Have to agree the Desert X is a little on the heavy side, and they could have gone to a plastic two sided tank design with easier access to the air filter. I considered the 890 ktm but I know of way too many people who have had serious problems with that bike. I'll be keeping my Ducati for many years to come. Had street bikes before but nothing is as much fun on the tight twisties and yet can still do some very nasty off road.
rode BDR in the southwest US and one of the riders on an 890 R blew a water pump on a climb on Engineer Pass in Colorado. It was a freaking headache to get that bike to the shop. no, i wouldnt touch a KTM because of the reliability issues. Also KTM charges for remebering app settings on the rider aids. What's that about?
@@needanerdbrain Reliability could be troublesome. Some other manufacturers also charge for extra features but they hide behind the fact that you need particular hardware which is not the case most of the time.
2 questions: - was the Husqvarna 901 Expedition a consideration? - if you could only have 1 bike for the comming 7 years, and you can only choose from the 37 you've already owned...which one will it be and why?
Very good and fun question! The norden was a consideration indeed! Love the look of that bike and it is almost as capable as the R. But I thought that the norden was a little bit comparable to the desert x. So more onroad focused than off-road. And I wanted something more off-road focused. For question number 2 I think if I need to pick one bike for the rest of my life I would choose the R1250GS. That was the best all around bike I have had!
Hi I like your honest straightforward view on the desert X. I wonder if the Tuareg 660 would be a good choice over the desert X with an off-road 60% and street 40% use profile?
Yeah! Thank you for your comment! I think the Tuareg is a really good choice! I still want to ride that bike but from what I’ve seen you are spot on with the Tuareg in terms of onroad and off-road
I rented the DesertX once (for a day in Spain) and, well, I felt similar to you. One thing you didn't mention is, MTS V2 exists. It's a great adv bike for road riding, yes, offroad 90% of bikes is better (including the "big" ones like MTS V4) due to the engine not liking low RPMs and clutch being hard to control - however, the only modification DDX did was to make low gears shorter which only helped a bit. MTS doesn't pretend and that, IMO, enables it to do what it does, better. And on the other side is 890 R. I have a 790 (R as well) and it is a great bike on road (well, as good as it gets with 21/18 wheels which limit the lean a bit) and if it weren't for one thing, great bike for off-road. (The one thing is how small the rider triangle is, sitting you won't feel it that much but standing is a pain. Being 194 cm tall, I prefer other bikes off-road simply due to this, even though KTM is superior in many aspects, the position is that bad.) In other aspects off-road it's better than DDX. On-road, MTS V2 offers better comfort than 790 Adv R thanks to it's seat and big mask which are not constrained by off-road riding design, so I can see the reasons why would someone take it over the KTM for on-road riding. DDX, however, needs to be off-road-ish enough not to have these advantages and, well...
@droommotor suzuki gsf 650 bandit k5 with 46k miles, brought it at 17k miles, 0 issues what so ever, I nearly brought the 890 duke put from previous experience It made me think..do I want to be stranded 300 miles from home in Scotland on a mountain again? Not a pleasant experience 😆, I suppose all ktm owners will go through this at some point..I really liked ktm but after 2 engine rebuilds on a 2021 bike I had to sell it
@droommotor 1st ktm was a 2020 duke 125, brought brand new, owned this for 10 months, 3 warranty repairs on this one, all electrical problems. Passed my full test in 2021 brought a 21 ktm 890 duke brand new. 7 total warranty repairs; New engine gaskets as original one didn't hold engine oil pressure. Head gasket blowing, loss of engine pressure Exhaust valve dropped and damaged the piston this caused an entre engine rebuild. New ECU as it melted??? I was suprised New wiring loom as it rusted New headlight unit as the original wouldn't work properly. New dash board as the original leaked water in. And the final one was metal shavings in the oil, another rebuild, piston rings as fault I got told. Sold it for a huge loss 2 weeks after that. I owned the ktm 890 duke for less than 9 months and it spent 3 months in the workshop cost ktm over £4200 in repairs, missed out on so many riding trips. Ktm dealer wouldn't buy the bike back despite it only having 5200 miles. It might of been a lemon but unfortunately ktm produced more lemons then sweet oranges at the moment 😄. God bless you sir I really wish you all the luck, iv herd of many ktms being perfect though, my friend has a 1290 adventure s with 33k miles and only had a few problems
I have the DX with frame protection and also a KTM 790 Rally and a 890 Rally. Guess which one I choose almost everytime: the DX. (I do mostly dirt. Obviously) Different strokes for different okes. The KTMs are great for slower more technical terrain, but a 690 would do even better there. The DX is more balanced. Also much better in deeper sand and mud. The DX just needs a better suspension which I find surprising that it wasn’t mentioned if you’re really doing rough and technical? I did a suspension upgrade (Tractive) anyway. My 2c
Hi Fred, I agree! I do talk about the suspension in this video, I have upgraded mine for really good suspension ua-cam.com/video/99l6mLx3iLU/v-deo.htmlsi=AOZuo0ncamIfLGay
For the limited time I rode two up it's pretty good. But it's always a compromise an heavier bike which is a bit lower like a GS Adventure is always better.
