2024 MV Agusta Enduro Veloce vs Ducati DesertX: The Italian ADV Comparison

• 

  MV Agusta Enduro Veloce

  After a long wait, MV Agusta’s proper adventure bike is finally out. The Enduro Veloce is heavily based on the Lucky Explorer 9.5 concept and comes armed with a new 931cc engine. Also part of the package is a set of class-leading rider aids, high-spec suspension, Excel wheels, and Brembo Stylema brakes.

  Pros

  • Premium features
  • New triple-cylinder engine

• 

  Ducati DesertX

  The DesertX is Ducati’s only off-road-spec adventure bike. It is based around the proven 937cc twin-cylinder powerhouse, albeit with loads of off-road-ready components elsewhere. In typical Ducati fashion, there’s no shortage of modern-day rider aids to help you stay upright when the traction is low.

  Pros

  • Ducati’s only off-road-spec ADV
  • Proven 937cc engine
  • Likable electronic aids

  Cons

  • No updates since inception

After what seems like an eternity, MV Agusta has finally entered the adventure bike segment for 2024. Its weapon of choice is the new Enduro Veloce–essentially a renamed production version of the Lucky Explorer 9.5 concept we’ve repeatedly seen in the last couple of years. And there’s plenty to like here, whether it’s the off-road-biased underpinnings, the plethora of electronic gizmos in typical Agusta fashion, or the all-new triple-cylinder mill.

That being said, the 900-1000cc off-road ADV segment already has a popular Italian heavyweight: the Ducati DesertX. Ever since its arrival, the DesertX has continuously been one of the top ADVs in the segment. It even became the third highest-selling bike for Ducati in the first months of 2023.

Considering this, it’s only fair to wonder how the Enduro Veloce matches up against the DesertX. After all, both come from celebrated Italian companies, have similar cubic capacities, and compete for the same audience in the premium middleweight segment. Lucky for you, that’s precisely what we’re talking about here by pitting the Enduro Veloce against the DesertX in an in-depth comparo.

Design And Technology

If you loved the Lucky Explorer 9.5 concept bike, there’s a high chance you’ll have similar feelings for the Enduro Veloce. That’s because the latter takes heavy inspiration from the former. So you get unique dual-pod lights up top, flanked by a large windscreen and sporty fender. Behind this lies a large set of fairings that help suck in air and channel it to the radiator. The fairings neatly integrate into a large, blacked-out bash plate. Same goes for the tail end, as you get a huge up-swept exhaust and luggage rack.

In contrast, Ducati has made its adventure bike a little simpler than MV. The dual-pod LED lamps appear more conventional (and retro) while the windscreen is visibly shorter here. The same can be said for the bodywork, be it the quarter fairings, slim fender, or the compact bash plate. Even the DesertX’s exhaust appears quite compact, plus there’s no luggage rack at the rear. So in a way, the Enduro Veloce seems like the more aesthetically pleasing offering between the two. No, we’re not saying the DesertX looks bad, but just that the Enduro will turn more heads.

The livery only helps cement the decision, meanwhile. MV wraps its adventure bike in a dual-tone Rosso Ago Argento Ago (red-silver) colorway, topped with a matching dual-tone saddle. Whereas, Ducati offers its DesertX in a white-red option with a simple black saddle. Sure, there’s also the Audi-inspired RR22 livery as well, but don’t forget that comes in at a higher price.

Next, there’s the tech. And to no one’s surprise, both bikes are armed to the teeth here. A TFT instrument cluster, electronic rider aids, tubeless spoke wheels, app connectivity, and cruise control are all common between the two. But there are some minor differences. Check them in the table below.

Engine Performance And Capability

The MV Agusta Enduro Veloce debuts an all-new 931cc, triple-cylinder powerhouse. Whereas, the DesertX boasts Ducati’s celebrated (and proven) 937cc, Testastretta L-twin engine. Although the capacity difference is just six, both bikes have their own strengths and weaknesses due to the poles apart layouts.

Powertrain Comparison

Being a triple-cylinder, the Enduro Veloce produces 124 horsepower and 75 pound-feet–a sizable 14 horsepower and 7 pound-feet up from the twin-cylinder Ducati. This should mean a stronger acceleration and higher top speed for the former. MV claims it can reach 62mph in just 3.7 seconds while maxing out at 150 miles per hour. The DesertX dies out at ~140 miles per hour, in comparison.

But it’s not a clean sweep. You see, the twin-cylinder nature helps the DesertX produce its peak torque and horsepower at lower RPMs than the Enduro. This corresponds to better tractability in the city, on the freeway, and, of course, while sliding in the trails. Similarly, the DesertX has the same claimed efficiency as the Enduro Veloce. So with its slightly bigger tank, you should be able to ride for longer in one tank. The same trend can also be seen in the power-to-weight ratio, given the sizable weight difference.

Ride And Handling

Coming to underpinnings, the Enduro Veloce is built around a double-beam steel chassis, combined with a bolt-on trellis subframe. It relies on 48 mm Sachs USD forks and a Sachs monoshock, both fully adjustable with 8.27 inches of travel. On the flipside, the DesertX hides a steel trellis chassis and subframe. They suspend on 46 mm KYB USD forks and a KYB monoshock, both fully adjustable with 9.06 and 8.66 inches of travel, respectively.

This extra travel helps the DesertX also boast a higher ground clearance of 9.84 inches against the Veloce’s 9.05 inches. It comes at the cost of saddle height, though, as the MV’s seat height is an inch lower than its Italian rival. Both bikes are closely matched in other areas, as you can see below.

Price And Warranty

This is where the DesertX lands its biggest punch. It sells for $17,995–a whopping $5,000 less than the new Enduro Veloce! That’s a huge price difference, large enough to make anyone look past any of the DesertX’s setbacks against the Enduro Veloce. The fact that the X doesn’t have any major negatives only makes the decision process easier here. After all, with the extra $5k, you can invest in performance mods, off-road courses, crash protection, and the list goes on.

That said, the Enduro Veloce is arguably one of the most exciting products out of Varese in a long time. It checks all the right boxes, and if you have that kind of cash, there’s no denying you’ll get a rather premium product. Given our middle-class status, we’d recommend you get that Ducati and save the hard-earned cash for other things. After all, you’re not missing out on a whole lot.

All tables sourced from Ducati and MV Agusta