Ducati Monster 620 i.e. Dark reviews

I have been using my Duke for the last 2 years, prior to which I have never ridden at all. I had some fears about getting a bike in this city which is known to be quite rough on all drivers, but this bike has over the last 2 years given me tremendous confidence. It is ideal for city streets, allowing you to cut through traffic with impunity, and enough power to accelerate through tight spots. The only drawbacks that I have found are, 1). It needs quite some time to warm up after pushing the start button, before you can actually hit the road, and 2). Top speed on the open road is quite a pull, and the bike is not stable especially in windy conditions. Definitely recommend this bike to start with and gets a lot of admiring looks everywhere. Show less

This was my second bike and second Ducati. It's a great step up from the old 620's in performance, looks and craftsmanship. Easy to flick around in traffic, though it could use a little more low-end grunt. In 2nd/3rd at 4000rpm it really moves. Everyone wants to talk about it - next step: 999R or 1098... Show less

The finance manager said it was gonna be stupid fun when I bought it, and he was right. Plenty of power on reserve, pulls hard through all gears, and is very quick/fast. It is a little intimidating, not for beginners. Riding position can get a little uncomfortable after a short while, handle bars are a little low. Sounds like a indy 500 car. Every one looks when you go by, but no one gets too rambunctious. Show less

I keep telling myself that this is just a phase and eventually the newness of the bike will wear off, but somehow I don't think that is the case. I used to race motocross and I always thought that the street guys were nuts, but I have changed my view. This bike has renewed the kid in me!! I can't stay calm at work and I have found myself in the garage just staring at my new toy. Julie...you were right!! There will be no need to upgrade to the next larger engine. This is all I need. I hope to see all of you out there riding around on your new Ducati just like me. ENJOY! Show less

2000 trouble free miles. I've owned it since new and that's about 3 months. It's barely broken in, so it remains to be seen whether or not any problems arise. Handles/corners well, accelerates well, and has nice torque. Swapped exhaust to Carbon Cans, but other than a few other minor things, pretty stock. It's a great daily bike around town or for longer 2-3 hour rides. Anything 'all day' begins to get uncomfortable, but that's not the purpose of these Monster bikes. Everywhere I go, it's a comment here or there about how nice it looks. I have not ridden the R6 or the Suzuki or other 600cc-800cc competition (more later once I get a chance). I would say that I have felt the need to have a pinch more power at times. For entry to mid level needs and a bike with great style, you can't go wrong. I'll check in after my first track day in a few months. Show less

I only bought a second hand Duc because there are not many main dealers here selling big bikes. So I had no preconceptions about Ducati or Monsters. Since I bought my bike nine months ago, I just love it more and more. Once you get your confidence, the acceleration is blistering. Worst thing is the sore hand with the clutch in heavy traffic. What's this about a clutch recall? Show less

Just breaking it in. Only 500 miles. Good torque. Quick and very nimble/agile. This is it's strength. haven't gotten the chance to really open it up yet. Have kept it under the 6000 rpm range and have reached 90 mph. I would imagine the performance will improve after break in period. Some little things at times but will check with dealer and see how things are after 600 mi checkup. Great around town bike. Show less

I originally purchased this bike for my wife who is 5 ft 2 inches tall. Although she could get both feet on the ground ,the reach to the bars was a bit much for someone who has 13 discs fused. I have been riding for 40 years and have owned over 30 bikes in the last ten years. Have owned litre sport bikes, cruisers, supermotos, naked bikes etc. Imagine my suprise that the little Monster could be so much fun. After raising the bike back up to stock, it handles extremely well and takes all the bumps with ease. Most of my riding is for fun and on the roads north of San Francisco. The 1000cc Monster seems slow handling in comparison. It has more than enough power to handle the twisties and as a matter of fact is easier to drive than the larger engined Monsters. If you are looking for a beginner bike that you will not outgrow look no further. Show less

This is a great bike maybe not the highest horsepower but it puts the power it has to very good use. It is very fast. I haven't had any problems. Fantastic brakes and handling. This bike feels like an extension of the rider. It goes wherever you point it as fast as you want it. If you want something different, this is it. It holds you like an Italian lover and is just as expensive, but worth it. Show less

I did an MSF rider course a few months ago, got my motorcycle license and went bike shopping. I chose my Monster 620 for several reasons. It's lightweight, has excellent handling, and has good creds as a starter bike. To be honest, I thought it might be too much for a starter bike, but after riding for over 500 miles I can say that it's exceeded all my expectations. The handling is superb and very forgiving. The brakes allow you to stop on the proverbial dime. Gear changes can be done incredibly fast with just a flick of the clutch as the action is very light. As a rookie, I found first gear take offs a little tricky at first until I got used to the clutch contact area being so far out. Overall, the bike feels incredibly light and maneuverable. As I'm still breaking it in, I haven't really explored the performance potential, but there's still plenty of power in the 3K to 5K rev range. Riding the bike is a blast and the exhaust note gets serious even with stock pipes. I'd recommended this bike to anyone who wants a safe, secure bike with good performance. As a starter bike, it's unmatched, because of the brakes, handling and the fact that it can be ridden in a very docile manner. Now I'm thinking about moving up to an S2R1000 or a Sport 1000, but not before I fully break in the 620. Show less