One of the oddities offered up by performance boutique bike builder Bimota (say that a few times fast), the Mantra was – to put it bluntly – a brand failure. It is probably not fair to write off the Mantra completely, however, as the ovid-tube frame made its way to the DB4 (as did the air-cooled Ducati 2-valve desmo powerplant). The styling (rather than the sporting intent) was the polarizing feature of this bike, and the masses did not flock to it like earlier Bimota designs. Thankfully, it does offer the same artistic aproach to engineering as do all legendary machines from Rimini.
The seller’s text for this auction includes an excerpt from Motorcycle News. I believe it captures the spirit of this bike perfectly:
“”What the hell is that?” is likely to be the first comment from anyone who sees you ride into town on a Bimota Mantra. But don’t be scared, underneath designer Sacha Lakic’s tribute to Buck Rogers sci-fi there’s a sensible Ducati-engined cruiser/roadster. A claimed 85bhp from the old 904cc Duke motor, plus classy suspension and chassis detailing make the Bimota Mantra surprisingly easy to ride.”
From the seller:
This bike will get looks wherever you go. I’ve had it for years but only put about 1,000 miles on it. Its been kept in a garage its entire life.
Mantras do not come up for sale often, although they are not as rare as some of the Bimotoa lineup. This one has but 2,600 miles and change on the wood-paneled clock, and bidders have definitely turned out for the occasion. The current price is $7,000, with reserve still in place. If a Mantra is missing from your collection, here is your chance to fill that empty spot. Click the link to jump over to the auction. Good Luck!
MI
wood paneling on a motorcycle dash? yeesh – that has to rank near the top in the list of tragic misunderstandings of your audience…