Ducati Desmo450 EDS Launched, 54 HP Power Open via Racing Kit

JAKARTA - Ducati finally entered more seriously into the legal highway enduro segment. Citing a report from CycleWorld, Friday, June 12, the Italian manufacturer introduced the Ducati Desmo450 EDS 2027, a one-cylinder Desmo 450MX-based motorcycle with a desmodromic engine and additional performance package.

The Desmo450 EDS uses a 450 cc engine that has been recalibrated to be easier to control. The compression ratio is lowered from 13.5:1 to 12.9:1. Ducati also revised the camshaft, crankshaft, flywheel, and uses a 42 mm throttle body.

In standard condition, it claims 42 hp at 6,750 rpm and 33 lb-ft of torque at 5,750 rpm. However, if you use the Ducati Performance Racing Kit, the power increases to 54 hp. The kit sells for US$261.70, but only for the racetrack.

Here's the interesting part. Buyers pay US$12,995 for this bike, but the best power and electronic features are only open through an additional package.

The transmission is also changed for narrow or singletrack, a small off-road track that usually only one motorcycle can pass through. The first gear is made shorter, the sixth gear is longer, and the gear spacing is adjusted. The quickshifter goes standard, so riders can shift up without pulling the clutch.

The frame uses a Desmo 450MX base, but the engine mounting point is revised so that the rigidity is more appropriate. Ducati claims the weight of this aluminum frame is less than 9 kilograms.

The front suspension uses a fully adjustable Showa upside-down 49 mm, with a 12.2-inch wheelbase. In the back, there is a Showa monoshock with a 11.9-inch wheelbase. The front brakes use a Brembo two-piston caliper and a Galfer 260 mm disc. The rear brake uses a one-piston caliper and a 240 mm disc.

The weight of this motorcycle is claimed to be 264 pounds or about 120 kilograms without gasoline. That's about 35 pounds heavier than the MX version because there are highway legal devices, such as lights and other supporting equipment.

To face the enduro terrain, Ducati replaced a number of magnesium covers on the MX version with more impact-resistant aluminum. Hand guards, engine guards, radiator fans, and LED lights are standard equipment.

According to CycleWorld, the new Desmo450 EDS full electronic feature is only active after the Racing Kit is installed. The package opens the engine mode, four levels of traction control, launch control, and engine braking control. Traction control helps reduce tire slip, while launch control helps start more aggressively during races.

The Ducati X-Link app is used to manage features and monitor maintenance. Ducati says this system can read the engine's workload directly, then adjust the service schedule.

"Mid" service includes the top of the engine, pistons, and valve clearance inspection. "Full" service means dismantling the engine thoroughly. Ducati estimates that Mid service is carried out at 90-120 hours of use, while Full service is at 180-240 hours.

For daily riders, that number sounds short. However, the Desmo450 EDS is closer to an enduro racing bike that is equipped with highway facilities, not a casual trail bike.

Ducati's reason for not immediately installing all the features on the standard version is related to homologation, which is a technical requirement for vehicles to be used on public roads. Richard Kenton, Ducati's North American Technical Director, said the racing electronic system in the Racing Kit is not allowed in a legal highway configuration due to local emission regulations.

With this strategy, Ducati sells just one model for two types of buyers: recreational riders and competition users. The relatively cheap price of the Racing Kit also shows that Ducati wants to seriously enter the enduro segment, an area that has not been its main home.

The Ducati Desmo450 EDS 2027 will be available at select dealers in the United States starting August 2026.

The Ducati Desmo450 EDS looks interesting because it brings racing technology to a street legal enduro motorcycle. However, prospective buyers need to know that its best power and electronic features are only unlocked through the Racing Kit which is only for the track.