The third iteration of the Desmo450 lineup is here: the 2027 Ducati Desmo450 EDS dual-sport bike. It joins the motocross (MX) and off-road EDX. Just as the EDX is a reworked MX for off-road riding, the EDS massages the EDX for street legality and the less frenetic demands of dual-sport riding. Let’s get to the Fast Facts to see how the EDS dual-sport bike compares to the EDX off-road racer.
The EDS is $500 more than the EDX. That puts the 2027 Ducati Desmo450 EDS price at $12,995. That undercuts last year’s prices for the Austrian 350 and 500 dual-sport bikes between $4 and $504, depending on the model. The EDS is a few hundred dollars more expensive than any of the four Beta RS models. The Ducati is priced $2896 higher than the Honda CRF450RL.
The motor in the 2027 Ducati Desmo450 EDS is all about low-rpm power. The EDS gets its own cams and timing for dual-sport use. While the EDX hits its 63 hp peak at 9400 rpm, the EDS produces a maximum of 42 hp at 6750 rpm. Likewise, the EDS’s 33 lb-ft torque peak occurs at 5750 rpm, compared to the EDX reaching 39 lb-ft at 7500 rpm. Given the draconian requirements of the EPA and DOT, we wouldn’t be surprised if the EDS has lower output everywhere on the powerband. The compression ratio is lower on the EDS at 12.9:1 compared to the EDX’s 13.5:1, and the EDS’s 42mm throttle body is 2mm narrower than the EDX unit.
Ducati recommends checking the valves and replacing the piston every 90 to 120 hours. A full overhaul is to be performed after 180 and 240 hours of riding. The Ducati X-Link app monitors how hard you use the engine to calculate when you should take it in for major service.
The EDS gets an extra cog in the transmission. The wide-ratio EDS transmission has a lower 1st gear and a higher 6th gear than the EDX. Like the EDX, the EDS has an up-only quickshifter. Also, the clutch on the EDS has a lighter pull.
The EDX’s large capacity radiator is retained. However, the EDS gets a cooling fan.
Metzeler Karoo 4 tires are standard on the EDS. We don’t expect anyone to ride the bike with those tires, which were undoubtedly selected to help it pass sound tests. The world of high-performance off-road rubber is open to the EDS, as it has the same Takasago Excel rims as the EDX. Euro versions of the EDS get the considerably more appropriate Metzeler Six Days Extreme tires.
Street-legalizing bits and pieces add 29 pounds to the EDX’s weight. The EDS has the same 2.2-gallon fuel tank as the EDX, and its curb weight is 278 pounds. That puts the weight of the EDS about 25 pounds more than the Betas, 15 pounds heavier than the Austrian bikes, and 10 pounds lighter than the Honda CRF450RL. Also, the frame has flex characteristics to match its dual-sport mission.
Ducati has softened the fork’s spring rate for the EDS. The suspension remains fully adjustable.
The optional Ducati Performance Racing Kit changes the landscape considerably. In addition to providing a 54 hp peak, you also get sophisticated off-road traction control, adjustable engine braking, and launch control. Additional performance options include an Akrapovič titanium muffler, Brembo Racing calipers, hubs, and triple clamps. An array of protective accessories will be available from Ducati, including handguards.
The 2027 Ducati Desmo450 EDS will be available at dealers in August. It comes in just one color: Ducati Red. Oh, and Ducati tells us that EDS stands for Enduro Street Legal, so we’re not sure why it’s not the ESL. However, Enduro Street Legal translates to Enduro Stradale in Italian, which is probably close enough.
Have you ever wanted to ride a real MotoGP track? Well, here’s your chance! Leod Escapes does all sorts of amazing European tours, including the incredible Munich to Mugello tour at the end of June, or you can try the Core of Catalunya or the Portimão Andalusia trips, both in October. These are incredible touring experiences with the very best that Europe has to offer. Fabulous accommodation, incredible food, and motorcycles! So for the trip of a lifetime, visit LeodEscapes.com, now.
* * * * *
In our first segment, Don Williams and Nic de Sena chat about the latest Yamaha MT-07. The amazing motor in the Yamaha is mostly unchanged, however just about everything else with this bike has changed. Don and Nic have extensive experience riding this beast and you’ll hear both their likes and a couple of dislikes too.
* * * * *
Our guest for this episode is Nikolas Lazos, a 15-year old young man from Melbourne, Australia who starting racing in the Supersport 300 category in Australian Superbike last year. Nikolas had an awful crash at the tail end of last year that put him out of contention for the Championship. Teejay chats with Nikolas about his journey so far, and the physical and mental challenges he’s facing coming back from injury.
* * * * *
Here’s quick reminder to check out our monthly digital magazine. It’s filled with everything you want to read on motorcycling, including some things you’ve probably not seen elsewhere. It’s absolutely free and you will find it on the Apple App Store and of course on Google Play as well.
Don’t forget to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!
We use cookies and browser activity on this website
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
