2027 Ducati Desmo450 EDS Review – First Ride

Photos by Gregor Halenda. Photos by Gregor Halenda.

If Ducati and dirtbikes still seem weird to you, that means you simply aren't looking far enough into the Italian company's past. Although the brand is famous for its long heritage of superbikes and sportbikes, it has dabbled in the dirt. In the late 1950s and '60s and into the early '70s, Ducati built knobby-shod machines for competition. Perhaps the most notable ancestor of its latest family of Desmo dirt machines is the 1971 desmo-Single powered 450 R/T, a bike built specifically to tackle that year's ISDT competition.

This is Ducati's first attempt at a hardcore dual-sport machine, based on its Desmo450 MX and EDX off-road models. The Desmo450 EDS is road-legal in all 50 US states and ready to hit the trail out of the box.

Can't access ride modes and maintain road legality

Karoo 4 tires don't belong on this bike

Of course in recent decades, Ducati has fully embraced the adventure segment, but that was just a precursor to this full-on commitment to dirt. Flash forward to 2026, and the debut of Ducati's Desmo450 MX, and it was clear from the start that this wasn't going to be a one-off effort with a single model. Hot on that bike's tail – which won the 2024 Italian Prestige MX Championship in its first attempt – is a full family of hardcore off-road machines, including the Desmo450 MX Factory, Desmo250 MX, Desmo450 EDX enduro, and Desmo450 SM supermoto, plus the Desmo450 EDS street-legal dual-sport that we just had the opportunity to ride in the mountains surrounding Mammoth Lakes, California.

Street legality is primarily what differentiates a dual-sport from an off-road only machine. And we're not just talking about turn signals and a license plate. Unlike the MX and EDX machines that are considered closed-course competition models, the EDS has to meet emissions regulations in a lot of the world. In order to accomplish that, Ducati couldn't just utilize an identical but retuned version of the MX/EDX engine.

2027 ducati desmo450 eds review first rideFor this application, the EDS has some significant differences. It uses the same 96 x 62.1mm bore and stroke dimensions as the other models with 449.6ccs of displacement, but utilizes a different piston that delivers a 12.9:1 compression ratio compared to the MX's 13.5:1. A smaller 42mm Mikuni throttle body (44mm on the MX/EDX), and cams with reduced lift on both the intake and exhaust side, favor low-end torque instead of top-end power. The crankshaft has a flywheel with 29.5-percent more inertia that also reduces the likelihood of stalling or flameouts. In standard form (we'll explain more in a minute) the bike makes a claimed 42 horsepower at 6,750 rpm and 33 lb-ft of peak torque at 5,750 rpm. The exhaust utilizes a catalyzer- and O2-sensor-equipped stainless-steel header that dumps into an aluminum silencer with a spark arrestor. The EDS also features larger radiators for improved cooling in addition to a standard thermostatically controlled fan.

The last major difference compared to the MX/EDX is the use of a six-speed gearbox instead of a five-speed unit. Compared to those other models, the EDS gets a shorter 1st gear, while its 2nd gear is identical to the MX's 1st, and the added 6th cog is significantly taller for smooth and relaxed on-road performance.

2027 ducati desmo450 eds review first rideWhat separates the Ducati engine from its European and Japanese rivals is the use of a desmodromic cylinder head. If you are unfamiliar with the desmodromic system that Ducati has been famous for, you have to look back to the 1950s when Fabio Taglioni joined the company and perfected the system's use on a motorcycle engine. In short, a desmo valvetrain forgoes the use of traditional springs to close the valves and instead uses cam-lobe actuated finger followers to open the valve and a mated half-moon shaped cam lobe that actuates an L-shaped and forked closing lever to close it. Ducati claims that the system can open the valve 30-percent faster giving the engine improved efficiency and therefore a broader torque curve. Like Ducati's modern desmo superbike engines, the Desmo450 engines utilize chain-driven cams with a hydraulic tensioner to operate the cams instead of the fiber-reinforced rubber belts of the past. Intake valves are made of titanium while the exhaust valves are hollow steel units filled with sodium for quick heat exchange.

On the housekeeping side of things, Ducati lists maintenance intervals in two different formats. On its website it lists oil and filter changes every 1,500 miles, valve clearance checks at 3,000, and a main engine service (which includes replacing the piston) at 7,000. However if you utilize Ducati's X-Link app with its Predictive maintenance algorithms, it can give the user more precise intervals based on how the motorcycle is actually being ridden. If you ride the bike less aggressively in terms of how you rev the engine, it takes that into account and extends the intervals, but if you like to bang the engine off the rev-limiter like Justin Barcia, expect more frequent maintenance. The app recommends maintenance based on hours, like most other off-road only machines.

2027 ducati desmo450 eds review first rideOur route for the day may not have sounded like a big one at 55 miles in total, but what it lacked in length it made up for in sand and whoops. If there is a positive spin on miles of sand whoops, it really tells you a lot about an engine's performance. And just to add another factor into the equation, most of the ride took place around 8,000 feet of elevation.

