Sahara Bound: Ducati Desert Sled “2118”

Africa Ready: Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled from De Angelis Elaborazioni…  

If you haven’t heard yet, the 2027 Dakar Rally is returning to Europe (Portugal) and Africa (Morocco) after many years in Saudi Arabia and South America. For those of us who revere the Paris-Dakar Rally days of old, it’s heady news — the world’s most grueling off-road rally is returning much closer to its old stomping grounds.  

A hardcore subset of enthusiasts, however, have continued traveling the old rally routes, often on vintage bikes or retro scramblers — machines that capture the adventurous character and soul of the trans-African rallies of yesteryear. Each year, 25 riders from across the globe gather for La Ruta Del Nabab, a non-proift journey across 1400 kilometers of the Moroccan Sahara:

“La Ruta Del Nabab is a Saharan Desert ride where values like beauty, pure emotion, friendship, style, art, music, freedom, adrenaline, and an overall adventurous spirit are the only things that matter.”

Our old buddy Giorgio De Angelis of De Angelis Elaborazioni is a veteran of the ride. In fact, we recently featured his 2006 BMW HP2 Scrambler built for La Ruta. 

Sahara Ready: BMW HP2 Enduro “Cassiopeia”

Now Giorgio is back with another “Ruta-ready” build, his Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled “2118.” As some of you likely know, the standard Ducati Scrambler is no off-roader, but the Desert Sled is another beast altogether. It features long-travel suspension, a gusseted frame, longer reinforced swingarm, higher ground clearance, stronger yokes, 19/17-inch spoked wheels, and other upgrades. 

Giorgio took his Desert Sled to the next level, beefing it up for the unforgiving terrain of African desert routes while personalizing the bike along the way. Much effort was also put into making the bike easier to maintain in the sandy conditions of the event.

The “2118” nickname refers to the bike’s wheelset, as Giorgio swapped out the stock 19/17-inch configuration for a set of Excel 21/18-inch wheels like the kind that come standard on true enduro bikes.

“The 21-inch front wheel helps the motorcycle deal with obstacles and uneven terrain, while the 18-inch rear wheel allows the use of specialist enduro tyres better suited to the configuration I had in mind.”

Giorgio gives us the full story below, but other highlights include Andreani fork cartridge inserts, an Öhlins rear shock, Earle Motors swingarm extension, steering damper, UpMap ECU tuner, high-mount exhaust with titanium LeoVince silencer, quick-release air filter housing with BMC race filter, oversized aluminum oil cooler, powder-coated Givi engine protection kit, custom seat designed to work with the Kompo-Tech number-plate kit, LED headlight, and more.

Giorgio says his Desert Sled 2118 isn’t a single transformation, but rather an evolution born of experience, testing, and new ideas.

“Every adventure has left something behind: a need to address, a detail to improve, a solution to experiment with. Portugal and Africa are where this philosophy finds its truest expression. Different terrain, unpredictable conditions and routes capable of challenging even experienced riders and well-prepared motorcycles. These are precisely the environments in which a build must prove its worth: not just on paper, but mile after mile.”

Below, Giorgio De Angelis gives us the full story on the build with many more details. And we’ll be wishing him and his fellow riders a safe and unforgettable La Ruta Del Nabab later this month!

In the Builder’s Words…

 

Some motorcycles are built to be admired. Others are built to be put to the test. My Ducati Desert Sled 2118 definitely belongs to the second category. This motorcycle was prepared to tackle the toughest trails in Portugal and Africa, ready to take on the adventures of La Ruta del Nabab. Places where asphalt gives way to dirt, roads turn into trails, sand tests your traction, and every obstacle becomes a challenge for both rider and machine.

This Ducati has undergone an extensive transformation, with modifications to practically every aspect of its original configuration. This is not simply an aesthetic customization, but a project developed over time through real-world experience, lessons learned on the trail, and a constant search for solutions to adapt the bike to my own way of experiencing adventure.

