Ducati evolves Desmo450 MX and Desmo450 MX Factory for 2027
Ducati has taken what it learned from the first season of racing the Desmo450 MX and applied it to its 2027 motocross bikes.
Ducati has given its Desmo450 MX and Desmo450 MX Factory a round of updates for 2027, with the changes largely focused on gearing, durability, ergonomics and maintenance rather than adding more power.
The Desmo450 MX is still powered by the 449.6cc Desmodromic single-cylinder engine, producing 63bhp at 9,400rpm and 53.5Nm (39lb ft) at 7,500rpm.
For 2027, Ducati has fitted a 51-tooth rear sprocket, which increases the torque reaching the rear wheel and is intended to give the bike a little more punch when driving out of corners.
Ducati has also used its first season of racing to make a number of changes aimed at improving reliability, or what the Italian brand calls “robustness”.
The starter motor gear, water pump oil seal, exhaust manifold, chain guide support, fork slider guards and front engine mounting brackets have all been revised or reinforced.
There are some smaller changes aimed at making life easier for the rider, too. The fuel filler cap has grown to 40mm to make refuelling quicker and easier, while the gearshift and rear brake pedal tips have been redesigned to improve foot movement around the controls.
The standard Desmo450 MX also gets Pirelli Scorpion MX32 Mid-Soft tyres as part of the 2027 update, while a new livery swaps the previous white Ducati logos for black ones.
One of the more interesting additions is Ducati's predictive maintenance system. Available through an accessory Wi-Fi module, the system uses data from the bike to assess how it is being used and adjust engine maintenance intervals accordingly.
The idea is to move away from treating every bike in exactly the same way, particularly when motocross bikes can see very different levels of use.
If the bike is ridden more gently, the maintenance interval will be longer. Hammer the thing off the redline in every gear for every lap, though, and you’ll be seeing a bit more of your local Ducati dealer.
The Desmo450 MX Factory has also been updated, gaining all of the updates mentioned above. That said, it remains the more competition-focused version of the bike.
It comes with an Akrapovič titanium exhaust, saving 1.7kg over the standard system, and dedicated mapping to go with it.
It also gains upgraded Showa suspension, billet aluminium triple clamps, a Holeshot device, an RK MXU O-ring chain and additional protection for the engine and front brake.
The Factory also gets a new Ducati Corse red and black livery for 2027.
For the first time, Ducati is also giving the Desmo450 MX a dedicated setup for the US market. American bikes will receive specific suspension settings and different triple clamps, with a 20mm offset rather than the 22mm setup used elsewhere.
The 2027 Desmo450 MX and Desmo450 MX Factory are now arriving at selected European Ducati dealers, with availability in other markets to follow.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
