P92
RIDE REVIEW I 2027 DUCATI DESMO450 EDS
Hopefully we can verify that in
the near future.
I soon discovered that third
gear quickly becomes your go-to
gear. I found I could leave the
transmission in third across a
surprisingly wide range of terrain
and be happy. Thanks to the en-
gine's impressive flexibility, you
can handle tight corners, flowing
trails and moderate climbs in the
same gear, usually third gear.
Its user-friendly power delivery
makes a long day in the saddle
on the Ducati very doable.
The six-speed transmission
complements the engine well.
Shifting is generally smooth and
precise, and the gear ratios are
well chosen. First is low enough
for technical riding, while the
middle gears work across a
broad range of conditions. Sixth
is particularly tall, which I appre-
ciated on pavement. The Ducati
cruises comfortably at highway
speeds without feeling over-
worked, and it still has plenty of
power for passing.
There is one annoyance,
however. Finding neutral while
stopped with the engine running
can be frustrating. Hopefully, this
improves with break-in.
The clutch is excellent. Lever
pull is light, engagement predict-
Short pavement
jaunts are about as
good as it gets on a
high-performance,
off-road-focused
dual sport.
