Ducati have used Eicma to preview the Desmo250 EDS, a 250cc four-stroke enduro bike that will join their fast-expanding off-road range in Europe from July 2027 as part of the 2028 model year.
Details are scarce for now. Ducati describe the bike as “light, agile and precise”, built around what they call a new engine that “combines smooth power delivery, ease of use and lively performance”, and pitch it at both riders “looking for fun and confidence on the trails” and “more experienced riders seeking maximum effectiveness in competition”.
No capacity (beyond the 250 badge), power figure, weight or price has been given, and Ducati’s own website currently lists the bike as a prototype.
The Desmo250 EDS will likely be built using the Desmo250 MX as a base, which Ducati revealed in June with a 249cc desmodromic single producing a claimed 43.9bhp at 12,500rpm, a 15,000rpm rev ceiling, a 103kg wet weight without fuel and a chassis shared with the 450.
The version of the engine used in the road-legal enduro will need to be detuned and given a service schedule measured in miles rather than hours, and so the performance will be tempered compared to the competition crosser.
The 250 arrives a year on from the 450 EDS and continues a rapid expansion of Ducati’s dirt range, which began with the Desmo450 MX in 2025 and now spans motocross, enduro and road-legal enduro at two capacities.
The Desmo250 EDS is likely to be a very capable off roader, more capable than many riders need in fact. But not many road riders get the most from a Panigale V4, and Ducati sell plenty of those! It will be interesting to see how the market receives this new bike.
Ben Clarke began riding (legally) at 21-years-old when he passed his direct access one month before shipping his Yamaha XT660 R to Miami and embarking on a 13,500-mile tour of the USA and Central America. He's worked at MCN for the last six years, riding everything from super nakeds and superbikes to small-capacity electrics and scooters across several continents. In more recent years, he's worked closely with the bike kit team to bring you all the latest news and reviews about the bike-related products we all use every day.
Lover of V-twins and big singles, partial to a tour