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/128368
TE[H: What's New, What's Different In keeping with the economics of fitting its range of L-twin engines to the same chassis in order to produce a range of vehicles within each model family, Ducati has seen fit to bolt its air-cooled 620 engine into the Multistrada chassis. But there are more differences between the Multistrada 620 and its big sister, the Multistrada 1000DS, than similarities. Chief among those differences is the 620's tail section. The 620 features a conventional two-sided swingarm to take the place of the IOOODS's single-sided unit. The sides of the 620 swingarm are created via a hydroforming process - a la the Harley-Davidson V-Rod chassis - because it was necessary to create a sharp bend on the right side of the swingarm in order to maintain the same exhaust system routing, with the two-sided swingarm as the routing on the IOOODS. Basically, hydroforming is the process of forcing a steel tube to assume the shape of a mold via extreme water pressure. The Ducati Multistrada 620 shares the same frame dimensions as the Multistrada IOOODS, but the 620 features a lower seat height, making it more friendly to those who might be inseam challenged. The Multistrada 620 still sports a Ducati trademark steel trellis frame, but the center section is narrowed to allow more freedom of movement. The Multistrada 620 engine is identical to that found in the Monster 620, Ducati's bestselling model. The air-cooled, electronic fuel-injected, 90-degree L-twin utilizes Ducati's other trademark - the desmodromic valve system - to actuate the two valves per cylinder. The little 620 features a bore of 80mm and a stroke of 61.5mm to produce its free-revving, lively power output. Ducati claims a maximum power output of 63 horsepower at 9500 rpm. The engine breathes through a catalytic exhaust system that is Eur02 emission compliant. That exhaust system is used on all 620., including those shipped to the United States. Perhaps the most unique feature of the 620 engine is its APTC (Adler Power Torque Clutch), a design that allows for a lighter, more linear feel, especially when compared to a Ducati dry clutch. The APTC is also a slipper clutch, which limits back torque and keeps the rear wheel from locking up should the rider shift down one gear too many. Aesthetically speaking, the Multistrada 620 appears identical to the IOOODS, but the 620's fuel tank and seat unit are actually quite different. The plastic tank is of rotational molded construction and boasts a special shape to keep its cg low. A certain amount of fuel is actually contained under the Multistrada's seat. Speaking of the seat, both it and the Multistrada 620's windshield have been redesigned to better do their jobs. The fairing on the 620 also lacks the storage pod found on the 1000DS. The Multistrada 620 has less fuel capacity than the IOOODS. but Ducati officials claim that since the 620 consumes less fuel than the IOOODS. the range of the two machines is nearly identical.