Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128199
The only problem that I foresee is that the seat height is actually quite tall for an entry-level bike at 32.1 inches, almost two full inches higher than the 620 Monster. This may keep the vertically challenged or female riders from looking at the 620 Sport as an option, which is too bad because they'll lose the additional protection that the fairings on the 620 Sport offer over the 620 Monster. The 620 Sport is available in Matte Black or Matte Silver and carries a $7195 MSRP, which isn't bad at all for an entry-level Ducati. If torque is what you're after, then look no further than the Supersport 1000 DS; it has gobs of it. the 620 is an entry-level bike, but with that said, it is one hell of a nice entry-level bike. The 620 may not have a big, powerful motor, but it is surprisingly competent for what it was designed to do. The two-valves per cylinder, air-cooled 618cc motor is obviously nothing to write home about in terms of outright power, but it's linear power, and the clean delivery from the Marelli fuel injection system offers plenty of performance for the entry-level rider. One thing that makes the 620 a great all-around bike is the fact that it features a wet clutch, which makes negotiating traffic and getting a quick launch from a stoplight a breeze. The five-speed transmission is all this bike needs, and not only does it shift smoothly, but the ratios are perfect for keeping the 620 in the fat of its powerband. The 620 is a blast to ride once you hit a twisty road - the combination of the bike's light weight (400.4 Ibs) and the narrow 160/60ZR17 rear tire makes it handle really nicely. Another thing that really helps is that the bike has a whole lot less crankshaft inertia fighting it than the other Supersports do, making it flick from side to side with reckless abandon. Of course, as an entry-level bike, the suspension has been left fairly simple and is therefore taxed fairly quickly when pushed hard, but there aren't too many entry-level riders that are going to exceed its limitations. The rear shock is a fully adjustable Boge unit, while the forks are 43mm upsidedown Marzocchi units. One item that Ducati didn't skimp on is the brakes. The 620 Sport features twin 320mm Brembo semifloating discs with four-piston calipers. In the past Ducati has only fitted a single disc to its entry-level bikes, but the new 620 Sport has really nice brakes that are more than capable of getting the bike slowed down in a hurry. As far as ergonomics are concerned, the bike is quite comfortable. SUPERSPORT BOO It may not be what Ducati considers its top-of-the-line Supersport offering, but it may be the most balanced of the four bikes offered. By "balanced," I mean the balance among the power delivery, weight and handling on the Supers port 800 is just awesome. The motor on the 800 is new with the displacement increased from 750 to 802cc on the '03 model. The aircooled, two-valve-per-cylinder motor is said to make a full 10-more horsepower than the motor that it replaces. It features Marelli fuel injection with a (Below) This Is the view from the rider's perspective: easy-toread, Infonnatlve gauges. (Middle) The headlights on all three models were redesigned for 2003. (Right) Another view of the Supersport 800. cue I e n e _ S • FEBRUARY 5, 2003 23