Ducati Desmo450 EDX, Ducati’s Enduro-Cross for Cross-Country and Enduro racing

• A Ducati 450cc Enduro-Cross bike made to cater to the needs of professionals and amateurs
• An increased range fuel tank, specifically tuned Showa suspension, and dedicated wheelset with an 18” rear wheel means that the Desmo450 EDX is ready to compete at cross-country events
• The Ducati Desmo450 EDX will start deliveries at North American Ducati Off-road dealers in January 2026

Sunnyvale, California, October 3, 2025 – The Desmo450 EDX is Ducati’s answer for riders looking to compete in Enduro events. Based on the Desmo450 MX, this is a lightweight, highly advanced, yet essential motorcycle designed to meet the needs of both amateurs and professionals, thanks to the performance of its Desmo engine, an easy-to-ride chassis suitable for riders of all skill levels, and the sophistication of Ducati’s advanced electronic package, which includes the first-ever closed-loop off-road ready traction control.

A bike born from Ducati's longstanding philosophy: experimenting and testing solutions in racing competitions to then bring them to production bikes, also drawing from Ducati Corse's experience in MotoGP and Superbike. A light and reliable bike, with benchmark performance in the category. The Desmo450 EDX, just like the MX, is thus capable of amplifying the riding skills of riders, whether professional or amateur, offering the confidence that allows them to push their limits forward.

The championship-winning base of the Desmo450 MX has been developed to tackle Enduro races. A dedicated 2.25 US gal (8.5 l) fuel tank, that connects to a specific seat and set of shrouds, widens the range of the EDX, a different wheelset – with the 18” rear wheel and Pirelli Scorpion XC Mid-Soft tires – and dedicated suspension tuning adapts the chassis to the disciplines of Enduro riding. A set of handguards, a skid plate, and a side stand, included in the standard offering, complete the description of an Enduro race-ready bike.

Single-cylinder engine with Desmodromic distribution control

The Desmo450 EDX engine is equipped with Desmodromic distribution, the system used on all Ducati racing bikes, including those in MotoGP. This feature offers several advantages to the Desmo450—allowing the engine to run at very high revs, providing greater power that increases the chances of starting faster than rivals, while also making the bike easier to handle in tight passages.

The Desmo450 EDX, in fact, provides a strong torque curve at low revs, ensuring an abundance of power out of corners, with a linear delivery and unprecedented acceleration for the category. This unique power delivery curve, which provides the rider with 70% of the maximum torque at 4,200 rpm, makes the Desmo450 EDX less demanding and tiring than a traditional 450, to the full advantage of performance and riding enjoyment. This was made possible thanks to the Desmodromic distribution, which, by reducing the energy needed to open the valves, allows for more aggressive lift diagrams even when choosing large diameters for the valves themselves.

The maximum power of the Desmo450 engine is 63.5 hp at 9,400 rpm, and the maximum torque delivered is 39.5 ft-lb at 7,500 rpm. The limiter intervention is set at 11,900 rpm, a new benchmark for the category.

Chassis

The chassis of the Desmo450 EDX is built on the same aluminum perimeter frame as the MX version. This layout was chosen to create a lightweight structure, allowing the engine to have intake and exhaust ducts as straight as possible, thus ensuring maximum performance. The technicians at Borgo Panigale have successfully designed a frame weighing 19.75 lb, mainly by reducing the number of welds, which achieves the goals of lightness, reliability, and rigidity. The frame plays a key role in keeping the bike's weight low, with a ready-to-use weight of 236.1 lb without fuel.

The extremely compact frame was also designed to ensure the best ergonomics for the rider, while also facilitating quick and easy maintenance in the workshop or on the track, where operations such as disassembling the shock absorber can be carried out efficiently. The latter is mounted in a central position and operates on a cast aluminum swingarm and a forged aluminum linkage.

The suspension of the Desmo450 EDX receives a new, Enduro-specific tuning. The closed-cartridge Showa fork is fully adjustable, featuring 49 mm inverted stems, 310 mm of travel, Kashima Coating treatment on the stanchions, new .47kg/mm (4.6 N/mm) springs, and specifically tuned damping. The shock absorber is fully adjustable and offers 301 mm of wheel travel. Here again, the spring rate of 4.49 kg/mm (44 N/mm) has been specifically tuned for Enduro riding, and the damping has been tuned to match the new spring.

Additionally, the wheelset is dedicated to the EDX, featuring Takasago Excel aluminum rims and Alpina spokes in 21” x 1.60” and 18” x 2.15” sizes, fitted with Pirelli Scorpion XC Mid-Soft tires, 80/100-21” and 110/90-18”.

As for the braking system, Ducati has also chosen to collaborate with its long-standing partner, Brembo. There is a two-piston floating caliper at the front, and a single-piston caliper at the rear. Galfer brake discs are 260 mm at the front and 240 mm at the rear.

Electronics

Ducati’s experience in MotoGP and Superbike allowed the Borgo Panigale technicians to introduce a genuine traction control system on the Desmo450 EDX, one that offers benefits in terms of lap time, rider safety, and energy savings while riding. Unlike the systems currently available in the segment, the Ducati Traction Control (DTC) implemented on the Desmo450 EDX is a true closed-loop system which calibrates the power cut based on the actual rear wheel slippage and inertial measurements of the vehicle dynamics, thus guaranteeing an effective, prompt and linear intervention.

This system is able to identify moments in which it should not come into action, such as jumps, automatically excluding itself. Furthermore, if the rider identifies points on the track where he wants to utilize all the engine's performance, he can deactivate the system by applying light pressure to the clutch lever. The control will automatically return to operation a few moments later. Ducati Traction Control offers four different levels of intervention.

The electronic equipment also includes Launch Control and Engine Brake Control, which, like DTC, can be configured on different levels of intervention and associated with two Riding Modes that the rider can adapt to his needs and the characteristics of the track via the X-Link App. The gearbox is equipped with a Quickshifter in engagement.

Maintenance intervals

The maintenance intervals have been strategically developed to reduce costs for the customer. Piston replacement is set at 45 hours, together with the valve clearance check, while the total engine overhaul is set at 90 hours, benchmark values ​​for the segment.

Desmo450 EDX

Colour

• Ducati Red

Main standard features

• Desmo450 single-cylinder engine, 449.6 cc
• Maximum power of 63.5 hp at 9,400 rpm, Maximum torque of 39.5 ft-lb at 7,500 rpm
• Twin-spar Aluminum frame
• 2.25 US gal (8.5 l) fuel tank
• Showa 49 mm upside-down closed cartridge forks, fully adjustable, 310 mm travel and Kashima Coating on the outer tube: dedicated spring rate .47 kg/mm (4.6 N/mm) and valving
• Showa fully adjustable (hi/low speed) monoshock, 301 mm wheel travel, with 50 mm piston: dedicated spring rate 4.49 kg/mm (44 N/mm) and valving
• Cast aluminum swingarm
• Wet weight without fuel 236.1 lb
• Brembo braking system with single Galfer discs, 260 mm (front) and 240 mm (rear)
• DID chain final transmission
• Takasago Excel aluminum rims with Alpina spokes, 21” x 1.60” and 18” x 2.15”
• Pirelli Scorpion XC Mid-Soft tires, 80/100-21” and 110/90-18”
• 2 Power Modes, 2 Riding Modes
• Riding Modes configurable via the accessory X-Link app
• New generation electronics package with Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Power Launch, Quick Shift, and Engine Brake Control
• Piston replacement every 45 hours
• Valve clearance check every 45 hours