With the road test done it was time to dust up the Sled. Cue the desert scene. We head out of the city and onto some hard mountain tracks with loose gravel and the Desert Sled is unphased. It's no motocross bike but it handles a lot better for its weight that you'd imagine.
It is also a lot easier to manage than many of the more popular large adventure bikes and is no less capable than these monsters. It's also a lot easier to lift after being dropped in the sand.
As soon as you have the balance on the Desert Sled there is very little to stop you. This bike takes a beating and keeps on asking for more. Riding stood up, sliding and steering with the rear is easy as the bike responds to every input of power, shifting weight and steering.
Throwing into the sand dunes came next, some proper desert riding for the Desert Sled. We've tested many bikes in desert dunes, not just MX bikes but also BMW's GS's, KTM's Adventures, Triumph's Tigers and the Ducati proved itself equally capable and better than some.
To the amazement of the MX riders in our group the Sled took to the dunes with easy and got to the top of one of the most challenging dunes beating a few of the MX riders in a drag to the top!
So, did Ducati's designers and engineers hit the brief? We'd say so!
The Desert Sled is well balanced, has good power delivery and the looks to match. This isn’t a bike that you’d buy just to look hip, this is a seriously capable on and offroad machine.
It will do a lot more than most riders can ask of it on the roads and anywhere offroad whilst still being a blast as a daily commuter and tourer.