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Ducati's Desmo250 MX is a track-ready off-roader
It gets a 249.7cc single-cylinder engine

Ducati's Desmo250 MX is a track-ready off-roader

Jun 20, 2026
12:56 pm

What's the story

Ducati has unveiled its latest off-road motorcycle, the Desmo250 MX. The new model comes a year after the launch of the Desmo450 MX and is part of Ducati's plan to bring race technology into production bikes. The Desmo250 MX is powered by a newly developed 249.7cc single-cylinder engine that delivers an impressive 44.5hp at 12,500rpm and peak torque of 28.3Nm at 8,800rpm.

Technical specifications

Engine draws tech from the Panigale V4 R superbike

The engine of the Desmo250 MX weighs 24.7kg and has been developed using technology from the Panigale V4 R superbike. It features titanium intake valves and steel exhaust valves, enabling it to rev up to an impressive 15,000rpm. This high rev limit allows riders to hold gears longer in racing scenarios for better performance.

System features

Hydraulically-operated Brembo clutch with a 7-plate design

The Desmo250 MX uses a 44mm Mikuni throttle body for fuel delivery. The power is transmitted to the rear wheel through a five-speed gearbox with an upshift quickshifter. The hydraulically operated Brembo clutch features a seven-plate design with a disk spring setup for smoother and more consistent engagement during rides.

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Design elements

It features fully adjustable Showa forks

The Desmo250 MX is built on an aluminum perimeter frame and swingarm from the Desmo450 MX. Ducati has tuned the frame stiffness specifically to improve rider confidence during braking and cornering. The bike comes with fully adjustable 49mm Showa upside-down forks with Kashima coating, offering 310mm of travel, and a fully adjustable Showa rear monoshock with 301mm of wheel travel.

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Information

The bike weighs just 103kg without fuel

The Desmo250 MX weighs 103kg without fuel and comes with Pirelli Scorpion MX32 tires. The braking system is borrowed from the larger Desmo450 MX model. It includes Brembo calipers paired with 260mm Galfer front and 240mm rear disks for effective stopping power on different terrains.

Tech upgrades

Electronics suite adapted from the Desmo450 MX

The Desmo250 MX comes with an electronics suite adapted from the Desmo450 MX. It offers two engine maps customizable through the optional X-Link app, three levels of Ducati Traction Control adjustment, three-stage launch control, two levels of engine brake control, and a quickshifter for clutchless upshifts. The bike also features Ducati's predictive maintenance strategy for motocross models that monitors engine stress in real time based on operating conditions.

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