Today’s Featured Listing Bimota YB9SR offers a unique blend of Italian styling and pin-sharp handling, along with Japanese reliability and ease of maintenance. Currently, Bimota is partially owned by Kawasaki, and all of their recent models have been powered by Kawasaki engines. Historically though, the company used a wide variety of powerplants from a whole range of manufacturers, with the bike’s name being a clue: the YB9 was the ninth Bimota to be powered by a Yamaha engine. The number has no relationship to engine displacement, as you would expect when discussing motorcycles.
The “SR” marked this as a significant styling update to the existing YB9 “Bellaria” that used a very similar aluminum beam frame, but looked very different, with much more slab sided bodywork than you see with this wasp-waisted design. This was done in an effort to move the balance of the bike towards the front and improve handling. Interestingly the YB9 was nominally a two-seater in both iterations, one of just a couple Bimotas ever to be made with pillion accommodations in mind. This particular example appears to have had the passenger pegs removed, which is probably no big loss, considering the bike’s purpose and specification.
1995 Bimota YB9sr
11,000 miles
Clean title
Current bid: $7,400
The YB9SR was powered by Yamaha’s 600cc 16-valve inline four from the YZF600 and backed by that bike’s six-speed gearbox. It featured a quartet of Keihin carbs and produced a claimed 104hp, up just four over the donor bike. However, it retained the usual 600cc sportbike powerband, and you needed to keep it spinning over 8,000rpm in order to make quick progress on road or track. Suspension was appropriately high-spec: a 41mm Paioli fork up front and a matching Paioli shock at the rear combined with the bike’s sub-400lb dry weight to make the 600’s meager-sounding 104hp feel like much more, and handling was, as you’d expect, superb.
The YB9SR was never officially imported to the US, although I’ve seen a few for sale here. When new, the bike was the least expensive Bimota available, at around $15,000USD. 90s Bimotas have been very affordable for a long time, but prices have begun to creep up steadily over the past few years, so this may be the time to jump in before things get out of hand…
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From the Seller: Bimota YB9SR for Sale
Full restoration just completed on entire bike front to rear which includes the following work:
- Front and rear brake calipers and rear master cylinder fully rebuilt and serviced. Brand new front brake master cylinder.
- Both front and rear brake systems have been flushed with Brembo 600 degree RBF and have brand new custom made black -3 lines. This bike has super-firm and progressive brake lever/pedal action with zero caliper/rotor drag. Wheels roll with zero resistance.
- Brand new set of Michelin Power 5 tires mounted to grey powder coated 17” Marchesini magnesium wheels.
- Brand new premium Regina gold x ring chain and 520 AFAM racing sprockets.
- All fluids flushed and changed. Engine oil and filter changed using Maxima 10/40 full-synthetic. Radiator flushed and cleaned and topped up with new antifreeze.
- All cables lubed and adjusted, throttle snaps back with precision. Clutch and choke cable both have smooth action.
- Fuel supply has been completely restored and includes a brand new in-tank fuel pump, complete carb rebuild and synch, replacement of in-tank hoses, exterior hoses, vacuum lines, fuel pump sealing flange, and the automatic vacuum operated fuel petcock diaphragm assembly has been replaced.
- This bike fires, idles, throttles like new with zero mechanical defects whatsoever. No leaks, no glitches whatsoever.
- Swingarm, shock, mounts, steering stem bearings and all pivot points have been cleaned, greased, properly adjusted and re-torqued. No squeaks, creaks or binding of suspension or steering.
- The 41mm Paioli RW Superbike forks have been fully serviced with including new fork seals, bushings, and fluid and feature full compression and rebound adjustments.
- The YB9sr comes standard with a top shelf, fully adjustable, remote reservoir Paioli mono shock.
- Charging system is fully functional and battery is an AGM type Yuasa with trickle charger pigtail installed. Automatic temp controlled radiator cooling fan functions as normal.
Freshly painted fiberglass with signature “TECH46 Original” graphic/paint package. Instead of the rather bland and conservative solid powder blue or solid lemon yellow paint job that was offered by Bimota, the design partners at TECH46 in Birmingham developed an original, one-of-a-kind, custom paint scheme more flattering and fitting to this exotic machine. Featuring a combination of House of Color candy Oriental Blue and Cobalt Blue striping on Gloss Black with Orion Silver accent striping. This stunning, show quality paint scheme is finished with multiple wet coats of PPG DC2000 clear coat and features reflective white and fluorescent rocket red Bimota logos. This motorcycle is an absolute show stopper when seen in the natural sunlight. Black number plates are flanked by the obligatory Italian flag accents, and currently feature non-clear coated reflective white “#2″’s (should its new owner want to remove or change the racing number). Other than the “2”s, all graphics and decals are cleared coated.The superbike style solo tailsection features a slick LED tail/brake light and the gnarly, obtrusive rear mudguard that came standard on this bike has been jettisoned to allow the aerodynamically clean and sleek under tail with tidy license tag mount. The bike also features a perfectly clear, optically correct, brand new Lief Gustaffson windscreen.
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