs Benelli TRK 502

 Verdict

The Ducati DesertX has come in as a fresh surprise from the Italian marquee, with it offering a more potent package as a true-blue off-roader over the Multistrada 950. The purposeful look, long travel suspension and off-road spec tyres do make it a more hardcore motorcycle for rougher terrains and tarmacs. In comparison to the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro, the DesertX also gets a more powerful and torquey engine, better rear disc brake and a bigger rear wheel, which do make it feel slightly more desirable at once.

However, all the advantages in the favour of the Ducati DesertX do little to help in justifying its steep premium of more than Rs 2 lakh over the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro. Despite its lesser powerful engine, the Tiger 900 Rally Pro has an adequate amount of performance on tap to take the rough beating, while having more or less similarly excellent mechanical hardware under the skin, with a longer travel suspension setup being an added advantage over the DesertX. Considering all these aspects, the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro comes across as an overall sweeter deal than the Ducati DesertX.

ALSO READ:

• Keeway K300 N vs BMW G 310 R
• Ducati Streetfighter V2 vs Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS
• Bajaj Pulsar N160 vs Yamaha MT-15