I am not really sure where this fits, however a few of us rode the Desmo450MX bikes last month. I am far from being a Motocross expert, however that proves what I am going to say beyond doubt.... because a near novice shouldn't be able to jump on a 60+bhp MX bike on a very narrow dusty MX track and ride it as confidently as we could. Much as they have done with the recent generation Panigale V4's, this thing can be ridden by a novice yet has the ability to be a complete weapon in the right hands.....
Still getting walloped on the big stage by the usual 3 or 4 manufacturers but hard to deny it’s not a great looking engine and bike (if you’re into mx). Whereabouts was this?
How many years did it take KTM to get back into it after already having such a rich MX history? They smashed the Italian Championship in their first year and it will be interesting to see how far they get with this. It was at Hobbs Hole Lane MX track.
We are regular Mx weekend worriers with my son out most weekends and the Ducati is very interesting in the way the general paddock is just not interested in it. I'll use Triumph as an example. When they entered into the MX scene two years ago it was widely spoken about and it wasn't long before the trickle of new Triumphs stared appearing and whilst not 1000's of them them out there its not unusual to see quite a few. But Ducati, i don't think it will surprise many to say we can only see them as older generation non hardcore riders being certainly the first and more likely the main stay of buying these. And its not just price , but they are not cheap, but in general people don't see them as a workhorse every weekend bike. That's the usual KTM and Japanese territory. Sure they might do well in national racing but grass roots bikes ? no, cant see it .
Obviously there are some varying specs/models etc, however below are the RRP's on 2025 450's in the UK. The gap isn't huge, though everything is relative! As far as grass roots, I would expect that will take time to trickle down because I suspect many of those will be on used rather than new machines? - Ducati Desmo450 £11,245 - KTM SX-F 450 £10,999 - Husqvarna FC450 £11,099 (seen deals for £9,500 though) - Yamaha YZ450F £9,500 - Honda CRF450RWE £10,559 (you can get a R for £7,999) - Suzuki RM-Z450 £7,499 (seems the bargain of the century as far as 450MX!) It partly boils down to what Ducati's strategy is. Is it to enter MX and win to prove a point? Is it to enter to win to get sales? Is it just to get sales from loyal Ducatisti that also MX? I would guess it is to win and to get sales, especially with them joining forces with Troy Lee to race in the US. Last year they won the Italian MX1? For this year they are entered into the MXGP World Champs and also AMA MX/SX. If nothing else, it is taking Ducati eyes over to MX and putting MX eyes on Ducati. It will be interesting to see how this year goes for them...
They are list prices and you can take them with a huge pinch of salt. Nobody pays those. Take at least £1000 of all those and more when it comes to the end of the year . KTM are terrible for it knocking £2000 of the retail prices which of course slashes the resale value of the secondhand market . I could pick up a very low hour , 15 hours, use KTM for around £6k if i looked hard enough. The Suzuki is a great bike but hasnt been updates for years and is the only mx bike that still is kickstart
It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest to see a road legal version in the future, or an entry in the Dakar in coming years.
