Multistrada620

Multistrada620

The entry-level alternative

Within Ducati, the Muitistrada is regarded as the company's best touring bike, despite its own marketing efforts to qualify the ST models as such. Generally, it seems the public has agreed, particularly in Europe, with the common feeling about a Muitistrada being, “If you ride it, you’ll buy it.”

This makes the Muitistrada a very solid platform in which to invest, and so the line has been expanded to include the new 620, aimed more toward entry-level and shorter riders.

The 620cc version of the time-honored sohc, two-valve, air-cooled desmo V-Twin is a most willing powerplant, and even outshines its bigger (803cc and 992cc) brothers in terms of specific output, being the only one to reach the 100-horsepower-per-liter value with its 63 hp at 9500 rpm. Peak torque is a solid 41.2 foot-pounds, coming at 6750 rpm, which makes it much more flexible than expected.

To maximize performance and lower costs, weight has been shaved wherever possible, resulting in a claimed 400-pound dry weight, a 30-pound drop from the 1000. Thus the front Brembo brakes sport twin 300mm rotors in place of the 320mm units on the 1000, and a conventional steel swingarm replaces the 1000’s complex (and heavy) singlesided aluminum piece. Because the 620cc engine generates less heat, the elaborate ventilation system needed to cool the rear cylinder on the 1000 was done away with. Finally, the 620 rides on smaller tires, a 120/60-17 front and 160/6017 rear, the latter on a narrower 4.5-inch rim. These major modifications are complemented by less conspicuous weight-saving factors such as the new Marzocchi 43mm inverted fork, which is the same size but slightly lighter than the 1000's Showa unit. In addition to being lighter, the bikeand thus the seat height-has been lowered by nearly 1 inch. On the soaking-wet roads of Sicily we encountered during the 620's press introduction, the slightly reduced cornering clearance didn’t cause any problems. To the contrary, the bike felt very nimble and surefooted, thanks also to the excellent Pirelli Scorpion Sync tires. Gearing was spot-on all the way up to the indicated 108-mph top speed.

In all, the Muitistrada 620 proved a very user-friendly bike. Riders shorter than 5-foot-6 will find the lower seat and lighter weight quite reassuring. The price, too, is much lower than the 1000’s. Available in red or yellow for $7795 (or $7495 in matte-black “Dark” livery), the Muitistrada 620 represents good value and fun in a compact, easy-to-handle package. -Bruno de Prato