I have the lowering kit on mine and works fine. The issue with the side stand IMHO, is as much that the foot sits too close to the bike when on the floor than the length of it as such.
So the lowering kit has been fitted, and I'm taking the bike down to GT in Plymouth for servicing and the rear header recall on Monday https://www.ducatiforum.co.uk/threads/rear-header-recall.104825/. I've spent today packing my luggage so I'll take the opportunity to load the bike up and see how she behaves. Next jobs are to fit my tyres for the first half of the trip (Mitas Enduro Trail+), set-up the suspension, book the shipping with https://www.motofreight.com/ and dive-in to the nightmare of sorting my Chinese visa. Aside from all that it looks like we'll be setting our place up for Air B&B and moving into an new house in February so I'll be doing whatever I can on that front before I head-off to Bangkok and leave MrsH in the lurch to do the bulk of it all :-/
I've booked-up my ferry crossing from Split to Ancona so that I can spend a few days at WDW, and planned my three day route back to Blighty from Riccione to Caen for the ferry, stopping off overnight at Briançon and Bourges on the way.
This is going to be a belter of a trip! Please be sure to keep us all updated along the way, wherever possible.
They arrived from China today. All tax and duty included in the price, just as promised by AliExpress. They appear well made, and for just £21 including shipping they are exceptional value particularly if they are a straight bolt-on as suggested by the review on FB. If I have time I’m going to fit them for the trip and save the oem ones for spares.
Lots happening today ... my tyres just arrived as well. Mitas Enduro Trail+ .... good solid 50/50s, but they’ll need to be changed during the trip as they won’t last all the way. There’s not much choice or availability of tyres for big adventure bikes along the route, so a pre-order of Michelin Anneke Adventures is being made for collection from the Triumph dealer in Kunming as we pass through Yunnan province in China. They are slightly more road-biased than the Mitas Enduro Trail+, so they’ll suit the second half of the trip a bit more. They’ll be carried by the support truck and fitted to the bikes as we progress … though it will probably have to be earlier than actually needed because some of the borders beyond China can’t be crossed with a van full of tyres!
Please do share as much as you can about the trip both before, during and after. It looks to be a proper dream ride...I unfortunately don't see myself ever affording to pay for a service through GlobeBusters or other, but before I shuffle off my mortal coil I'm going to sort some kind of world trip of my own organisation
I understand you will be arriving from Bangkok, which I find hard to wrap my mind around. That being said… Will you be riding as fast as possible through France (ie motorway from Lyon to Clermont, etc.) to get home or would you consider some much nicer options from Lyon to Nevers, which I could gladly guide you through ? What are your tentative planned dates in July for this portion?
Make sure the clutch lever releases and engages the clutch fully..it's a known issue with aftermarket levers on the DDX.
So there you go ... filing here for future reference ... and hoping I won't need it ;-) Issues with aftermarket clutch levers not properly engaging or releasing (causing clutch drag or slipping) are a known issue on the Ducati DesertX and other modern Ducati hydraulic clutch systems. This is primarily caused by the geometry of aftermarket levers failing to properly actuate the hydraulic master cylinder, often leaving the clutch partially engaged or disengaged, or by interfering with the safety/quickshifter switch. Key Causes for DesertX Aftermarket Clutch Issues: Improper Plunger Interaction: Aftermarket levers (such as ASV) may not interface correctly with the master cylinder piston, requiring specific, included, or adjusted plunger rods to prevent the clutch from slipping or not fully engaging. Safety Switch Interference: The DesertX has a microswitch under the lever that tells the bike the clutch is fully released. Aftermarket levers often fail to depress this switch, which can lead to issues with the quickshifter, stalling, or poor clutch behavior. Lack of Free Play/Adjustment: If the lever does not allow for proper free play, it can behave as if the clutch is constantly being pulled slightly, leading to drag (not fully releasing) or, if too tight, slippage. Improper Installation: The tiny, delicate neutral switch connector/holder in the perch can get bent or misaligned during installation, causing the clutch to not engage properly. Solutions and Tips: Use Specific Plungers: If installing aftermarket levers, ensure you are using the specific plunger rod supplied with the lever, as the stock one might not fit correctly. Check the Microswitch: Ensure the lever properly engages the little switch on the underside that tells the bike when the clutch is released. Adjust at the Perch/Engine: If the clutch does not fully disengage (dragging), check the hydraulic fluid and ensure the lever is properly adjusted for correct clearance. Swap Back to Stock: If issues persist, swapping back to the OEM lever is often the quickest way to confirm if the aftermarket lever is the fault. Note: Some users have noted that the 2022+ DesertX, like other modern Ducatis, requires very precise, or even no, slack at the lever, making aftermarket, non-adjustable levers problematic.
