Womp Comp went silly and we shot it. The Ninth 9ft & Single

 Ducati has built a name for its high-performance machines—race-bred, razor-sharp, and instantly recognisable by a signature dry clutch rattle and a twin-cylinder thump that’s music to anyone worth half their weight in grappa. But outside of the legendary Elefant—a Ducati-Cagiva hybrid from the early ‘90s—the brand hasn’t exactly been known for venturing off the blacktop. Enter the DesertX—a machine built to go deep into the dust.

Already a formidable rally-bred machine, Sydney’s Head of Workshop Jeremy took a simple approach to this one: refine, enhance, and elevate without overcooking the recipe.

Power? Sorted. The 937cc Testastretta L-twin puts out a punchy 110hp, so the only tweak was auditory—swapping the stock pipe for a Termignoni exhaust to give it the voice it deserves. Protection was next in line, with a heavy-duty alloy skid plate guarding the underbelly and a steel frame wrap keeping the tank out of harm’s way. Kellermann Dayron lights brighten the path ahead, while Motogadget mirrors reflect the dust trail left behind.

For the long hauls, Unit Garage’s Khali saddlebags and racks keep gear in check, and a set of knobby hoops make sure the DesertX grips where it should. The seat got a fresh layer of Alcantara and dotted vinyl, adding both comfort and style.

The final touches feature a  high front fender kit and tail tidy neaten up both ends, while an SKDA graphics kit pulls everything together into a package that looks as good as it rides.

Ready for wherever the road stops and the real fun begins.

Imagery: Cameron Rogers