Throughout its various expeditions, the motorcycle has changed liveries, colours and details. Every adventure has brought new ideas, modifications and improvements. Some changes were made to refine its technical setup, while others were designed to make the bike more practical to use and maintain far from home.

One thing, however, has always remained unchanged: its soul.

2118: Two Numbers, One Technical Choice

The name 2118 comes from replacing the original wheels with Excel rims measuring 21 inches at the front and 18 inches at the rear. This configuration, traditionally associated with enduro motorcycles, was chosen to adapt the Desert Sled to more demanding off-road terrain, from rocky trails and rough tracks to sandy ground and African desert routes.

The 21-inch front wheel helps the motorcycle deal with obstacles and uneven terrain, while the 18-inch rear wheel allows the use of specialist enduro tyres better suited to the configuration I had in mind.

But the work on the chassis did not stop at the wheels. I also installed a rear swingarm extension kit manufactured by Earle Motors, an American company. This modification changes the motorcycle’s geometry and forms part of the overall transformation, designed to adapt the Desert Sled to the demands of off-road riding and more challenging adventures.

The goal was not simply to replace a few components, but to create a coherent setup capable of meeting the demands of a motorcycle intended to travel across a wide variety of terrain. That is where the name 2118 comes from: two numbers that immediately tell an important part of the story behind its transformation.

Engine, Exhaust, Intake and Cooling

The engine department has also been customised to suit the motorcycle’s configuration and the demands of long-distance adventures. I installed a high-mounted complete exhaust system with a titanium LeoVince silencer, a setup that gives the Desert Sled a more stripped-back, aggressive appearance and its distinctive sound.

Engine electronics are managed by an UpMap ECU tuning system, used to adjust the engine calibration to suit the configuration adopted. Another important modification involved the intake system. I modified the air filter housing, introducing quick-release fasteners to make access to the filter and cleaning much faster and easier.

Anyone familiar with the Ducati Desert Sled knows how awkward it can be to work on the original system. During off-road adventures, especially in dusty and sandy environments, regularly checking and cleaning the air filter becomes essential.

That is why I decided to solve one of the most frustrating practical issues with the original setup: making maintenance more straightforward, reducing the time needed to access the filter and allowing servicing to be carried out more easily in the field. To complete the work, I installed a BMC racing air filter, chosen for its performance-oriented design and to complement the customised intake system.

Particular attention was also given to cooling, with the installation of an oversized aluminium oil cooler, custom-made by RC Radiators.

During demanding adventures, the motorcycle can be exposed to conditions very different from normal road use: high temperatures, long periods at low speeds, difficult terrain and continuous mechanical stress. In these circumstances, every detail matters. It is not enough to think about performance alone; heat management, protection of exposed components and the ability to carry out maintenance quickly when far from a workshop must also be considered.

Because an adventure motorcycle must be prepared to be maintained in the field, when dust is everywhere and there are still many miles left to cover.

To protect the underside of the engine from impacts and the hazards of off-road riding, I also fitted a Givi engine protection kit, subsequently finished with a black powder coating.

This provides an additional layer of protection for a motorcycle designed to tackle rocks, uneven ground and demanding sections, while also complementing the project’s clean, aggressive appearance.

Chassis and Suspension

The chassis has been significantly revised to adapt the motorcycle to its new purpose. At the rear, the bike runs an Öhlins shock absorber, while the front suspension features Andreani cartridge inserts, subsequently modified to increase suspension extension. Together with the new wheel configuration and the extended rear swingarm, these modifications help define a chassis setup that differs substantially from the original.

I also added a steering damper and a high-end tapered aluminium handlebar, components chosen to improve control and handling when the terrain becomes rough and the forces acting on the motorcycle increase.

The braking system has been completed with black Frentubo brake lines manufactured using aerospace-derived materials, selected for their build quality and their integration into the project’s technical setup.