The 790/890/901 have a great low point of gravity. I noticed it directly when switching from the CRF1000L Africa Twin. And my 790 had no problems for 50.000km. I had a 901 for 30.000km only problem was the cam chain tensioner. I only sold that to downgrade weight wise to a 701 Enduro. The air filter access of the Desert X - a bike that has dust included in the name! - is pure design failure.
Man, I could not disagree more, the only thing that compares to the DX is the 890. I own both the DX and an 890 Rally. I put the Tractive suspension on he DX to even them up. These are adventure bikes, they are all heavy. I have owned a 701 and it falls short in every way. I ride my DX on single track and I find it more stable than my 890, less twitchy and it is way better on road. I bet he has regrets after a while. The 890 is great but I prefer the DX. Just curious what you think are better options in Europe? BMW....not even close, T7 great for a budget bike but not even close.....what else is there? I get it when somebody buys a dedicated off road machine like a Beta etc. but as far as adventure bikes I fail to see that there is a better bike than the DX.....my opinion of course but I truly am interested to know what you feel is a better option?
@@chrisvantassel8867 People tend do defend their own choices, as i'm seeing in both the Ducati Camp and the KTM camp, which is very entertaining and makes sense. I'm only sharing my experiences. Do you honestly think it's a great adv bike design to make the airfilter as inaccessable as they can and make the tank out of steel and/or alumunium? Every bike has their pro's and cons and both bikes are great. In terms of competition probably the new F900GS from BMW could be a very good alternative to the DDX. the DDX is indeed more stable but harder to get around in very technical terrain compared to the 890, but that is my own experience.
@@droommotor In the ADV world there will never be a perfect machine because the concept in general is nothing but a compromise. That being said, and this is only my opinion, KTM and Ducati are making by far he best options. I just will never do BMW again, I have owned over 15 and each time I sell them because of the lack of character. The T7 has so much potential but is too budget. That being said, I truly believe it boils down to the DX and the 890. From there, it is matter of taste but I grew up riding the sand dunes and deserts of San Diego and all surrounding areas. Arguably the best off road spots on the planet. My assessment of both the 890 and DX come from the actual riding experience. KTM and Ducati are my favorite brands on all levels which is why I own several of each. No, the Air filter placement is not optimal but it is not a deal killer for me. Once you remove the tank a few times it's easy. You will not be disappointed with the 890 but I think you will find the same limitations with the 890 as you did with the DX and that is weight (the ultimate adv compromise). If I am truly going to hit the dirt I take my Beta, if I want to travel and hit some ADV roads the 890 or DX are excellent. In overall use though, I prefer the DX. I agree that the 890 will be better in tight stuff due to its shorter wheel base but that is also what makes it twitchy and less stable on road. The DX takes deflections better than the KTM and since it is an ADV bike tight stuff is less of a concern for me....again, Beta. It is a conundrum in that you have to be aware of the type of riding you truly do and which bike is most appropriate. If you spend most of your time on tight single track but want a bike to munch miles in order to get to the tight stuff then you probably made a good choice with the 890. For me, even with my 890 Rally, I don't seek the tight stuff. In fact, this video shows exactly the type of riding I prefer which the DX or 890 will handle beautifully. At that point one would have to decide which is the better bike at getting you there and for me that is also the DX. The addition of the Tractive suspension probably makes my DX even more off road capable than my 890 Rally. ua-cam.com/video/nilPvlqPk2Y/v-deo.html
@@chrisvantassel8867 good that you have installed the suspension btw because for the money the OEM suspension of the DDX really lacks! But agree with you! Safe rides!
