The Desmo450 MX engine is a 449.6 cc four-stroke single-cylinder with desmodromic system, chain-driven four-valve DOHC, and magnesium alternator, head and clutch covers. Thanks to desmodromic timing, the Desmo450 engine can achieve 11,900 rpm, ensuring greater acceleration and more efficient drive out of the gate. Without the spring of traditional timing systems, the desmodromic system allows for greater control and reduces friction loss, maximizing race performance. More revs, more power, and more chance to grab the holeshot. In fact, the Desmo450 MX snatched two out of two holeshots on its debut in the MXGP championship.

The Desmo450 offers a wide, well-distributed torque curve to ensure drive is always available, even at low rpm. This means greater traction out of the turns and less fatigue for the rider. Desmodromic timing reduces mechanical losses and allows for more extreme cam profiles, to optimize combustion. The desmodromic system also affords the management of greater valve acceleration, allowing for higher engine speeds than traditional systems and thus allowing for the definition of more extreme cam profiles with the same valve diameter, for a torque curve that is wider and more sustained.

The Desmo450 engine delivers maximum power of 63.5 hp at 9400 rpm and maximum torque of 53.5 Nm at 7500 rpm. The limiter is set at 11,900 rpm, setting a new reference for the category. To ensure consistent performance even in the most extreme conditions, the engine is equipped with rhomboid radiators with a 6.5% larger surface with respect to conventional designs. This ensures more efficient cooling, improving performance reliability and consistency without compromising the rider’s freedom of movement.

The Desmo450 MX is equipped with an aluminium perimeter frame which allows for an engine intake duct that is as straight as possible and with the right incline, to optimize air intake efficiency and hence performance. This layout, in turn, dictated the use of aluminium for the frame, which is designed and built using innovative techniques to optimize stiffness, weight and strength. In developing a frame with limited elements, a “weldingless” philosophy was adopted, as reducing the number of weld joints as far as possible consequently limits the number of weak points, for heightened reliability.

The aluminium perimeter frame is lighter with respect to steel tube solutions. In addition, the use of cast components allows the amount of material needed at every point to be carefully calibrated to ensure the right stiffness and strength without adding any unnecessary weight. This has resulted in an extremely light frame, weighing in at less than 9 kg, which significantly contributes to achieving an overall bike weight of just 104.8 kg.

The Desmo450 MX handlebar is designed to adapt to any riding style, with four positions that allow the rider to find their ideal setup. The handlebar stems are asymmetric so that the handlebar can be assembled in two positions, based on the mounting direction. In addition, the steering plates feature a double hole, to allow for two additional positions, for a total of four.

A bike immediately recognisable as a Ducati, thanks also to a design that highlights its compactness, and a livery shared with that of the MotoGP bike and other models developed with Ducati Corse. The Desmo450 MX is extremely compact, designed to maximise the rider’s freedom of movement and vehicle control, while also considering maintenance at the workshop or trackside. 

Centro Stile Ducati worked hard on the external surfaces to minimise bulk between the rider’s legs and ensure maximum freedom of movement.

The front mudguard has lines inspired by those of the Hypermotard, while the clean, lightweight rear recalls the tail section of Ducati sports bikes.

The side panels and number plates, particularly, are designed to not interfere with rider movement in different riding situations, in fact they facilitate it. The front panels are designed to facilitate leg movement inside the turn, while the side number plates are modified in volume, corresponding with the exhaust and the same on both right and left, serving as a reference for the rider when they move backwards.

The side panels, frame protectors and the lower section of the number plates are textured to heighten grip and hold the rider’s inner thigh and boots in both acceleration and vertically, when jumping.

The handlebar switch unit allows the rider to:

• Select one of the two Riding Modes uploaded to the control unit
• Activate Launch Control
• Activate and deactivate DTC and DQS
• Check the connection status of accessory WiFI module