It pays to look around, and to find really good bikes at really good prices. When Bimota went BK before its latest resurrection, the US distributor had several of the SB8R models left over, new in crate. The new company has remade that model into the SB8 SantaMonica, with slightly upgraded suspension and bodywork that eliminates the 'snorkels', but is essentially the same bike. That later bike is usually 'on sale' in the mid 20K range. The handful of 2000 models that can be found, and I found one and bought one, as shown below, go for around $15,000. Is there 10k in differences in the two bikes? Not IMHO. Is the ride, performance or handling going to be any different? The engine is identical (and the Suzuki TL 1000 R is a SUPERB engine, very Ducati 999 in character and Bimota added larger injectors), the suspension virtually the same, and the body work revisions minor. And, it is one hell of a great bike, the nearest they have come to a Ducati 4 valve in engine feel (the earlier Bimota used the 2 valve Ducatis) and with all of the other Bimota features in a V twin rather than an in line 4. Pics below. Dave
Linear Mode