@@MikeMFnJones1 I have the ktm 950 se R and the thing is a tank!, just not much fuel range. Reliability not an issue. I just bought a KTM 890 Rally also. It really depends on the bike, some are rotten apples and some just run with no issues. there's plenty of Honda owners even the CRF 300R/L with bike reliability issues... If one wants bullet proof reliability it would be the Yamaha Teneref or Honda Africa twin... I have a Husqvarna 701, no issues at all, reliable! A ducati or KTm are pretty much in the same boat in terms of reliability. Just depends on your luck and what you get. It could go either way reliability wise.
@amandeepbains6193 if you say so. But if you saw what I see ( at a dealership that sells both Ktm and ducati) it's not even close. KTM's are constantly breaking down. Even brand new out of the box they are problematic. Ducati is night and day better reliability. Don't get me wrong, when KTM's work they are great. Overall in reliability they aren't even close.
You just replicated word for word what I did. Had other bikes, bought the desert X , then 890, the R1300. The Desert X has no place and sold it. 1st big jump i did all signal lights came off from the sockets and from that point suspension started squeaking. If you have only one bike, it very hip and good fun bike
We will see how long it holds up! I forget to Mention that the DDX engine is also prone to dust at the internal belts. I’ve seen some destroyed engines at the Ducatis to. We need to remember only people with complaints will tell about it on the internet! Every bike has it flaws
@@droommotor I'd like to see them take the V4S route and put an engine in this bike with ground-up tuning for ADV, chain timing, standard valves. Could use that opportunity to address filter access, weight distribution and whatnot.
Yes. Mine is sat at the dealer with five other for three plus months waiting on parts. Cams is one of many issues I’ve had and the bike is going when I finally get it back. Love riding the KTM but it’s a liability/poor ownership experience. So while without a bike I got a DesertX. Ducati seems better built/higher quality, way better on road, only issues I’ve seen reported is warped disc which Ducati replace, KTM plain out refuse discs. Seen some cracked Ducati wheels that Ducati warranty, KTM don’t crack but dent as also soft and not a warranty item, KTM has many other faults. Haven’t had to pick the DesertX up yet but weight wise it feels same ball park as KTM when sat on it. Not done any off road yet on Ducati as waiting on back ordered bash plate / fitting crash bars so can’t comment on that. So far my only gripe is the air filter location is a pain.
goodluck with the cam failure on ya 890... id rather one bike for everything, keep it simple. Airfilter isn't an issue unless you ride Offroad all day everyday. The Ducati holds it weight low enough, not as low as a 890/901/turaeg but not a huge difference unless u do slow technical stuff Offroad. For off and inroad, the Ducati is the better choice.
@@droommotor there not alot of difference in weight, its the way the ktm carries the weight that makes the difference and the ktm is slower than the ddx and you going to complain about the way the ktm measures the fuel level in the tank 😆
@@Rust_valley_adventures there is a big difference in weight. The DDX weighs around 230 kg with the crashbars the ktm doesn’t need it and weighs around 217kg that’s with a standard battery with the lithium battery (which the desert x has standard) it weighs around 215kg. That’s a 15kg weight difference plus the fact it wears it down low
@@droommotor the ktm wet weight is 477 lbs ddx is 492 wet weight. I ride both bikes , I own ddx freind owns 890 adventure crash bars weigh a couple pounds, you need the new shape bashplate for the 2023/24 ktm as the stock bash plate is not the best, youll need pannier racks and you need a different end can as stock is very heavy ,plus you need the full tech pack for the quick shifter and other electronic tech plus the sat nav module with is extra on top of the tech pack $$$$
@@Rust_valley_adventures ktm doesn’t say anything about the wet weights I have put the bike on the scale (ktm) and came at 217 kg the desert x is 223 without crashbars which it really needs
DDX is the best all around bike i have ever had. I am quite handy with tools so air filter placement is not a problem. Weight is not a problem either.
