Ducati Riding Experience
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure|October 2024
When I rode the Ducati DesertX to France last year, I did have a bit of an explore on some easy fire roads and gentle green lanes in the wilds of the Médoc area, but was left with the feeling that, had I the experience, the DesertX would have been capable of taking me along some more extreme trails to some even more exciting places. If only there was a way of finding out just how well the Italian adventure bike could cope with some more extreme terrain...
Dave Manning
Ducati Riding Experience

Fortunately, the Italian factory has expanded its Ducati Rider Experience scheme to now include a venue that focuses on the off-road abilities of various models within its range. Now, the new DRE is in the expansive Sweet Lamb complex in Wales, just off the glorious A44 between Llangurig and Aberystwyth, and some of you will be aware that other manufacturers also have off-road schools based in Wales, so you may think that Ducati is following others' lead. But this isn't really the case, as there has been an off-road DRE in operation for quite some time, albeit at a greater distance, it being in Italy...

So, with a desire to learn and a DRE an enjoyable five-hour ride away, off I went on a cross-country blast over to Sweet Lamb.

Aside from the DesertX, Ducati also has the DesertX Rally, the Multistrada V4S, and the Multistrada V4S Rally as off-road-capable adventure bikes, all of which are available at Sweet Lamb. And, while I was more focused on finding out just how good the DesertX is on the gritty trails of the Sweet Lamb complex, thanks to last year's French trip it's clear that the bigger V4 brother is similarly capable, and the Rally versions of each a further step up the off-road ladder to the basic models. There are also low-seat versions of the DesertX and Multistrada, for those who are shorter of leg. The centre's bikes have had their mirrors removed, and crash bars fitted, both for obvious reasons, while pillion pegs also have been taken off.

While the production bikes are equipped with Pirelli Scorpion STR (which, as I found out last year, are an astoundingly good road tyre on the DesertX), the DRE centre's machines wear the slightly more dirt-focused Pirelli Scorpion Rally. The tyres aren't the only Italian connection for the DRE centre, as it's also equipped with a machine to deliver the wonderful Lavazza coffee (which is still a family brand, despite being the third largest coffee suppliers globally). Molto bene all round.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 2024 من Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 2024 من Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من MOTORCYCLE SPORT & LEISURE مشاهدة الكل
Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin

Without panniers he was adventuring nowhere - so at least Bertie's got something sorted now

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
BMW R 12 nineT
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

BMW R 12 nineT

Chad gets a track day surprise when BMW's R 12 nineT turns out to be surprisingly fun on track

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX

After testing the Voge's abilities on a long ride, it was time to take it to the Cotswolds and see how it would manage on the rougher stuff

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
Portuguese Perambulations
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Portuguese Perambulations

Nearly over before it had begun, a brief workshop stint allows Spain and Portugal to be explored

time-read
8 mins  |
October 2024
Highway to Heaven
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Highway to Heaven

Three friends take on the challenge of riding the length of Canada, from Vancouver in the southwest to Inuvik in the north. The road is long, the conditions merciless, and wildfires are tearing through the country. To top it all off, the final leg of the journey is the ultimate test of gravel riding skills, nerves, and courage - it's the legendary Dempster Highway...

time-read
9 mins  |
October 2024
Battlaxes at the ready!
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Battlaxes at the ready!

We tend to take tyres for granted, never really looking at them in any detail, or at how they work, just hoping that they keep us shiny side up at all times. Even in the wet

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024
Ducati Riding Experience
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Ducati Riding Experience

When I rode the Ducati DesertX to France last year, I did have a bit of an explore on some easy fire roads and gentle green lanes in the wilds of the Médoc area, but was left with the feeling that, had I the experience, the DesertX would have been capable of taking me along some more extreme trails to some even more exciting places. If only there was a way of finding out just how well the Italian adventure bike could cope with some more extreme terrain...

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2024
Four pot flyer
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Four pot flyer

Many said that sports bikes, and particularly bikes in the traditional Supersports class that was populated by 600cc inline fours, were dead. Maybe they spoke too soon?...

time-read
8 mins  |
October 2024
Eastern adventurer
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

Eastern adventurer

With an increasing interest in smaller capacity adventure bikes, the market expands with a new entry

time-read
10 mins  |
October 2024
First Time Lucky?
Motorcycle Sport & Leisure

First Time Lucky?

It's ironic that the first all-new MV Agusta model to hit the marketplace right after Italy's No.1 trophy brand was acquired by Austrian giant Pierer Mobility, owner of off-road titans KTM, should be the company's first dual-purpose model of the modern era, powered by MV's all-new 931cc three-cylinder engine that's destined to form the basis of a whole series of new models in coming months and years.

time-read
9 mins  |
October 2024