Like almost every good dual-sport ride, ours included some asphalt transfer sections to get to the dirt. Pulling out of the hotel and onto the road, the EDS acts forgiving, smooth and mellow, a lot more like a true dual-sport than a fire-breathing competition model. In this context that's a good thing. Around town, that lower 1st gear makes leaving stops easy without having to rev the engine too much. Snicking up through the gearbox on the road, you quickly find yourself in that tall and relaxed 6th gear. At normal speeds, the engine never feels stressed, while holding it wide open reveals that an indicated 100 mph is no problem, and doesn't feel particularly hectic. Not bad for a 450cc dual-sport at altitude.

2027 ducati desmo450 eds review first rideInto the dirt, or in this case sand, is where the EDS engine really shines. Throughout the day we put the engine to the test with long loamy hillclimbs, deep sand sections, and some fast flats in top gear. In slower and more technical sections 2nd and 3rd gears prove to be the bike's happy place. Bottom-end torque delivery is really good and encourages you to use a taller gear to get traction. The engine's inertia is excellent and allows it to be lugged down low without issue. During our ride, the bike never flamed out or stalled a single time, which is something we've become accustomed to on competition off-road four-strokes. On faster sections of trail 4th and 5th gear are ideal, with power always on tap while the engine sits in the meat of its torque curve. We did thread our way through some fun singletrack late in the day, and the engine is just as happy there. Throttle response and fueling while dodging trees, roots, and rocks is excellent, and the engine always seems to have a bottomless supply of torque to scoop up, exactly what you want riding in the woods.

2027 ducati desmo450 eds review first rideOne of the most interesting aspects of Ducati's EDS is the electronics package. The EDS has a suite of rider aids hidden away inside its ECU, which isn't too unusual when you look at the offerings from KTM, BMW and others that make you pay to play if you want the best features and modes. However, in the case of Ducati and the EDS, if you want to unlock the two custom ride modes, two levels of throttle response, three levels of launch control, two levels of engine brake control, four levels of traction control, and the up-only quickshifter, you have to purchase one of three "racing kits." The hitch here is that the racing kits make the bike "closed course use only" and aren't homologated for road use in the US.

It's a unique situation, that we can't remember seeing from another brand, in that the base DP0 kit ($261.70) raises power output by 9.2 hp and 3.2 pound-feet of torque, while also making the bike exceed emissions parameters. But as long as you understand the consequences, you might as well go all in with either the DP1 kit ($1,268.35) with a Akrapovič silencer that adds 11.3 hp/3.1 lb.-ft. of torque and reduces weight by 4.8 pounds, or get the DP2 kit ($2,113.35) with a full titanium Akrapovič system that saves a whopping 20.7 pounds, and adds 12.4 hp/3.2 lb.-ft. of torque.

2027 ducati desmo450 eds review first rideUnfortunately, we didn't get a chance to try any of these features, or experience what a 54-hp, 20-pound lighter bike could perform like, as our ride was a true dual-sport ride including California roads. But we do have a strong imagination, and can easily predict the EDS would be a rocketship as equipped.

If the Desmo450 EDS strays from the norm in the engine department, it's a lot more conventional when it comes to the chassis. At its core is an aluminum perimeter frame that looks more akin to its Japanese and Anglo competitors than those from the Austrian trio. Suspension is from Showa, with a fully adjustable 49mm closed-cartridge fork with 12.2 inches of travel, and a linked and fully adjustable shock with 11.8 inches of travel. Seat height is set at 38.2 inches, which is a full inch taller than a Honda CRF450L, while those two machines share very similar wheelbases (58.8 EDS vs 58.9 CRF), fully fueled weights within 13 pounds (276 pounds EDS vs 289 CRF), almost identical suspension travel, and similar front-end geometry (the EDS is slightly sharper with 27.3° of rake and 4.6 in. of trail).

2027 ducati desmo450 eds review first rideThe wheels are Takasago Excel rims in 21-inch front and 18-inch rear sizes with polished hubs and are mounted with Metzeler Karoo 4 tires in 90/90-21 and 140/80-18 sizes respectively. A Brembo twin-piston caliper pinches a 260mm Galfer wave rotor in the front, while a single-piston caliper and 240mm disc by the same brands reside at the rear. The cockpit features an oversize handlebar on which are mounted mirrors that can be folded down for off-road riding, and included handguards. The lower frame comes with a standard skidplate, while the engine and frame spars have protective guards, as well.

The ergonomics are instantly familiar once settled into the cockpit. The seat is quite tall, even for this 5-foot, 11-inch rider, and very, very firm with an aggressive cover material. Riders planning on longer days in the saddle will likely want a softer and more forgiving aftermarket seat. The riding position seated or standing is ideal for off-road riding, putting the rider in a commanding attack position. On the road – other than the seat – it's quite relaxed with good leg room and a comfortable reach to the handlebar. The 2.2 gallon fuel tank protrudes a bit above the seat but still allows the rider to slide pretty far forward when wanted. The kickstand is a sprung Euro-style unit that snaps up when unweighted. Beware when moving the bike around, and enjoy the added effort of deployment.