As an all around bike I would highly recommend it!
Make sure you check the cams on that 890R LC8c motor. Check them earlier than the valve service. In fact, check them now.
It only has 1900km right now.
Have to agree the Desert X is a little on the heavy side, and they could have gone to a plastic two sided tank design with easier access to the air filter. I considered the 890 ktm but I know of way too many people who have had serious problems with that bike. I'll be keeping my Ducati for many years to come. Had street bikes before but nothing is as much fun on the tight twisties and yet can still do some very nasty off road.
Hi Carlos! You can’t go wrong with the Desert X!
rode BDR in the southwest US and one of the riders on an 890 R blew a water pump on a climb on Engineer Pass in Colorado. It was a freaking headache to get that bike to the shop. no, i wouldnt touch a KTM because of the reliability issues. Also KTM charges for remebering app settings on the rider aids. What's that about?
@@needanerdbrain Reliability could be troublesome. Some other manufacturers also charge for extra features but they hide behind the fact that you need particular hardware which is not the case most of the time.
Air filter design was the only reason I steered away from the Desert X. If they make it easier moving forward I will probably buy in
I understand if you forget that it’s an almost perfect bike
anyone with basic tools and 20 minutes can get it done
4:59 What's this track next to the river? I would love to ride there!
Not sure anymore, somewhere in Drenthe NL
Where did you purchase the bike stickers/decals?
you can order them at shop.droommotor.nl :)
Air filter location and top heavy bias is why I went for the KTM 890
Good choice!
2 questions:
- was the Husqvarna 901 Expedition a consideration?
- if you could only have 1 bike for the comming 7 years, and you can only choose from the 37 you've already owned...which one will it be and why?
Very good and fun question! The norden was a consideration indeed! Love the look of that bike and it is almost as capable as the R. But I thought that the norden was a little bit comparable to the desert x. So more onroad focused than off-road. And I wanted something more off-road focused. For question number 2 I think if I need to pick one bike for the rest of my life I would choose the R1250GS. That was the best all around bike I have had!
@@droommotor
1300gs is noe more superb, lighter than 1250
Hi I like your honest straightforward view on the desert X. I wonder if the Tuareg 660 would be a good choice over the desert X with an off-road 60% and street 40% use profile?
Yeah! Thank you for your comment! I think the Tuareg is a really good choice! I still want to ride that bike but from what I’ve seen you are spot on with the Tuareg in terms of onroad and off-road
@@droommotor really good choice my ass. Aprilia is trash.
Now that ktm is in the stoomph, hows that decision feeling?
Stay tuned for my new video!
Hmm, let us know how the KTM holds up in terms of reliability though.
Until now fine! Only trouble i have had is a flat tire on the front! Will keep everyone posted.
Cool, thanks!
I rented the DesertX once (for a day in Spain) and, well, I felt similar to you.
One thing you didn't mention is, MTS V2 exists. It's a great adv bike for road riding, yes, offroad 90% of bikes is better (including the "big" ones like MTS V4) due to the engine not liking low RPMs and clutch being hard to control - however, the only modification DDX did was to make low gears shorter which only helped a bit. MTS doesn't pretend and that, IMO, enables it to do what it does, better.
And on the other side is 890 R. I have a 790 (R as well) and it is a great bike on road (well, as good as it gets with 21/18 wheels which limit the lean a bit) and if it weren't for one thing, great bike for off-road. (The one thing is how small the rider triangle is, sitting you won't feel it that much but standing is a pain. Being 194 cm tall, I prefer other bikes off-road simply due to this, even though KTM is superior in many aspects, the position is that bad.) In other aspects off-road it's better than DDX.
