In recent years, Ducati has expanded its portfolio with bikes that tap new parts of the market for the brand. It has now continued that with another new offering, although this one is arguably one of the most exciting ones in recent memory: the all-new Ducati Desmo 450 EDS.
The Desmo 450 EDS is the Italian brand’s first-ever enduro motorcycle, ideal for both professionals and amateurs alike. It comes about a year after the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer unveiled its first-ever motocross bike.
The devil is in the details with Ducati’s newest creation. For starters, its aluminum frame is made of just 11 parts, which allowed for complete control of thickness without compromising weight or strength. The frame also uses the Desmo450 MX’s aluminum perimeter frame, but weighs 9kg less and has the “least possible number of welds.”
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Ducati has also given the Desmo450 EDS 49mm forks with 310mm of travel, designed in close collaboration with Showa to optimize its performance for extreme enduro riding. The Italian marque also worked together with Brembo to develop the two-piston floating front caliper and single rear caliper. These come with 260mm front and 240mm rear Galfer discs.
The Desmo450 EDS also gets an 8.5-liter fuel tank, larger than its MX sibling’s. The tank itself is transparent, which means chiecking the fuel level can be done easily at a glance.
The Desmo450 EDS is powered by a familiar 449.6cc single-cylinder engine with desmodromic timing. This has been redesigned to maximize torque and smoothen out power delivery for enduro riding.
The engine is built for slow sections, natural obstacles, and technical climbs, while also being capable of picking up speed at flat, open sections of a trail. There’s also an integrated electric fan that continuously cools the engine even at low speeds, ensuring consistent performance and maximum reliability even through grueling parts of enduro tracks.
One of the real highlights, however, is the Ducati Traction Control (DTC) system similar to that of the 450 MX but recalibrated for enduro use. It uses actual rear wheel spin to determine intervention, and thus, is able to properly indicate when traction control should or should not be activated. The DTC can also be deactivated with a light press on the clutch lever, and it’ll automatically re-engage shortly thereafter. DTC also allows for four levels of intervention to cater to different skill levels.
As with most Ducatis, the Desmo450 EDS can be accessorized with performance parts straight from the showroom, and can be packaged together with riding gear. It’ll hit markets outside Europe later this year, so there’s a chance we could see it in here in the future. What do you guys think, though? Would you like to see the all-new Ducati Desmo450 EDS on Philippine soil?
