Having put a fair amount of miles on my new DB5, and comparing it to other Ducati engined Bimotas built under the former company's banner (there is, from what I can tell, very little by way of management or design spill over between the newest set of owners and the company that exised 1970s through the 2000 disaster) I thought I'd offer my thoughts:
The DB5 carries on the DB heritage of lightweight and handling, with a stock or near stock 'low tech' Ducati powerplant. The first impression you get when mounting the DB5 is that is EXTREMELY narrow and very, very light. Despite a seat height that measures less than my DB1, which despite very short legs, I can flatfoot with ease, I can do the same on the taller DB5. The DB1 through 4 are 'fatter' through the tank, bodywork section, and the DB5 has a light, narrow feel that compliments its light weight (364 pounds dry) that makes it feel closer to the diminutive DB 1 than any of its later half brothers.
Under way, the feel is, again, like the DB1 as far as 'flickability' and speed of resonse. The DB5 reacts instantly and the suspension is perfectly set for fast street use.
The biggest, and most satisfying change is the engine. The 1000DS, even with the stock exhausts, has increbible punch from about 4000 rpm through its 9000 rev limts. (The tach on the DB5 has red hash marks at 10,500. Don't try that, as that is WAY over the limits of this engine. I haven't tried to find a rev limiter, although I assume that like the stock DS it has one, and have not intention of finding out if the bike will really go that far.) While I had read some reports of fueling issues on the first models, the injection on mine is spot on and response from the fuel injected 2 valve is perfect -- and 'grunt city' out of the corners! More than a match, and then some, for my DB4 with the 944 kit and flat sides or the 904 Corse set up in the DB4.
The brakes and suspension are, again, perfectly set up and the former very powerful. One surprise was the rear brake -- it actually works! I rode my YB8 around for a while before I was putting it in the chok in the garage one day and the rear brake peddle went straight down. I never use the rear brake when riding and hadn't noticed a leak in the rear when an O ring had dried out from non-use. The rear brake on the DB5 actually works, and I have come to start using it when I want to slow a little or come up to a stop sign. Very comfortable for that type of work.
The ergos are nice, a bit more 'boy racer' than my DB4 but the adjustable foot pegs let you rotate them down and forward with just a 5mm hex wrench. (Assuming of course some idiot at the factory hadn't rounded one of mine out. Dealer shipped out a spare and Mr. Drill took the old one out.)
Nits to pick? The tach is great, kinda like my 999S, large, positioned right in your face and easy to read with a quick glance down a bit from your normal view. No stupid video game bar graph to puzzle through while you are trying to concentrate on your ride. The LCD readout, however, sucks. The speedo and mileage readings are nigh on invisible in most daylight conditions and the angle of view is off.
Final nit? The seat is classic Italian slab. Hard as a friggin rock. Time to figure out who can do a custom seat for me.
All in all, a very worthy successor to the earlier DB models. In the 'flesh', the bike looks far better than the pictures, the color scheme much like the YB10, aka Dieci. The frame is well executed and the welds, etc very nicely done. A little slop in routing some of the wiring, but nothing that I couldn't and didn't cure with a few cable ties. I am very pleased with this Bimota for the 21st Century.
Dave
Dave
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