On-road, MTS V2 offers better comfort than 790 Adv R thanks to it's seat and big mask which are not constrained by off-road riding design, so I can see the reasons why would someone take it over the KTM for on-road riding. DDX, however, needs to be off-road-ish enough not to have these advantages and, well...
Thanks for your comments! I mostly agree with you!
Good choice on the 890 I love mine.
I hope I will love mine too
I really hope you have warranty or a big wallet when you get the ktm...youll need all the luck you can get, im saying this as a previous ktm owner
Time will tell! What are you riding now?
@droommotor suzuki gsf 650 bandit k5 with 46k miles, brought it at 17k miles, 0 issues what so ever, I nearly brought the 890 duke put from previous experience It made me think..do I want to be stranded 300 miles from home in Scotland on a mountain again? Not a pleasant experience 😆, I suppose all ktm owners will go through this at some point..I really liked ktm but after 2 engine rebuilds on a 2021 bike I had to sell it
@@T3-RIDER Nice! can’t go wrong with Suzuki! Which ktm did you have before?
@droommotor 1st ktm was a 2020 duke 125, brought brand new, owned this for 10 months, 3 warranty repairs on this one, all electrical problems.
Passed my full test in 2021 brought a 21 ktm 890 duke brand new.
7 total warranty repairs;
New engine gaskets as original one didn't hold engine oil pressure.
Head gasket blowing, loss of engine pressure
Exhaust valve dropped and damaged the piston this caused an entre engine rebuild.
New ECU as it melted??? I was suprised
New wiring loom as it rusted
New headlight unit as the original wouldn't work properly.
New dash board as the original leaked water in.
And the final one was metal shavings in the oil, another rebuild, piston rings as fault I got told.
Sold it for a huge loss 2 weeks after that.
I owned the ktm 890 duke for less than 9 months and it spent 3 months in the workshop cost ktm over £4200 in repairs, missed out on so many riding trips. Ktm dealer wouldn't buy the bike back despite it only having 5200 miles.
It might of been a lemon but unfortunately ktm produced more lemons then sweet oranges at the moment 😄. God bless you sir I really wish you all the luck, iv herd of many ktms being perfect though, my friend has a 1290 adventure s with 33k miles and only had a few problems
I have the DX with frame protection and also a KTM 790 Rally and a 890 Rally. Guess which one I choose almost everytime: the DX. (I do mostly dirt. Obviously) Different strokes for different okes. The KTMs are great for slower more technical terrain, but a 690 would do even better there. The DX is more balanced. Also much better in deeper sand and mud. The DX just needs a better suspension which I find surprising that it wasn’t mentioned if you’re really doing rough and technical? I did a suspension upgrade (Tractive) anyway. My 2c
Hi Fred, I agree! I do talk about the suspension in this video, I have upgraded mine for really good suspension ua-cam.com/video/99l6mLx3iLU/v-deo.htmlsi=AOZuo0ncamIfLGay
Is it good for two people?
Cant finde anything on the internet about riding it in two people with bags on the sides
For the limited time I rode two up it's pretty good. But it's always a compromise an heavier bike which is a bit lower like a GS Adventure is always better.
steel tank isn't it? and carried through to the rally
Yeah. Steel, aluminium. Its not a good design choice
The 790/890/901 have a great low point of gravity. I noticed it directly when switching from the CRF1000L Africa Twin. And my 790 had no problems for 50.000km. I had a 901 for 30.000km only problem was the cam chain tensioner. I only sold that to downgrade weight wise to a 701 Enduro. The air filter access of the Desert X - a bike that has dust included in the name! - is pure design failure.
It's a weird design choice indeed.
All valid points. Commitment issues though? 😉
Luckily only with bikes 😂
I like the look, and I understand why people choose it.
But I think there are better options on the market, especially in Europe.
