With lightweight bodywork held on by just a few bolts [note the one-piece tank-and-tail unit] and a plastic fuel cell, the Bimota YB8 used plenty of tricks learned on the racetrack and was pretty far ahead of its time. Based on the previous YB4 and YB6 but powered by the larger FZR1000 engine, approximately 250 were produced between 1990 and 1994. Bimota claimed 149hp from the FZR1000 engine, up a bit compared to the stock bike due to Bimota ignoring the “gentleman’s agreement” of the time and applying the usual tuning tricks, and the inline four puts its power to the rear wheel through the Yamaha’s standard five-speed box. Top speed is a 173mph but, as always with Bimota, it’s the cornering that impresses the most.
It’s hard to blame a small manufacturer if they wanted to recycle or slightly update an existing frame, especially if the donor engines slot in easily. Looking at the later YB11, the frames look very similar and, as was pointed out by one of the Commentariat, I wonder if a Yamaha R1 engine and transmission might slot in there without too much persuading… Somehow, that doesn’t seem to be as sacrilegious an idea as it would be for something like, say, a Ducati. The resulting bike should be a shade lighter than the original R1 if the manufacturers’ dry weights are to be believed…
From the original eBay listing: 1991 Bimota YB8 for Sale
Very are super bike, mint condition, needs nothing, we ship at buyer’s expense can ship worldwide. Runs excellent, reasonable reserve, rare opportunity.
The listing doesn’t include much information and the bike is clearly part of a larger collection. That’s unfortunate although, obviously restoring that engine should be much easier than for some other obscure motorcycles. Bidding is up to just $5,200 with the Reserve Not Met, but Bimotas of this era seems to be going for around the $10,000 mark these days. Sure, for the price, you could buy a couple of nice Yamaha R1’s, but that’s hardly the point of this bit of Italian exotica.
-tad
Frame was done from scratch by Bimota. The FZR1000 Exup was restricted to 125 hp in Europe but not in the States. The Exup had 145 hp in the States.
Yeah, I know the frame was from Bimota because… That’s what they do. Definitely didn’t mean to suggest that they used Yamaha’s. I did not realize the EXUP had the full-power motor here in the states though! Most of the articles I’ve read on the bikes are from UK-based journalists, so they’d be stuck with the restricted motor.