P100
RIDE REVIEW I 2027 DUCATI DESMO450 EDS
pleasant than expected. It isn't a
touring bike, of course, and the
2.25-gallon tank limits range, but
for connecting trails, exploring
backroads or riding from home
to your favorite off-road area, the
Ducati is more than capable.
THE
MAINTENANCE
QUESTION
Maintenance is worth thinking
about; after all, it is a high-revving,
high-performance motorcycle.
The EDS may be street-legal,
but its engine is derived from
competition. Consequently,
maintenance is more involved
than it would be with a typical
low-stress dual sport. Ducati's
adaptive maintenance system
considers riding conditions and
engine loads rather than relying
entirely on fixed intervals. It lists
Standing ergonomics are par-
ticularly good. At a little over 6
feet tall, I never felt cramped or
forced into an awkward position
on the pegs.
The seat, however, is another
story. It's hard. Really hard. It's
tolerable when you're on the
pegs most of the day, but you'll
notice it on longer pavement
sections where you sit more, or
just at the end of a long day. I'd
gladly trade a little firmness for
more cushioning. The good news
is that Seat Concepts is just a
few clicks or a phone call away.
The grippy seat cover, how-
ever, is excellent and helps keep
you planted when accelerating
or riding in rough terrain.
Otherwise, the EDS is comfort-
able for an off-road bike. Low
vibration and a tall sixth gear
make pavement riding more
predictable and remarkably
quiet, which is why Ducati chose
them—to reduce tire noise for
regulatory reasons. It's another
compromise manufacturers
face when building a high-
performance dirt bike that must
meet street-legal noise require-
ments. So, if you plan to spend
most of your time off-road on
the Ducati, put more aggressive
tires at the top of your to-do list.
COMFORT &
ERGONOMICS
Ducati did a good job with the
EDS's ergonomics. The mo-
torcycle feels narrow through
the middle, and the handlebar,
seat and footpeg relationship is
comfortable and natural. There's
plenty of room to move, and
transitioning between sitting
and standing is simple.
Ducati has found a new kind of home with its Desmo450 EDS.