The configuration is completed by enduro tyres, essential for tackling dirt tracks, rocky terrain, sand and sections where traction and control are crucial. Every component was selected as part of an overall transformation, with the aim of adapting the Desert Sled to more demanding use than originally intended.

Styling: A Motorcycle That Changes Without Losing Its Soul

The motorcycle’s appearance has also been completely reworked, following a clear philosophy: functionality, character and identity. At the rear, I installed a Kompo-Tech fibreglass rear number-plate kit, giving the bike a cleaner, more purposeful profile inspired by rally and enduro competition motorcycles.

I also fitted an LED headlight, chosen to meet the needs of adventures and expeditions, when proper lighting becomes important for continuing to ride in less favourable conditions.

The seat was also modified to integrate with the new number panels, featuring an Alcantara upholstery finish that adds a distinctive, handcrafted touch to the project.

And then, at the rear, there is one detail that absolutely cannot be missing: the La Ruta del Nabab flag. It is more than just a decorative feature. It represents the adventures that inspired this project, the miles already covered and those still waiting to be ridden. It is a distinctive symbol connecting this motorcycle to the expeditions for which it was prepared and to the philosophy behind every modification.

Over time, the Desert Sled has worn several different colour schemes. Each livery has represented a stage in the project, a new adventure or simply the desire for a fresh look.

The motorcycle can change its appearance, but its identity remains recognisable. Styling matters, but it has never been the ultimate goal of this project: every choice must have a purpose within the overall transformation.

A Motorcycle Built Through Adventure

The Desert Sled 2118 is not the result of a transformation completed all at once. It is a project that has grown over time through modifications, testing, experience, and ideas born from the desire to take this motorcycle a little further every time. Every adventure has left something behind: a need to address, a detail to improve, a solution to experiment with.

Portugal and Africa are where this philosophy finds its truest expression. Different terrain, unpredictable conditions and routes capable of challenging even experienced riders and well-prepared motorcycles. These are precisely the environments in which a build must prove its worth: not just on paper, but mile after mile.

An adventure motorcycle needs a solid technical foundation, but it must also be practical, manageable and suited to the conditions in which it will be used. That is why I have paid attention not only to the chassis and engine, but also to details that might seem secondary, such as being able to clean the air filter quickly or protect the underside of the engine. When you are far from home, these are often the very details that make the difference.

This Is Not a Bike for the Café

Let’s make one thing clear: this is not a bike for posing outside a café. It was not built to sit parked outside a bar, spotless and polished, waiting for someone to stop and admire it. This motorcycle was built to get dirty. To tackle the rocky trails of Portugal, cross rivers, find traction in the sand, climb dunes and keep moving when the going gets tough. It was built to experience dust, mud, heat, vibration and all the situations in which a motorcycle is truly put to the test.

Because talking about adventure is easy. Living it is something else entirely. It means accepting fatigue, adapting to the terrain, dealing with unexpected problems and learning to understand every limit: the motorcycle’s and, above all, the rider’s. This is the spirit I look for in my adventures and in every motorcycle project: building something with a clear identity that is meant to be ridden, not simply displayed.

La Ruta del Nabab embodies this philosophy perfectly: exploring, experimenting, testing yourself and continuing to search for new horizons. The Desert Sled 2118 is the result of this vision. A Ducati that has left much of its original configuration behind to follow its own path, shaped by my ideas and the experience accumulated over time.

It is not an original Desert Sled. It was never meant to be. It is my interpretation of an adventure motorcycle, a custom build that continues to evolve and still has plenty of roads, dirt and sand ahead of it. Because some motorcycles tell their story through the miles they have travelled. Others begin telling their story through the way they are built. And this one still has many adventures ahead.

21 inches up front. 18 inches at the rear. And no intention of stopping where the asphalt ends.

More Photos

Follow the Builder

Giorgio de Angelis : @deangelis_gio
La Ruta del Nabab: @larutadelnabab

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