Exotic motorcycles can be polarizing. For some the cost of admission when new is too high, others will fear service and maintenance woes. But this Bimota SB8R offers an interesting mix of Italian flair, low production numbers and the reliability and support of an OEM Suzuki engine. The engine is lifted from a TL1000R so…
Things are always interesting in the world of rare and exotic motorcycles. There seems to be an endless stream of things to ogle and dream about. For many the top of the list is Bimota. The storied Italian brand has always produced lust worthy motorcycles in low volume. Over the years they have used many…
Update 9.24.21: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller. -dc Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace will cough up examples of Suzuki’s thundering, hairy-chested v-twin superbike bruiser if you really look, but they’re almost never worth a second glance. Generally, they’re wrecked, stretched, rattle canned or all three, and more often than not have been…
Update 6.20.2020: This bike has SOLD to an RSBFS reader! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc Back in 1999, the Suzuki TL1000R was full of promise as a Ducati and Honda-fighting superbike weapon. With a new, 135-horsepower v-twin mill, compact dimensions and innovative suspension to keep packaging tight around the big mill. Alas, the TL…
Bimota’s SB8R combined Suzuki TL1000 power with a hybrid alloy/carbon chassis, and presented the company with a WSBK win in 2000. This example was parked in an aircraft hangar for many years but shows none the worse for it. 2000 Bimota SB8R for sale on eBay Bimota saw the potential in Suzuki’s liter twin and…
Update 7.7.2020: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc It was supposed to be a World Superbike-dominating Ducati killer. That never came to pass for the 1999 Suzuki TL1000R, but the bike’s sweet engine gained it a huge cult following. With a few choice modifications, TLs can be fantastic weekend mounts, and…
Update 6.20.2019: We last saw this bike in March of 2018 and bidding ended just shy of $10k. It’s back on eBay with a buy-it-now of $17,875. Links updated. -dc Ducati has come a long way in terms of service costs and reliability. The four-valve Bologna twins have always offered good power and a bulging…
The masters from Rimini were on a roll: From the tube-framed madness from the cusp of the 1980s to the aluminum beams as the 1990s approached, Bimota has always been in the frame game. But unlike many bespoke frame makers who concentrated only on the chassis, these Italian artists disguised as motorcycle makers ensured that…