Ducati 620 MONSTER S CATWOMAN 2004 — Specifications

When Bologna decides to play the cinema card, the results can be surprising. In 2004, Ducati rode the wave of the Catwoman movie release starring Halle Berry to produce a limited-edition version of its small Monster. The result: a 620 Monster S dressed in a special livery designed by Cubic Co. Ltd, sold for €8,500 and accompanied by a matching clothing collection, including an Arai helmet and Casadei boots. Pure marketing, committed right down to the mirrors.

Beneath this feline outfit lies the well-known technical foundation of the Monster 620. The air-cooled 618 cc Desmo V-twin produces 60 horsepower at 9,500 rpm and 53 Nm of torque at 6,750 rpm. Nothing wild on paper, and that's precisely what makes this engine so charming. Two valves per cylinder, a 10.5:1 compression ratio, a five-speed gearbox, and chain drive: this is all about effective simplicity. Top speed caps out at 186 km/h, which is more than enough for an urban roadster of this displacement. By comparison, a Suzuki SV 650 from the same era offered a bit more punch, but the Ducati plays on different ground — that of character and mid-range temperament.

The chassis deserves a closer look. The tubular steel trellis frame, a visual hallmark of the Monster family, houses a 43 mm inverted fork and a rear monoshock. Suspension travel of 130 mm at the front and 148 mm at the rear places this machine in an urban comfort zone with no excessive sporting pretensions. Braking relies on two 320 mm discs gripped by four-piston calipers up front, and a 245 mm disc with a two-piston caliper at the rear. For a 620, that's rather generous. The 120/60-17 and 160/60-17 tires confirm the compact dimensions of the machine. At 193 kg wet and with a seat height of just 770 mm, this Monster remains accessible to virtually all riders, A2 license holders first and foremost.

The real issue with this Catwoman edition is obviously one of positioning. Ducati was looking to capitalize on the image of Halle Berry in a tight-fitting suit, having already placed a 998 in Matrix Reloaded a year earlier. The problem is that the Catwoman movie turned out to be a monumental critical disaster. Tying your name to a film that became the laughing stock of Hollywood is a bet that ages poorly. Mechanically, this 620 brings nothing more than the standard Monster S. The difference comes down solely to the paintwork and its collector appeal. Twenty years on, this limited edition mainly attracts fans of oddities and collectors of unusual Ducati models.

What remains is a pleasant everyday motorcycle, easy to get to grips with, delivering that grain of character only an Italian twin can provide. The 15-liter tank demands frequent stops on long rides, but nobody buys a Monster 620 to cross the country. It's a city bike and back-road machine, built for Sunday rides with mates. The Catwoman version simply adds a story to tell over coffee. Nothing more, nothing less.