It’s the most beautiful ADV bike on the market imho
Man, I could not disagree more, the only thing that compares to the DX is the 890. I own both the DX and an 890 Rally. I put the Tractive suspension on he DX to even them up. These are adventure bikes, they are all heavy. I have owned a 701 and it falls short in every way. I ride my DX on single track and I find it more stable than my 890, less twitchy and it is way better on road. I bet he has regrets after a while. The 890 is great but I prefer the DX. Just curious what you think are better options in Europe? BMW....not even close, T7 great for a budget bike but not even close.....what else is there? I get it when somebody buys a dedicated off road machine like a Beta etc. but as far as adventure bikes I fail to see that there is a better bike than the DX.....my opinion of course but I truly am interested to know what you feel is a better option?
@@chrisvantassel8867 People tend do defend their own choices, as i'm seeing in both the Ducati Camp and the KTM camp, which is very entertaining and makes sense.
I'm only sharing my experiences. Do you honestly think it's a great adv bike design to make the airfilter as inaccessable as they can and make the tank out of steel and/or alumunium? Every bike has their pro's and cons and both bikes are great. In terms of competition probably the new F900GS from BMW could be a very good alternative to the DDX. the DDX is indeed more stable but harder to get around in very technical terrain compared to the 890, but that is my own experience.
@@droommotor In the ADV world there will never be a perfect machine because the concept in general is nothing but a compromise. That being said, and this is only my opinion, KTM and Ducati are making by far he best options. I just will never do BMW again, I have owned over 15 and each time I sell them because of the lack of character. The T7 has so much potential but is too budget. That being said, I truly believe it boils down to the DX and the 890. From there, it is matter of taste but I grew up riding the sand dunes and deserts of San Diego and all surrounding areas. Arguably the best off road spots on the planet. My assessment of both the 890 and DX come from the actual riding experience. KTM and Ducati are my favorite brands on all levels which is why I own several of each. No, the Air filter placement is not optimal but it is not a deal killer for me. Once you remove the tank a few times it's easy. You will not be disappointed with the 890 but I think you will find the same limitations with the 890 as you did with the DX and that is weight (the ultimate adv compromise). If I am truly going to hit the dirt I take my Beta, if I want to travel and hit some ADV roads the 890 or DX are excellent. In overall use though, I prefer the DX. I agree that the 890 will be better in tight stuff due to its shorter wheel base but that is also what makes it twitchy and less stable on road. The DX takes deflections better than the KTM and since it is an ADV bike tight stuff is less of a concern for me....again, Beta. It is a conundrum in that you have to be aware of the type of riding you truly do and which bike is most appropriate. If you spend most of your time on tight single track but want a bike to munch miles in order to get to the tight stuff then you probably made a good choice with the 890. For me, even with my 890 Rally, I don't seek the tight stuff. In fact, this video shows exactly the type of riding I prefer which the DX or 890 will handle beautifully. At that point one would have to decide which is the better bike at getting you there and for me that is also the DX. The addition of the Tractive suspension probably makes my DX even more off road capable than my 890 Rally. ua-cam.com/video/nilPvlqPk2Y/v-deo.html
@@chrisvantassel8867 good that you have installed the suspension btw because for the money the OEM suspension of the DDX really lacks! But agree with you! Safe rides!
love my 890 Adventure
Me too! until now
Got rid of Ducati for a KTM??? I feel sorry for you. Get ready for poor reliability! ( I sell both brands) Bad decision !
Had no problems with the 890 fortunately!
@@droommotor the day is young grasshopper. Patience is needed before I say ... .... I told you so ;-)
Good to know, cheers I'll probably buy the Transalp, any thoughts on that ? Im after a middleweight too.
@@MikeMFnJones1 I have the ktm 950 se R and the thing is a tank!, just not much fuel range. Reliability not an issue. I just bought a KTM 890 Rally also. It really depends on the bike, some are rotten apples and some just run with no issues. there's plenty of Honda owners even the CRF 300R/L with bike reliability issues...
If one wants bullet proof reliability it would be the Yamaha Teneref or Honda Africa twin...
I have a Husqvarna 701, no issues at all, reliable!
A ducati or KTm are pretty much in the same boat in terms of reliability. Just depends on your luck and what you get. It could go either way reliability wise.
