Given the Bimota SB8R’s exotic reputation, you might be surprised to learn just how affordable they can be. They’re one of the most commonly-seen Bimotas and offer up Ducati noise and performance with looks that you’d never confuse with anything else. The slightly odd styling certainly matches the exotic brand and the bike uses Suzuki’s…
Cagiva’s Raptor was a followup to the Ducati Monster by the original bike’s designer, Miguel Angel Galluzzi. Powered by Suzuki’s powerful, reliable and, most importantly, low-maintenance v-twin in both 650 and 1000cc flavors, the Raptor attempted to recreate the magical Monster formula for Cagiva. Unfortunately, while it was better in pretty much every quantifiable way…
Update 3.1.2016: Previously bid to $7,100 reserve not met this past November, this SB8R is back on eBay and reserve is currently met at $7k. Good luck to buyers and seller. Links updated. -dc Emerging from the V-Due induced bankruptcy, Bimota produced a master stroke, a beautifully designed monoposto based on the exciting Suzuki TL-1000…
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…
In the late 1990s, manufacturers of sportbikes had basically given up on the v-twin like the one that powers this Suzuki TL1000R. Twins could still be found in smaller bikes, but serious sport machines had mostly moved onto the inline-four configuration. Except, of course, for Ducati and they probably stuck with it because they couldn’t…
It was clear that Ducati had a lock on the “sexy v-twin” market in the mid-90s, selling basically every 916 they could make at a very premium price. But, aside from the funky, springless valves, they weren’t really offering anything all that innovative, and Suzuki figured they could do something much better for cheaper. And…
As the 1990’s wound down Bimota ventured into powerplant development, and produced a race-derived 500cc two-stroke mill for their 1997 V-Due. Not for the meek however, fuel injection difficulties forced a recall and Bimota re-fit the entire production with carburettors, leaving them mostly outside emissions regulations for street machines, and ultimately forcing the partners to…
2000 Bimota SB8R on eBay Bimota managed to carve out a nice little niche in the sportbike market by taking existing engines from established manufacturers and packaging them in their own sexy Italian style. The Bimota SB8R might be the epitome of that idea. Starting with the positively stonking 135hp 996cc v-twin from Suzuki’s Tl1000R, Bimota…