Ducati M6g20i.E.

Ducati M6G20i.e.

NEW FOR '02

Cheap and naked, and now refined

WHO SAYS COOL HAS TO BE COSTly? Or lacking the inverted fork, pie-plate brakes and meaty motor of a modern front-line motorcycle? Not Ducati.

Which brings us to the new-for-'02 Monster 620i.e. Based on the budgetbiased Monster 600, Bologna’s newest middleweight boasts uprated engine performance, better brakes and California-compatible emissions. All for a projected $6995.

Ducati claims 60 horsepower and 39 foot-pounds of torque for the 620, a short-’n’-curly shy of the Monster 750’s 62-bhp/45 ft.-lb. output. How’d they do that? A 3mm longer stroke enlarged the wet-clutch, five-speed V-Twin’s displacement from 583 to 618cc. Lumpier cams, bigger valves and higher-compression pistons were spec’d, as was a bigger airbox, fuelinjection and larger mufflers employing catalytic converters.

The altered airbox required gas-tank modifications, which reduced capacity slightly to about 4 gallons. EF1 plumbing forced another change, this one a bit of minor tube-tweaking to the Monster S4-derived steel frame, which is said to be 30 percent stiffer than the M600’s trelliswork. The S4 also contributed its ST-knockoff rear suspension, to which is mated a Sachs shock adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping. A larger-diameter (40mm versus 25mm) steering stem locates the non-adjustable 43mm Marzocchi fork and accompanying 320mm Brembo brake discs and four-piston calipers.

Ergonomically, there is a revised handlebar/seat/footpeg relationship and altered switchgear. The analog speedometer and tachometer are now electronic, and incorporate liquid-crystal displays that allow the rider to toggle between time, oil temperature, odometer, trip distance, service “alerts” and fuel level. A start-upinhibiting anti-theft system is part of the cluster, as well.

Whipped through the picturesque Italian hills and towns bordering the Adriatic Sea, the 389-pound 620i.e. delivers a pleasing combination of easy-steering comfort and speed. Power output is more than ample, and the double-disc front brakes shed speed with single-finger surety. As was the case with the M600, the 620 sits low (seat height is just 30.3 inches) to better accommodate shorter/ lessexperienced riders. As such, spirited cornering will ground the sidestand on the left and the leading edge of the right-side muffler. That said, the wide, sport-touring radiais offer a high level of grip, and stability is never in question.

Rollout of the uprated model coincided with a blowout beach party commemorating production of the 100,000th Monster. The celebration was dampened by the passing of that “great, great mechanical genius,” Dr. Fabio Taglioni, but thousands of Ducati enthusiasts flooded Italian vacation-spot Riccione for drinks and dancing, not to mention fireworks rivaling any stateside Fourth of July gathering. It was a fitting tribute to a motorcycle that’s fast becoming a legend in its own time. And in the case of the least-costly version, now made even better. -Matthew Miles