DUCATI DESMOSEDICI RR (2007 - 2009) Review

There’s no other way to describe the Ducati Desmosedici RR than as a MotoGP bike with lights; it really is that close to the real thing.

• Related: Neevesy pits Ducati Superleggera V4 against Desmosedici RR

The 200bhp motorcycle is a replica of Ducati’s Desmosedici GP6 MotoGP machine, which Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau rode in 2006 and features the same chassis layout, bodywork and ‘long bang’ 989cc V4 engine architecture. There has never been a road motorcycle like the Ducati Desmosedici RR, it’s so stiff, fast and focussed that it makes R1s seem soft and cuddly by comparison.

Once you've read this review and our owners' reviews of the bike known as the Desmo, you may want to join a community. We'd suggest the Desmo Owners Club.

Unless you’re going to push the Ducati Desmosedici RR as hard as MotoGP rider can, you’re never going to get the best out of it. Such is the stiffness of the chassis there’s very little feel from the Desmosedici RR even at fast racetrack speeds, although you get more feel as you start to push harder. On the road the Desmosedici is going to be a waste.

Where a 1098 or R1 will flatter you with its user-friendly nature the Ducati is quick to tell you that you’re not good enough to ride it. It is the best handling road motorcycle ever built; you just need to be Casey Stoner to appreciate it.

Although devilishly powerful the Ducati Desmosedici’s V4 motor is far more docile and user-friendly than you’d imagine. It makes power smoothly from tickover all the way to 13,800rpm, although as the motor spins past 10,000rpm the power starts to get very intense. There’s bucketfuls of grunt on tap too, so much so that you can go a gear higher though corners and it’ll still pull hard. Like one of Ducati’s V-twin engines, the Desmosedici is deceptively fast, not like a screaming in-line-four superbike, which feels twice as fast as it’s really going.

Like the MotoGP machine the Ducati Desmosedici RR is built to an exquisite level of quality; there’s simply nothing you can buy that comes close. Unlike the race bike the Desmosedici RR actually comes with a three-year warrantee and three-years free servicing, which is an astonishing feat from Ducati.

Our Ducati Desmosedici RR owners' reviews are positive in the main. While its value for money is an understandable concern, the score is brought down by someone who went for a test ride and didn't gel with the bike. For that reason it's not a particularly representative score. 

But this is a highly strung, desirable appreciating classic. It's not going to be peanuts to run.

Ducati could have sold the Desmo for a lot more than it's £40K price tag and it would still be have been worth it. If you could imagine how much a car would cost that was this close to a top racing machine? Probably millions, if it could ever happen, which it never would or could. If you can find one for sale and you have the cash we recommend you snap it up sharpish. 

Watch: Ducati Desmosedici RR vs Superleggera V4 on track

In 2020 we pit two of the most desirable Ducatis against one another on track to find out which one we preferred - the Desmo or the new Superleggera V4 - as part of our Dream Ducatis film. Get our video verdict below...

The Ducati Desmosedici RR is built like a MotoGP bike so it’s dripping with exotic parts. The Desmodromic motor is packed with titanium, specially coated alloys and magnesium. The fairing, mudguard, heel guards, fairing bracket are all from carbon fibre and the exhaust heat shield is from a carbon/ceramic composite. The LCD display is the same as the GP7 MotoGP motorcycle and like the 1098 it comes with a datalogging facility.

Marchesini wheels are forged magnesium and the rear is shod with a special 16-inch Bridgestone BT-01R tyre. The Brembo front brake set-up is the same as the wet set-up Ducati use in MotoGP and the front brake span adjuster is on the left handlebar for easy reach. The list goes on…