Best Monster 600?

[All Hale]

Hey there people.

I am thinking of buying a Monster 600 as was wondering what is considered to be the best to go for in regard to performance and reliability?

I was going to buy one many years ago, but was tempted by a Triumph Speed Triple, so am back.

Any advice on which one to get would be very much appreciated?

Hope everyone is well today, take care out there.


R

[weemonster]

well you get red ones yellow ones black ones. in the M600. the tank decals say Ducati monster.
Yellow ones are faster. 
up untill 98 they have the engine from the ss.

Then in 98 they changed the engine. dunno if it has more power but the cutch slave changed.
and the tank decals just say ducati.

and they started making Darks.   BUT............... unlike nowadays DARKS WERE CHEAPER AND LESS WELL EQUIPED.

Darks didnt have a seat cowl. Darks don't have gold forks. and were definately the poor relation.
Unless you are buying with modification in mind.
Its becuase i was there back in the day drooling as a 19 yr old that i couldnt buy a dark because it definately was the ugly sister.
Our local dealer had to  come up with his own dealer edition Tricolour flag effect paint scheme in order to shift them.


WHAT DO DARKS HAVE THAT THE OTHERS DoDNT?
for some reason more to do with Ducatis financial difficulties and lack of credit than anything else.
Lots of 600 Darks have fork bottoms with brake mounts on both sides.
making it easier to put twin discs on if that what floats yer boat.


almost standard.


spent a few pennies on her.

and a few more.
Best mod so far. the Goldline master cylinders and kevlar lines.

[Duck-Stew]

Up to 1997 (which weren't available in the US) the M600 ran the Pantah motor which is the older engine with the smaller charging system.  From 1998 to 2001 (last year of the 600) the engine was upgraded to the newer style motor with the slave cylinder on the alternator side and the larger capacity charging system.  All M600's were carburated too.

600's are good bikes, fun, light and flickable too.  If it's an engine size limit you're working around and the insurance doesn't 'bump up', you may want to consider a 620 instead.  All have the larger capacity charging system (which is much less prone to failure), all are fuel injected, and make more power than a 600.  Just a thought there, but you honestly can't go wrong with either bike.

[ducatiz]

Up to 1997 (which weren't available in the US) the M600 ran the Pantah motor which is the older engine with the smaller charging system.  From 1998 to 2001 (last year of the 600) the engine was upgraded to the newer style motor with the slave cylinder on the alternator side and the larger capacity charging system.  All M600's were carburated too.

One upgrade you can do on the 600 engine is to put 620 heads on.  They are bolt-on and have bigger valves than the 600 heads (41/35 vs 33.5/30) so you can retune the carbs (or put 750 class carbs) on and get more hp out of the bike.  If you use the 620 cams, they have more lift as well, about 7-8%

There are significant differences in the M600 motor vs the "real" Pantahs, they aren't drop'in replaceable, fyi, but that shouldn't make a difference.  My 600ss is my favorite bike for a lot of reasons.  It is the most lightweight of everything I have and 55hp seems to go REALLY far with that!

[All Hale]

Hi there,

Yes, i was thinking of the 620.

I see there is an I.E and an I.E Sport, any idea which might be better.

Been reading reviews of the 620 I.E and people seem to love it.

Thanks for your answers, great help.


R

[Scottish]

Hi there,

Yes, i was thinking of the 620.

I see there is an I.E and an I.E Sport, any idea which might be better.

Been reading reviews of the 620 I.E and people seem to love it.

Thanks for your answers, great help.


R

I gotta tell you... I've ridden a 620, and I ride a 695 everyday. The 695 seems to make an asston more power to me.

The 620 I picked up as salvage as an eventual project bike(I'm thinking Terra Monster). I took it for a spin around the block and it felt extremely aneamic. I "borrowed" the chain and sprocket off of it for my 695 and the front wheel comes up ALL the time on the 695 now. Granted the 695 has a full Termi system with ECU and airbox, and the 620 had nothing more than slip-ons. I don't recall the 695 EVER feeling as underpowered as the 620 did though. If you can afford to go with the newer 695 it'd be money well spent IMO.

[ducatiz]

I gotta tell you... I've ridden a 620, and I ride a 695 everyday. The 695 seems to make an asston more power to me.

the 695 has a different EFI system and makes almost as much HP as the S2R800 (Siemens vs Marrelli)

[ltnuke]

I dig my 695. 24k and going strong.  Nice amount of power too.

[weemonster]

One upgrade you can do on the 600 engine is to put 620 heads on.  They are bolt-on and have bigger valves than the 600 heads (41/35 vs 33.5/30) so you can retune the carbs (or put 750 class carbs) on and get more hp out of the bike.  If you use the 620 cams, they have more lift as well, about 7-8%

There are significant differences in the M600 motor vs the "real" Pantahs, they aren't drop'in replaceable, fyi, but that shouldn't make a difference.  My 600ss is my favorite bike for a lot of reasons.  It is the most lightweight of everything I have and 55hp seems to go REALLY far with that!

I REALLY WISH I HADNT READ THIS

[Monster Dave]

We both have 620 Darks. We've never found once that our Darks were sub-par to other Monsters with the same cc's. My sweetie's Duc is an 02 dark (black on black), mine is a rarer 03 Dark (Dark on Silver) as can be seen in the pics. I'd consider the Darks the truer monsters as they appeal to the "minimalists."





Since these images, I have removed the stock mirrors and added a single bar end mirror and added a CF seat cowl to my 03.

We love them and both have over 20k miles on them.

[ducatiz]

I REALLY WISH I HADNT READ THIS

and you can find 620 heads cheap on fleabay.  get them blasted and the valves checked if you don't know the condition of the engine, but they are basically bolt-on and go.  put some FCR 39's on the bike and it's a whole differnet beast entirely.

[Langanobob]

The 620 I picked up as salvage as an eventual project bike(I'm thinking Terra Monster).

Are you the guy keeps outbidding me for hubs and forks?    I have a similar project in mind, maybe not a full-on Terra Mostro but more dirt roadable than stock. 

Back to the original topic, I think the OP can't go wrong with any of the M620's - they seem to be the most reliable of all monsters. 

[Scottish]

Are you the guy keeps outbidding me for hubs and forks?    I have a similar project in mind, maybe not a full-on Terra Mostro but more dirt roadable than stock. 

Back to the original topic, I think the OP can't go wrong with any of the M620's - they seem to be the most reliable of all monsters. 

No not yet. As of right now it's still a pile of parts minus a piece here and there that was used to help someone elses Monster stay or get back on the road.

[weemonster]

We both have 620 Darks. We've never found once that our Darks were sub-par to other Monsters with the same cc's. My sweetie's Duc is an 02 dark (black on black), mine is a rarer 03 Dark (Dark on Silver) as can be seen in the pics. I'd consider the Darks the truer monsters as they appeal to the "minimalists."





Since these images, I have removed the stock mirrors and added a single bar end mirror and added a CF seat cowl to my 03.

We love them and both have over 20k miles on them.

Think it had changed by the time the 620 cane out. by that time Dark was just a colour choice.

[Scottish]

Think it had changed by the time the 620 cane out. by that time Dark was just a colour choice.

You are right Weeeeemonster, originally the dark was a stripped model. Single front disc, and lower grade parts(suspension etc).