Wanna buy » A few questions for 620 owners...

[robhar54 2006 620 (Red)]

About to spring for a 620, but have a few quuestions for 620 owners:

1. How tall are you and how much do you weigh? (I'm 6'2", 34" inseam, 215lbs.)
2. Related to the above, if you're my height, which screen did you settle on for the least wind noise and buffeting?
3. What's your rpm at 80mph, stock sprockets?
4. Do you downshift to pass on a two-lane?
5. What are the essential mods/accessories for commuting? (Mine so far: longer front fender, rear hugger, DP hand guards, Dual-Star heated grips, Hawkeoiler, Powerlet, Givi V46 monokey.)
6. Have your tried Avon Distanzias? (Or other supermoto tires?)

I really kinda like the idea of a smaller displacement bike for mostly urban commuting, but I do need to be able to get over to eastern Washington on occasion. (Over a big ol' mountain pass.) I won't ever be carrying a pillion. I will be carrying camping gear, and on those trips I'd probably substitute a Ventura Pack and tank bag for the Givi hard case.

I'm waffling between getting the 620 now, or (being a grown-up and) riding my '78 SR500 another season and saving up for a 1100S or another bike like the F800GS when it comes out. Most of my questioning has to do with the highway and dual sport-ish gravel/easy dirt road capabilities I'd like.

On the othe hand, for the price of a 1100S or F800ST say, I could get the 620 and (later) a real dual sport like a TE610...yum...and not worry about the dual sport capabilities of the MTS.

BTW, just so's ya know, here are my former bikes, in order: '95 900SS, '98 VFR 800, '98 916, '00 Gran Canyon and (the whole time I had those) an '86 R80G/S Paris Dakar and my first bike, a '78 SR500. Now I'm down to the SR500, and kick-starting is gettin' old for daily riding in the winter.

Rob in Seattle

[xmonster]

About to spring for a 620, but have a few quuestions for 620 owners:

1. How tall are you and how much do you weigh? (I'm 6'2", 34" inseam, 215lbs.) 6'2" 200lb
2. Related to the above, if you're my height, which screen did you settle on for the least wind noise and buffeting? Standard screen, haven't tried anything else, happy with what i have.
3. What's your rpm at 80mph, stock sprockets? Not sure, 6000ish?
4. Do you downshift to pass on a two-lane? At 60mph i don't need to unless in a hurry, at 80mph i would have thought same answer,
5. What are the essential mods/accessories for commuting? (Mine so far: longer front fender, rear hugger, DP hand guards, Dual-Star heated grips, Hawkeoiler, Powerlet, Givi V46 monokey.) Sounds like you have it covered.
6. Have your tried Avon Distanzias? (Or other supermoto tires?) Diablo/diablo strada only, happy with those.

I do ride 2 up at times and (on closed roads under controlled conditions of course) have no trouble with 135km/hr (80+mph) 2 up and overtaking would not be a problem - but then the most powerful bike i have ridden was 85hp and that was a BMW, the Multi 620 is more responsive even though less powerful.

[Activator 2006 620 (Black)]

6'4", 205lb, 34" inseam.

Standard screen, but have a ZeroG Double Bubble in the garage that I'm going to try out when the weather breaks. I didn't like the wind blowing on me at first, but have grown used it and don't mind it much anymore. But then I'm only out for pleasure rides in nice weather, not commuting every day.

No idea what the RPMs are at 80mph.

My only issue with the bike is the seat. I have a Sargent at the moment, but I'm still not happy.

One thing I will say, the 620 is in NO way "underpowered", and will certainly propel you and your luggage very nicely over the mountains. On steep hills you WILL have to shift a little earlier than the 1000DS riders, but I'm sure you'll be fine. You may want to add the 14T front sprocket to your list of mods, as well as the Iridium plugs.

I'm about the same size as you and the 620 under power feels like it's going to pull your arms out of the sockets during fast shifts... it is NOT your daddy's F650.

I test-rode the 620 and 1000, back-to-back for an hour each, two days in a row, and I went with the 620. It wasn't the money, I just liked the 620 better! It's also 40 lbs lighter, which brings the power-to-weight ratio closer.