@amandeepbains6193 if you say so. But if you saw what I see ( at a dealership that sells both Ktm and ducati) it's not even close. KTM's are constantly breaking down. Even brand new out of the box they are problematic. Ducati is night and day better reliability. Don't get me wrong, when KTM's work they are great. Overall in reliability they aren't even close.
You just replicated word for word what I did. Had other bikes, bought the desert X , then 890, the R1300. The Desert X has no place and sold it. 1st big jump i did all signal lights came off from the sockets and from that point suspension started squeaking. If you have only one bike, it very hip and good fun bike
Thank you for this comment! Appreciate it!
All valid cons.
Thank you!
The 890 is a great motorcycle, but the engine is a disaster, some of them work and others destroy the cylinder headd after 4,000 km.
We will see how long it holds up! I forget to
Mention that the DDX engine is also prone to dust at the internal belts. I’ve seen some destroyed engines at the Ducatis to. We need to remember only people with complaints will tell about it on the internet! Every bike has it flaws
@@droommotor I'd like to see them take the V4S route and put an engine in this bike with ground-up tuning for ADV, chain timing, standard valves. Could use that opportunity to address filter access, weight distribution and whatnot.
Yes. Mine is sat at the dealer with five other for three plus months waiting on parts. Cams is one of many issues I’ve had and the bike is going when I finally get it back. Love riding the KTM but it’s a liability/poor ownership experience. So while without a bike I got a DesertX. Ducati seems better built/higher quality, way better on road, only issues I’ve seen reported is warped disc which Ducati replace, KTM plain out refuse discs. Seen some cracked Ducati wheels that Ducati warranty, KTM don’t crack but dent as also soft and not a warranty item, KTM has many other faults. Haven’t had to pick the DesertX up yet but weight wise it feels same ball park as KTM when sat on it. Not done any off road yet on Ducati as waiting on back ordered bash plate / fitting crash bars so can’t comment on that. So far my only gripe is the air filter location is a pain.
@@SomeRandoInternetPoster You are 100% correct. I own both the 890 Rally and DX....100% correct
Ktm better quality then Ducati✊🔥🔥
goodluck with the cam failure on ya 890... id rather one bike for everything, keep it simple. Airfilter isn't an issue unless you ride Offroad all day everyday. The Ducati holds it weight low enough, not as low as a 890/901/turaeg but not a huge difference unless u do slow technical stuff Offroad. For off and inroad, the Ducati is the better choice.
The Duc is quite top heavy compared to the 890. Had no problem with the cams.
It's a road bike pretending to be a offroad adventure bike (desert x), the ktm 890 is a good bike but they hit and miss for being reliable
I hope it’s reliable for me!
@@droommotor there not alot of difference in weight, its the way the ktm carries the weight that makes the difference and the ktm is slower than the ddx and you going to complain about the way the ktm measures the fuel level in the tank 😆
@@Rust_valley_adventures there is a big difference in weight. The DDX weighs around 230 kg with the crashbars the ktm doesn’t need it and weighs around 217kg that’s with a standard battery with the lithium battery (which the desert x has standard) it weighs around 215kg. That’s a 15kg weight difference plus the fact it wears it down low
@@droommotor the ktm wet weight is 477 lbs ddx is 492 wet weight. I ride both bikes , I own ddx freind owns 890 adventure crash bars weigh a couple pounds, you need the new shape bashplate for the 2023/24 ktm as the stock bash plate is not the best, youll need pannier racks and you need a different end can as stock is very heavy ,plus you need the full tech pack for the quick shifter and other electronic tech plus the sat nav module with is extra on top of the tech pack $$$$
@@Rust_valley_adventures ktm doesn’t say anything about the wet weights I have put the bike on the scale (ktm) and came at 217 kg the desert x is 223 without crashbars which it really needs
Africa Twin
Heavy....
No bike is perfect
Absolutely agree!
Cause im not cool enough
Maybe!
too many effects and cuts and stuff we don't care about, too slow to get to the point
Thanks for the feedback luckily not everyone thinks the same