Hard to fault Suzuki ( and Honda ) for trying to follow Ducati’s “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” strategy – with a big twin superbike which took advantage of WSBK rules and had torquey street performance. The TL-1000R had some unusual innovations and great power and sound. Though it didn’t result in a long…
Up for auction just after its appearance at the Quail Motorcycle Gathering, this signature Bimota didn’t trophy but is still quite special. Developed to help Bimota out of a near bankruptcy, the SB8R was Suzuki V-twin powered with a gorgeous hybrid chassis. Generally one of the more affordable Bimotas, the SB8R is still a rare…
Drawing on his experience re-invigorating Laverda, industrialist Francesco Tognon’s similar approach to Bimota involved development of a slightly less exotic and more saleable motorcycle. The resulting SB8R used Suzuki’s TL-1000 L-twin in a carbon-aluminum hybrid frame, and put Bimota on the comeback trail. 2000 Bimota SB8R for sale on eBay A showcase for early carbon-fiber…
Honda’s entry into the sporty twin market was torquey and innovative, with Honda’s reputation for reliability. Though the model fell short in race breeding and wasn’t long-lived, it had moderate ergonomics, nicely tuned suspension, and masterful big twin carburetion. The VTR1000F lives on as a great used sportbike, this example is lightly customized and very…
In the 1990’s several manufacturers brought big V-twins out, hoping to share the thunderbikes’ successes. Suzuki had some neat innovations aboard the 1997 TL1000S and its racier sibling -R, the 996cc engine had cam drive with gears and chain, and separate rear spring and rotary shock. The company returned to its inline four roots in 2002, but the TL1000S was a…
Note: likely a private sale, this auction was ended just before post time… Since the ST’s inception in 1998, the sport touring side of the Ducati line was a lot more sport than touring. Right from the ST2 the bikes went well and looked better without the bags than with. 2001 saw the 996cc desmoquattro…
Fully faired and with re-designed chassis, Suzuki’s TL1000R provided a short-term home for their wonderful 996cc V-twin. Originally built to compete with Ducati for Superbike wins and sales, the factory returned to the four-cylinder formula for racing in 2004. The distinctive sound of the TL-R’s chain and gear cam drive, also used in the Bimota SB8K, lives on…
Here is another low-mileage 996R in fantastic condition! Bike: 2001 Ducati 996R Mileage: 135mi Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Price: $20,000 in stock form or $22,000 with extras We’ve had several 996R’s on RSBFS and most have been fantastic, low mileage, examples. This example here doesn’t disappoint either with only 135 miles total. Here is what the…