Ducati Desmo450 SM Supermoto Revealed for December
Ducati has launched its first supermoto race bike, the Desmo450 SM, with a price of £12,095. The non-road-legal machine features a 63.5 hp single-cylinder engine and class-exclusive desmodromic valve timing.
Ducati has officially launched its first-ever supermoto race machine, the Desmo450 SM. The bike is scheduled to arrive in European dealerships this December with a price of £12,095 before rolling out to other global markets.
Developed specifically for competition, the Desmo450 SM will not be road-legal and comes fitted with slick tires. It is based on the existing Desmo450 MX motocross platform, which has already seen success in supermoto racing.
Engine and Performance
Powering the new supermotard is the same 449.6cc single-cylinder engine found in the Desmo450 MX and Desmo450 EDS models. Ducati claims the engine produces 63.5 horsepower at 9,400 rpm and 39.5 lb-ft of torque at 7,500 rpm. A key feature is its desmodromic valve timing, which Ducati states makes the Desmo450 SM the only bike in its class to use this system.
Chassis and Suspension
Suspension is a major focus, with Showa playing an active role in the bike's development. The front uses fully adjustable, 49mm upside-down closed cartridge forks with 280mm of travel and Kashima Coating on the outer tubes. A fully adjustable Showa monoshock handles the rear. According to Ducati, these suspension settings are the first to be adopted on a production supermotard bike.
The chassis has been comprehensively tuned for the discipline. Triple clamps, wheels, the braking system, final drive ratio, slipper clutch, and electronics have all been fine-tuned to work together. Hand guards and the mudguard have been redesigned, and the fork guards are shorter to accommodate the standard Metzeler 125/75 front slick tire.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Front Tire | Metzeler 125/75 slick |
| Front Rim | 16.5-inch Excel with Bartubeless system |
| Rear Rim | 17-inch Excel with Bartubeless system |
| Front Brake | Brembo Stylema radial caliper, 310mm Galfer floating disc |
| Rear Brake | Brembo floating caliper, 240mm Galfer disc |
Electronics and Braking
Brembo supplies the braking components, with a Stylema radial caliper and a 310mm Galfer floating disc at the front. The rear uses a Brembo floating caliper with a 240mm Galfer disc.
The electronics package introduces a patented Ducati Traction Control system to the supermoto segment. Ducati says this system is capable of estimating the precise slip of the rear wheel and is adjustable across four levels; it can also be deactivated. Launch Control, a Quick Shifter, and Engine Brake Control are also standard, alongside two selectable riding modes.
The report comes from Visordown.
