As the sun gets ready to shine on another riding season in the northeast, a nice example of a liter Bimota has become available. Looks like this YB11 has undergone a careful riding restoration over the past few years.
1997 Bimota YB11 for sale on eBay
Bimota took a shine to Yamaha’s twenty-valve 1000 early on, and had a nice success with the YB6 and YB8. With Bimota’s airbox and exhaust, the new ThunderAce engine was good for 145 hp and had a fueled weight in the mid-400’s. The chassis was twin alloy beams connected with some of the nicest CNC machinings anywhere, with outsized 51mm Paoli forks with accompanying monoshock. Brembo supplied their typically excellent 320mm brakes, and the exhaust on this example has been updated to an Arrow.
This owner caught the Bimota bug a few years ago, and went through their YB11 with an eye on the future. The fuel system was refreshed from the filter to carburetors, and the forks got new seals. The glass bodywork was reinforced and re-finished, and my favorite mod of replacing every appropriate fastener with stainless ensures that service will be easier next time. From the eBay auction:
Summary of maintenance/upgrades
- Paioli forks fully serviced
- Fairing restored and ALL screw holes strengthened with Carbon Fiber backing to prevent future spider cracks
- All original screws are replaced with hi grade Pro-Bolt Black stainless steel and 318 grade Stainless steel bolts
- New Spark plugs
- Carburetors rebuilt and Dynojet Stage 1 kit installed
- New Fuel filter
- New Fuel Pump
- Rear turn signals replaced with sleek and super bright LED blinkers
- Radiator replaced
- New Radiator cap
- New water pump
- New OEM Yamaha hoses
- Spiegler Steel Braided brake and clutch lines replaced original rubber lines
- New brake pads
- New brake/clutch reservoirs with billet covers
- Beautiful billet levers with larger range of adjustments replaced original cheap levers
- Bikes comes with both rear seat cowl and the rear seat
- Arrows CF Exhaust
The YB11 reviewed as responsive for a big Yamaha, and almost cushy for a Bimota. This one has been updated and maintained for the long haul, or a brilliant long weekend. Just plan extra time for a little Q&A at every stop.
-donn
I was looking at the airtech streamlining website. That have suprising numbers of replacement fiberglass for bimotas. Tesi 1D raceglass anyone?!
Anyway i don’t see anything for this bike. Why do I bring it up? Because I’m not a streetrider and when I buy a bike, its going to get ridden. Cheap white glass is a bit of a must I say. The integrated tank/tail on a bimota seems a real hight risk even if all you did was forget to put the sidestand down.
Any elite riders out there have insights on the topic? Other sources of bodywork you can share?
Reply to Michael J:
Don’t buy (this particular bike) if you’re worried about crashing it and being unable to replace the damaged bits… there are plenty other rides out there with readily available bodywork, etc.
(just an opinion) but make no mistake – I’d never describe myself as an “elite” rider in any sense… so… good luck if you do buy it