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Ducati has officially entered an all-new segment with its first-ever motocross motorcycle – the Desmo450 MX. The Desmo450 MX marks a new chapter for the Italian marque and also pushes the envelope with a few segment-first features.
At the heart of the Desmo450 MX lies a newly developed 449.6cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine featuring a 96mm bore and a 62.1mm stroke. This high-revving motor churns out an impressive 62bhp and 54Nm of torque, and revs all the way up to 11,900rpm. This motorcycle also features some segment-first electronic features like traction control, two riding modes, launch control and engine brake control.
The Desmo450 MX is built around a lightweight aluminium perimeter frame that minimizes welds, improving structural rigidity while keeping overall weight down. The Desmo450 MX tips the scales at 104.8kg (wet weight with no fuel), which makes it quite light. The suspension is race-ready, with a fully adjustable 49mm Showa fork at the front and a fully adjustable monoshock at the rear.
Braking duties are handled by none other than Brembo, with a two-piston floating caliper biting a 260mm disc up front, and a single-piston caliper mated to a 240mm disc at the rear. The Desmo450 MX is set to make waves in the motocross world and will be available in the United States soon, with a starting price of around $11,459.
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