1995 Bimota SB6 on ebay
I will to admit to hesitating before posting this one as the number of pictures is low, the paint job is apparently non-stock (per Bob @ Bimotaspirit) and mileage is higher than most Bimota’s. But for many the SB6 is close-to-if-not the pinnacle of the 1990’s Bimota offerings and has even been listed as one of the sexiest Bimota’s ever built.
The 1990’s Bimota philosphy was pretty straighforward; take powerful Japanese engines, transport them into better handling chassis/frame, add better bodywork, exhaust systems, a few bits of trick like carbon fiber or billet footpegs. For the SB6, Bimota took the Suzuki GSX1100 engine (which put out about 150 hp) and placed it within a framework of big aluminium spars that curve from the steering head all the way down outside the engine. The frame also incorporates the rear swing-arm pivots while the rear suspension was via an Öhlins unit placed horizontally. The seat was a MotoGP style carbon-fiber floating design and everything was shaped to blend smoothly into the tank cover which like all the bodywork was a composite of carbon and fiberglass for lightness and good looks. Oh there was also a Bimota designed exhaust the moved the exhaust under the tail/rear fairing unit.
Overall the SB6 was better looking and over 40kilos lighter than the GSX it was based on. However it was also much more expensive than the standard GSX-R1100 and only 1140 units were built before Bimota stoped production to focus on the followup, the SB6R.
This particular SB6 seems to have been painted with a style similar to the Bimota DB2 tri-colore, albeit with different colors. It doesn’t look bad but probably won’t appeal to collectors looking for a full OEM setup. Perhaps the OEM bodywork is available from the seller?
The bike has definitely been ridden as evidenced by the mileage and the pics the seller has posted.
What is this SB6 worth? I truly don’t know….on the plus side the SB6 is probably the most well-rounded model of all of the classic/pre-bankruptcy) Bimota models and a total of 1144 units were built so parts will probably be available with a bit of work. On the negative side this SB6 seems to have non-stock turn signals, a missing rear mudguard, non-OEM paint, and the mileage might require some service (although the seller indicates fresh tires).
We tend to see more of the SB6R model that followed this one for sale here on RSBFS so info on current values of the SB6 model is kind of limited. From what I was able to find, asking prices for a stock SB6 seem to be about 6,800 USD. Current bidding on this one is at 4,650 with reserve not met and I think a fair price is somewhere in the middle.
-Marty/Dallaslavowner
Note: To see what a standard SB6 looks like, check out this RSBFS post from Aug 2013.
I’d rather have the gixxer they pulled the lump out of…
Congratulations to the owner, somehow they managed to do it…. that paint job looks even worse than the original. Vanilla Ice should be riding that thing.
And why would anyone polish the frame/swing arm of a Bimota, permanently devaluing it? High mileage + terrible repaint + polished frame + Bimota’s highest production numbers = a cheap rider Bimota!
Pokemon paintjob, uugh.
Scott Russell on a Bimota. Wait a minute!! I want to like it but just can’t. Stock sells, and this one isn’t. Tough crowd, I know. The upside is that if you crashed it again, no big deal. Maybe it’s more fun this way.