2027 ducati desmo450 eds review first rideCompared to some of its rivals – the Honda in particular – the Desmo450 EDS feels firm and controlled off-road, but never harsh. Once we headed off the asphalt and onto the dirt, the bike proved to be closer to a competition off-road machine than a marshmellowy dual-sport. The Showa suspension with standard settings was very good. Our single biggest complaint about the bike, has nothing to do with the bike or suspension but everything to do with the tires. The Metzeler Karoo 4 adventure tires really have no place on this machine, unless you plan on only riding on asphalt and gravel roads. As mentioned, a large portion of our ride was in sand and silt, and the Karoos never felt like they had a chance of getting traction. The Metzeler 6 Days Extreme that comes on the EDS in other markets would have been a way better choice for our ride, and we assume that most US buyers will change out the tires almost as soon as they take delivery.

2027 ducati desmo450 eds review first rideWhile a lot of our ride was navigating the seesaw of whoops, we also got a chance to rip some tight, wooded singletrack where the EDS felt agile and composed allowing a quick pace while eating up rocks and roots without unwanted deflection or getting knocked off the intended line. The same can be said of its high-speed composure. Both on 5th- and 6th-gear fire roads and open-desert-like sand the bike was settled and stable, and provided the confidence to keep the throttle wide open without the fear of tank slappers from the front end.

2027 ducati desmo450 eds review first rideYou'd have to have pretty odd taste to not think the EDS is a beautiful looking motorcycle. The bodywork is luminescent in that bright Ducati red and features graphics that are molded in and not stuck on. The bikes we were on survived two waves of riders and still looked fantastic in the light, and hopefully will retain their sheen and color over time because it really does look great in person. We popped open the airbox to get a peek at the air filter and that process is simple and toolless, so maintenance shouldn't be an issue.

2027 ducati desmo450 eds review first rideThe rear license-plate holder is sturdy and survived the abuse of an attending world championship hard enduro rider's antics when jumping over 4.5-foot diameter logs repeatedly. Turn signals, while not necessary at Erzberg, proved bright and durable if you choose to retain them.

If you do choose to uncork the hidden demon within the EDS – and raise a finger to The Man – you'll definitely need the aforementioned X-Link app to access settings, which is easily done with the bike's built-in Wi-Fi connectivity. Beyond that you're on your own.

2027 ducati desmo450 eds review first rideWhen you look at the street-legal dual-sport segment, meaning bikes that are actually designed for on-road use as well, and not enduro racebikes, the choices are actually pretty limited. The bikes listed here are the most logical ones that matchup with the $12,995 Desmo450 EDS, including the $10,799 Honda CRF450L, $13,499 KTM 500 EXC-F, $13,599 Husqvarna FE 501s, $12,590 Beta 430 RS, $8,299 Suzuki DR-4s+, and $13,040 Stark Varg EX. Of this list there are two obvious oddballs, the Suzuki and Stark.

2027 ducati desmo450 eds review first rideCompared to the perennial class leaders from Europe, the Ducati is right on target, in terms of price, features, and performance, despite giving up around 60ccs of displacement to the KTM and Husky. For its first effort in this competitive and exclusive category, Ducati has clearly hit a homerun in its first at bat. Other than the few minor complaints we've sighted above (seat, and tires), the EDS is ready to hit the trail (and road) right off the showroom floor. With ample options for adjustability, any rider should be able to fine tune the bike to their preferences and riding needs.

So while many may have been skeptical of a Ducati dirtbike when the news first broke, the company did their homework and delivered an exceptional machine in its first attempt. Forza Italia!

2027 ducati desmo450 eds review first rideHelmet: Fox Racing V3

Desmo450, single cylinder, Desmodromic timing system 4 valves DOHC, hydraulic tensioner, semi dry sump, liquid cooled

Keihin injector, Mikuni throttle body Ø 42 mm

Silencer with aluminum sleeve, exhaust pipe with catalytic converter and lambda sensor

Aluminum welded, with cast, forged and extruded parts.

Showa upside down front fork Ø 49 mm fully adjustable. Outer tube with Kashima coating, 12.2 inches of travel

Showa mono shock, fully adjustable; 11.9 inches of travel

Central spoked wheel, Takasago Excel rim 1.6'' x 21''

Central spoked wheel, Takasago Excel rim 2.15'' x 18''

Galfer Ø 260 mm disc, Brembo two-piston floating caliper

Galfer Ø 240 mm disc, Brembo single-piston floating caliper

Quick shift up, lithium-ion battery, LED headlight, LED taillight

Wi-Fi module and X-Link App, Mapp selector, Riding Mode, Ducati Traction Control, Engine Brake Control, Power Launch

Oil and filter service: 1,500 miles. Valve check: 3,000 miles. Main engine service: 7,000 miles

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