Ducati’s push into off‑road competition is about to spill onto public roads as the Desmo450 EDS—the street‑legal member of Ducati’s new 450 platform—moves toward its launch later this year. Ducati gave the public an early glimpse at EICMA last November, showing a “preview” version that was clearly not the final production bike and offering only minimal details about what the finished model would include. With European design registrations recently leaked, a clearer view emerges of how Ducati is reshaping its race‑focused 450 into a fully street‑legal machine.

The EDS is the third model in Ducati’s 450cc off‑road lineup, following the Desmo450 MX motocross machine and the Desmo450 EDX enduro racer. Both the MX and EDX share chassis geometry and a 38.2‑inch seat height, though the enduro stretches its range with a 2.2‑gallon tank and switches from a 19” rear wheel to an 18”. Weight is one of the other few areas where the two diverge: the MX comes in at 232 pounds without fuel, while the EDX adds a few pounds of equipment and tips the scales at 240 pounds dry. The EDS dual sport will start from the off-road only EDX platform and the recently-surfaced design documents highlight some of the new features.

The exhaust system is one of the most significant changes. Instead of the EDX’s competition pipe, the EDS uses a longer header that loops farther down in front of the engine, where an O₂ sensor is mounted. The flattened expansion chamber of the off‑road models is replaced by a circular catalytic converter tucked behind a heatshield. These updates point to deeper internal changes aimed at meeting emissions standards and extending service intervals beyond the MX and EDX’s 15‑hour oil‑change and 45‑hour piston‑replacement schedules. Ducati is also expected to add radiator cooling fans, though they are not visible in the design images.

The EDS will also reportedly be equipped with a six-speed gearbox and the larger capacity 2.2-gallon tank. Additional detail changes show up in the design including a right‑side heel guard that shields the rear brake cylinder and new left‑side covers for the sprocket and chain. Up front, a compact dash and the ignition key are tucked in behind the cowl. A sidestand and other required road approval equipment is visible, from mirrors perched on the handlebars to full turn‑signal assemblies and a proper mount for the license plate.

The core suspension hardware looks to be the same setup used on the EDX, relying on 49mm Showa forks and a Showa rear shock. However, with the extra mass of street‑legal components, Ducati may adjust the spring rates and damping settings to suit the added load. 

With production slated for this summer, Ducati is nearing the final stages of development. The EDS will enter a competitive performance dual sport segment dominated by brands like KTM, Honda and Beta, but Ducati’s approach—anchored by a desmodromic engine, race‑derived chassis, and premium componentry—positions it as a high‑performance, high‑character alternative. For Ducati, the EDS marks its first true entry into the street‑legal enduro category. For riders, it promises to be a dual‑sport that stays close to its competition roots while still offering versatility for longer days in the saddle and short on-road stints to link up trails.