Ducati Desmo450 SM
Built on the track. Ready for the gate. The new Ducati Desmo450 MX combines a powerful 450cc desmodromic engine, lightweight aluminium chassis and advanced traction control to bring precision, confidence and unmistakable Ducati character to every lap.
Supermotard Performance by Ducati
The first Ducati Supermotard race bike
Light, precise and intuitive, the Desmo450 SM pairs the character of the Desmo450 engine with a chassis and electronics package that lets every rider push hard from the very first laps. Benchmark performance, instant confidence and Ducati racing DNA come together in a bike built for the track.
Built for Supermotard: Design and Chassis
The Desmo450 SM is fitted with components made specifically for Supermotard racing. A short front mudguard, dedicated fork protectors and closed handguards give it a distinctive look and are designed to meet the demands of competition.
Premium Showa suspension, developed with Showa’s Road and Off-Road teams, combines precision, light weight and response. A fully adjustable Ø49 mm upside-down fork with Kashima-coated outer tubes and a fully adjustable rear shock with progressive linkage give support under braking, stability in corners and traction on the way out.
The aluminium frame, derived from the Ducati Off-Road platform, uses cast, forged and extruded parts with the minimum number of welds for lightness, strength and precision. Braking is by a Brembo Stylema radial calliper on a Ø310 mm Galfer floating disc at the front and a Ø240 mm Galfer disc at the rear.
Metzeler Racetec SM tyres, as used in the Supermotard 1 World Championship, are fitted as standard: a Racetec SM K2 125/75 R420 at the front for support and a Racetec SM K1 165/55 R17 at the rear for maximum grip. All this for a wet weight, without fuel, of just 109 kg.
Desmo450 Engine: Extended Rev Range, Race-Ready Performance
The Desmo450 SM is powered by the 449.6 cc Desmo450 single-cylinder, producing 63.5 hp at 9,400 rpm and 53.5 Nm of torque at 7,500 rpm. Desmodromic timing and a limiter set at 11,900 rpm let the engine rev higher than conventional rivals.
Direct valve control is more precise than a traditional spring system, reducing friction at low revs and allowing higher rpm. The result is greater efficiency out of corners and the ability to hold each gear for longer between one turn and the next.
A Suter slipper clutch with Brembo hydraulic control keeps the rear wheel stable on aggressive downshifts into corners, while the 5-speed gearbox comes with an up-shift Quick Shift as standard.
Advanced, Performance-Focused Electronics
Derived from Ducati’s racing experience and easy to use, the Desmo450 SM electronics package includes Supermotard-specific Ducati Traction Control, Engine Brake Control, Power Launch, Quick Shift and two configurable Riding Modes, so the rider can tailor the bike’s response precisely to their needs.
Ducati Fall Detection, a lithium-ion battery and a map selector are also standard. With the Wi-Fi module, available as an accessory, the bike can be customised and monitored even further through the Ducati X-Link app on a smartphone.
