There is a new kid on the block in the 450 enduro market in the form of an Italian stallion, and man, has it come out to play. The highly anticipated 2027 Ducati Desmo450 EDS is set to hit our Aussie shores in October, and I had the privilege of flying all the way over to Bologna, Italy, to throw a leg over the big red beast.
Built off the back of Ducati’s landmark 2026 Desmo 450 MX machine, the iconic brand has now switched gears into the enduro world and there is definitely a buzz surrounding what this bike is capable of doing within the off-road market. Can this bike, with its unique Desmodromic valve system, work amongst the trees as well as it does on the motocross track?
I, for one, really enjoyed the Desmo 450 MX machine with its smooth yet powerful engine, so I was eager to jump on the new Desmo 450 EDS. I was also very curious about how the EDS would feel in off-road settings because I have been a fan of Showa suspension in the past, and I had heard Ducati had spent significant time developing an enduro-specific handling package with Showa.
Another thing that intrigued me about the EDS launch was that I was fortunate enough to be part of the MX machine debut over here in Italy last year. It had me wondering just how far the Desmo 450 project had come in the space of 12 months. It’s no secret the Ducati MX program has had its fair share of trials and tribulations over the last year, as you’d expect with a brand-new motorcycle, but because of that I was eager to get on the 2027 bike and see just how far the project had progressed. Anyway, that’s enough yapping, let’s chat about the new bike!
ABOUT THE TRIP
First of all, these trips are gnarly. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an absolute privilege to be there, but holy shit, it’s a massive week. It’s over 55 hours of return travel for around three days of total ground time.
It’s also wintertime at home while Europe is in the middle of a heatwave. The whole time I’m there, my body clock doesn’t even comprehend what is going on and, as far as the riding goes, the ground in Italy is baked from the heat and about as hard-packed as you can possibly get. And you know what all that adds up to? A damn good time on a brand-new Ducati enduro weapon.
We actually had a big storm roll through the day before the launch, so we had a bit of moisture to play with before the heat took it all away. The Ducati team set up a cross test in a paddock that was off-camber and super hard-packed, as well as an enduro test that weaved its way in and out of the forest, and finally a small extreme loop. It was a good mixture of sections and I actually enjoyed it quite a lot.
WHAT’S NEW?
So, just how different is the Desmo 450 EDS from the 450 MX machine? Visually, you have the obvious things like the headlight, taillight, bigger tank and 18-inch rear wheel, but the real magic lies within.
The EDS motor features a 30 per cent heavier crankshaft, a heavier flywheel, slightly reduced compression, a 42mm throttle body down from 44mm on the MX, different cams, a longer exhaust system and a six-speed gearbox. All of this is designed to improve the smoothness and rideability of the engine.
We can’t forget Ducati’s slick electronics either, with two customisable riding modes featuring throttle response, launch control, engine braking control and traction control, with each of the four features having four different levels of custom tuning. Level one is the least intrusive and level four is the most. It is a very tuneable engine that allows any rider to get themselves as comfortable as possible.
Brembo brakes should have everything handled with ease, a bigger 8.5L clear tank makes life easy too, and Metzeler Six Days Extreme tyres are in charge of the grip.
So, how does it feel on the track?
Well, I started off on the cross test using the green map, which is the soft, stock trim map featuring the smoothest throttle response, the most traction control at level four, maximum engine braking and level two launch control. It’s a very mellow engine and, for me, while impressive, it just wasn’t enough to get me going. I found I struggled to drive out of the corners and was almost waiting for the bike to go faster. I think in super-wet conditions, or for someone who is learning, this map is a great place to start.
After a few laps, I pulled in and switched to the red map, which delivers a more aggressive throttle response, level two traction control, minimum engine braking and level one launch control. So, faster in theory, yeah?
Bang. Instantly, the smile came out and we were in business. Straight away the bike became freer revving, livelier throughout the rev range and I could ride it exactly how I wanted to. It was how I wanted a 450 enduro bike to feel: grunty off the bottom, strong through the mid-range and spicy up top. I was stoked. A big tick for the engine and I was ready to start getting some laps under my belt.
SHOWA ME THE MONEY
The Ducati engineers were very excited to show off the new Showa suspension package on the Desmo 450 EDS. The suspension has been one of the most time-consuming parts of the bike’s development because, incredibly, Showa doesn’t have a whole lot of experience in the world of enduro suspension.
Ducati holds its head up high with this package because it has worked side by side with the Japanese engineers to develop the best possible handling package for the bike. Many man-hours of development have gone into ensuring it is capable in off-road conditions while remaining rider friendly and, honestly, I feel like they’ve nailed it.
Taking care of the handling department is a 49mm Showa closed-cartridge fork with Kashima-coated outer tubes, paired with a 50mm Showa shock. Both the front and rear spring rates have been softened from the MX bike, dropping from 4.8 to 4.6, while softer, off-road-specific valving has also been developed. The shock, in particular, features a 1.5mm bypass hole in the piston to provide a more subtle feel.
We set the sag at 102mm and that was spot on for what I was chasing. With the track being a little awkward thanks to the elevation changes and hard-packed conditions, I was a little hesitant at first, but I quickly discovered that the more I trusted the front end, the better it worked.
The forks were very plush initially and gave me good confidence over the small chop. One of the biggest things I notice these days when I ride a bike is whether my hands get sore or not. If my hands start hurting just cruising around because the forks are too stiff, I’m simply not going to enjoy the ride, so it was nice to have that plush initial feel.
Then, once I started hitting the bigger, faster bumps, they offered great hold-up without ever feeling harsh. We had plenty of jumps and downhill sections that really loaded the front end, and honestly, I felt comfortable enough to get right over the front and trust it. Tipping into ruts was easy as pie too.
As for the shock, it produces incredible drive and the traction out of slippery corners is fantastic. The Desmo 450 EDS engine delivers a very linear power delivery and, paired with the progressive linkage design, I found myself gliding over acceleration bumps with relative ease.
Overall, the Showa suspension package is a very confidence-inspiring one and I think I’d happily race it straight out of the crate. Plush initially and with excellent hold-up through the stroke is a recipe for success, so full credit to Ducati and Showa for getting it right. It’s also versatile enough to remain rider friendly, so trail riding it all day wouldn’t be a problem.
Showa off
Damn, this 450 enduro market is getting spicy. With Ducati now joining the party, we have eight manufacturers fighting for the 450 crown, and it’s an awesome time to be a rider.
I am very impressed with the Desmo 450 EDS and I applaud Ducati for stepping out of its comfort zone and into this market. The engine is strong, incredibly usable and offers a huge amount of adjustability so riders can tailor it exactly how they want it.
The Showa suspension package provides a comfortable ride for riders of all abilities while still having the potential to be a genuine race package. Best of all, I believe the price of the Desmo 450 EDS will be extremely competitive in the Australian market.
If you’re someone who wants to stand out from the crowd and own a piece of exotic motorcycle history, then maybe the Ducati Desmo 450 EDS is exactly where you want to end up.
Massive thanks to Ducati for having me along for this launch. I had an absolute blast.
