2025 Ducati Desmo450 MX revealed

Ducati has pulled the covers off its long-awaited motocross bike, with the all-new Desmo450 MX set to land in Australia later this year. 

The Italian firm’s first dedicated production motocross bike will be priced from $16,300 in Australia, with the first units to hit dealer floors in September. 

Powered by a single cylinder engine, the Desmo450 MX will be the only bike in its class to use a Desmodromic valve system which Ducati says allows the engine to run at higher revs and helps with faster race starts. 

Ducati claims 63.5hp at 9400rpm and 53.5Nm at 7500 rpm, while the rev limiter sits at 11,900rpm. Cooling was also a focus, with the Desmo450 MX featuring unique rhomboid-shaped radiators. 

The chassis consists of an aluminium perimeter frame combined with a cast aluminium swingarm and forged aluminium linkage. All up, Ducati says the Desmo450 MX weighs 104.8kg without fuel.

Braking is handled by Brembo and Galfer, with a two-piston floating caliper at the front and a single-piston caliper at the rear. The Galfer discs are 260mm and 240mm front and rear respectively.  

Suspension includes a Showa 49mm fully adjustable fork with Kashima coating, and a fully adjustable shock. Wheel travel is 310mm at the front and 301mm at the rear. 

Following the lead of recent innovations from the likes of Honda, KTM, and Triumph, Ducati has also made a big effort with electronics. The Desmo450 MX features adjustable traction control, launch control, engine brake control, two ride modes, and a quickshifter. Like other bikes in the segment, riders can make adjustments with a special smartphone app. 

Ducati claims maintenance intervals of 45 hours for piston replacement and valve clearance check, and 90 hours for a total engine overhaul.