Bimota "Streetfigther"

[dnovo]

You would be surprised what turns up on the Net. Over the last year, I have watched a stripped down YB11 pop up on eBay. The bike was reasonably priced, located about two hours from my home/shop, and the price kept dropping. To make a long story short, it popped up again recently and I got it for the opening minimum. Picked it up last week, brought it to the shop and rode it very briefly during the ten seconds of good weather we had over the last few days.

The pictures below explain this beast: A YB11 stripped of its body work and with the engine rebuilt and punched out to 1140cc. Custom (loud) exhaust, but with the frame and suspension left stock. The front fairing is a modified Honda F4, the lower front taken from a Suzuki SV650 and the rear section from a Yamaha R1. Rear turn signals integrated into the brake light, custom built (but very nice) rearsets, lacking only the front turn signals (being added) and a well down red/white paint scheme.

The amount of weight carved off is hard to tell, but between that and the upgraded engine, it pulls like Jack the Bear (I suspect the gearing has been modified for corners and sub 110mph use, which makes sense. Need to check the gearing more this weekend.) Handling is basically stock YB11, a very stiff front end. We swapped tires for a set of Q2s, which made for a lot of difference and I still need to sort the front out a bit more.

All in all, quite different and a lot of fun for not a lot of cash. Just thought I would share. Dave

[Bimota fan]

Congrats. Looks like fun and I'm guessing it sounds good too.

Steve

[dnovo]

Good, and VERY LOUD. Dave

[dnovo]

In response to a note from a local Bimota guy, no I sold off my newish YB 11 25th Anniversary about a year and a half ago. Didn't light my fire and the classic offer I couldnt refuse. No, not planning on replacing it. Not my favorite Bimota.

So, as he asked, which ones don't you have? He was up at the Museum last weekend and went through the collection and noticed the newest before this, a YB10 Dieci. Another too good to pass up. Nicely restored and well under market price. These are nice riders, with the ergos adjusted from it's immediate predecessor, my YB8 to raise the bars up and a bit back, with the saddle peg relationship less cramped. The looks are not to everyone's taste but I like it. Prices are reasonable based on relatively plentiful build prior to the 'glut' of SB6 and 6Rs that were even more readily available.

'Were' is the key here. When was the last time you saw an unmolested YB10 or earlier Bimota for sale? The market has dried up of late even in this 'buyer's' market. Now the guy in Michigan doesn't seem to be moving his admittedly choice, but grossly over priced stuff on eBay, but the KB3 is bringing a strong response. Guess those of us with olders Bimotas are doing a whole lot better than the Stock Market, eh?

Sorry for the rambling. Dave

[rodericb]

Whoah mamma, there's not a lot of Bimota left there!

[dnovo]

Other than the bodywork, it's still a Bimota. Dave

[rodericb]

Yes, true Dave. The chassis brings the name I guess but on a YB11 I reckon the body work and rear sets make up about 51% of the Bimota bits on it! We did get a small number of "streetfighter" YB11's from Germany here in Australia in around 2001.

Sent from my Atrix with the Motorcycle.com app.

[Ducatierv]

Nice one Dave, funny enough I also have a YB11 project, you could also call it a "streetfighter" but I never completed it, had it for 10yrs sitting in my garage. The Engine/carbs and electrics have now gone but everything else is mostly there. I agree on the front end though , had a terrible time getting my YB11's and Sb6Rs to track smoothly through the corners. My other YB11 is getting magnesium wheels soon (from a forum member) and I have scheduled my forks to get completely rebuilt and hopefully revalved etc by Traxxion Dynamics soon.

Its interesting to see that a old skool 85-87 GSXR750 gastank on your YB11 it kinda works!