Let's get one thing straight here, the smallest Monster is NOT a performance bike. If getting your kicks means getting a move on, then forget this particular Duke.
That doesn't have to be the end of the world though, as there is, of course, more to biking life than big dollops of bhp and mph. So, like other non-superbikes the Monster still has something to offer.
First off, it's a Ducati. That can mean a lot to some, with the prestige and history of the Italian brand making them feel a little more elite. It's not a bad looker either and, given that the 620ie is the cheapest Duke of the lot, it's the most accessible of the range.
That word accessible also sums up the character of this Monster. It's very easy to get on with and has many advantages to the novice, inexperienced, women or wary. It's not too heavy and bulky, its seat height is quite low and all in all it's a pretty manageable motorcycle.
Designed to be useful more than exciting means the V-twin engine is very tame and, with only 56bhp at the tyre isn't going to be scary. However, with a nice spread of lame power there's always something on offer when the throttle's tugged. And the messy and time-consuming business of dropping down gears to speed things up isn't obligatory. In fact, doing that and thrashing the Monster will only end up causing a lot of mechanical noise and not much else.
Show the Ducati some corners though, and the pace can be kept higher. It's not the finest handling Duke on the market but with its light weight, fairly sporty steering geometry, firm suspension and pretty good brakes you can get a move on down the lanes. Just make sure you hang off a bit though as the ground clearance isn't exactly massive.
And while we're moaning, the steering lock spoils progress a bit in town, and don't even think about owning the Monster unless you're prepared to show it lots of TLC. Ducatis have to be looked after.