Good luck!

[rob130369 2006 620 (Black)]

1. 6 ft. 30" inseam, 160lbs
2. have the ZG Double Bubble, but you might want to try the ST or something higher
3. ???
4. Almost never, even in 6th. The bike is pretty light and the engine very responsive.
5. Got the DP luggage rack that I use with a cortech tailbag.
6. Nope.


Rob in Calgary

[Lubo 2006 620 Dark (Flat black)]

1. 178 cms (inches ??) - 170 lbs
2. Original wind screen
3. 4.000 - 4.500 RPM
4. Almost never, the engine is very responsive
5. No rack (ugly?), DP tank bag, KTM hand guards, rear hugger
6. Pirelli diablo are awesome tires, soft but very sticky.

[robhar54 2006 620 (Red)]

Many thanks to all for the input. I test rode a 620 today and immediately put a deposit down!

Rob in Seattle

[Lubo 2006 620 Dark (Flat black)]

Congratulations

[vern748 2006 620 (Gray)]

Hi Rob up north,

You will not be sorry. People need to get over the thought that a 620 is a starter bike and under powered. I had the choice of a 620, 1000, or 1100, and I went with the 620. The 1100 makes great power, but the best package is the 620. The motor is more than powerful enough to move you and your stuff over any mountain. In city traffic, the 620 is far more flickable than the 1000. Not sure why that is since the weight and dimensions are very similar. On the twisties, there is enough grunt there to throw you off if not careful.

Enjoy the 620, it a great bike.

[robhar54 2006 620 (Red)]

Hey vern748,

Thanks. From what I can tell so far I completely agree with your take. There are definitely a few things from the 1000S or 1100S I'd like on the bike--the suspension mainly, and a fuel system that doesn't require fiddling when filling the tank...and that single-sided swingarm sure is pretty...but otherwise, I'm completely psyched.

If you get up this way, PM me. There are a few of us up this way....

Rob

[vern748 2006 620 (Gray)]

Like you, I enjoyed the singel sided swing arm, so I got me one of them. Slapped it onto the 620 and presto ! Did the forks, the rear shock ! My tarted 620. All dressed up and wanting to roll.

[robhar54 2006 620 (Red)]

And here I was about to ramble on to you about this clever guy I'd read about on this board who put a single-sided swingarm on his 620.....

Now that could be the perfect Multi. Seriously. I'd like to hear more about that, over on that other thread maybe....

Rob

[tropigal 2006 620 (Red)]

#3. RPM at 80 MPH on my 620 stock sprockets, right at 5900 RPM. 84 MPH at 6000 RPM.

I checked it tonight coming back from Miami.

[seattle.guy 2006 620 (Red)]

Hi Rob...

I went through a three month process, allot like you, considering all the pros and cons of what to get next. Ironically, I used to own a SR 500 which I basically rebuilt and tarted up for some thumper fun in the twisties.

I was all over the board in terms of "what bike next" until I took delivery of my new 620 yesterday from Eastside Motorsports. As I previous owner of an '00 Monster 900S, I was already partial to Ducs, and partial to Italian things in general. My last two wheeler was a '05 Vespa 200 GT. But my "boy racer" side got me considering a bunch of superbikes including: '07 Triumph Daytona 675, '07 Suzuki GSX 600R, '07 Honda 600rr, used Duc 999, 998, and I even was bidding on a clean '00 996s off of Ebay.

After grappling with what would be the "best of all worlds", I chose the MTS 620. It was a triangulation of price/fun/cache/resale/fun/usage/fun....you get the picture.

I bombed off on a 70 mile run yesterday through Fall City, Carnation, Preston, etc. I was impressed with how flickable the 620 was, and how the powerband was pretty usable--even in rush hour Seattle traffic back home (Queen Anne).

BTW, Sean at Eastside was great and jumped on getting the bike prepped and ready. I rode out the door exactly four hours after I called him to commit on the bike.

If you want to ride sometime, please let me know. As an added bonus, I have a passion for "green building & architecture" and are also very interested in modern prefab.

Have fun with you new Duc!