With the odo now showing about 650 miles, and the bike ready for its first service, I could not be more pleased with the DB5 and the new Bimota company.
Riding impressions first: Light, narrow and responsive. While the DB5 is roughly the same weight as my DB2, and the latter with its heavily reworked engine is faster, the newer bike feels more 'flickable' and lighter to ride. The feel is more like riding a good high performance road bicycle, the seat height of the two models roughly the same but the seating positioned over the narrower center section, so I can flat foot the DB5 while that is not possible with its younger brother. The steering and chassis is set up so the newer bike needs less effort to initiate a turn into a corner, and while the DB2 and DB4 are quite easy and perdictable, the DB5 is markedly better. A very experienced Ducati/Bimota tech noticed the same thing, riding my DB2 up from servicing that bike and then taking the DB5 out for a spin. He returned from riding the newer Bimota with an ear to ear grin.
The 1000DS engine has been flawless so far. The fueling is spot on and the response to throttle just right, quick, but with a lack of snatch that is disconcerting on some bikes. Like most of the DS engines, it runs hot and tight when new, but with about 1000kms on it, it loosens up and runs smoothly and easily.
On the road, the bike responds quickly to throttle and steering inputs, and is an absolute joy in the twisties, flicking quickly but also with absolute composure in the corners. Throttle response is fast, 364 pounds and 92 hp offering more performance than the numbers would indicate. I stayed with my friends 1098S this weekend, when we both found an opening in traffic to move around a car and into a long open sweeper. I stayed with him for a bit until the vastly greater power allowed him to open a healthy lead. The initial response was dead even.
Riding position? I like it, although many would find it extreme. I grew up (many many years ago) riding Brit twins with cafe style bars. I am used to low bars and leaning forward. Granted I can't hold it as long as when I was a kid, but I find this bike no worse then most sportbikes and better than many as to riding position.
The workmanship and build quality is first rate. The metal has been sculpted and shaped with a great deal of not just care, but art. That should be obvious from the picts below. Please note the one where the rear shock is bolted to the rear trellis. The inside of the tubing is painted black, and done smoothly with no build up. That is going over and above, and a sign that the new company is serious about turning out a quality product.
The same can be said for follow up. The rear license plate holder was tightened down a bit too much and the light metal snapped. I got a replacement through my dealer by air right away. (I decided not to use it as it was a bit silly looking, so just bolted the plate to the foundation plate, as shown in the pictures. I think it looks better.)
Nits? The seat is hard as a rock. After an hour or so, my butt is numb. Need to explore some options there. Mirrors are completely, and I do mean completely, worthless. The absolute worst I have had on any bikes, including Ducatis and other Bimotas, notorious for crap mirrors. As you can see from the shots below, I pulled them off and went to a pair of CRG bar ends. I will have a pair of small plates made and painted to match the bases to cover the holes left in the fairing.
All in all, a very, very nice product from the new Bimota operation. Dave
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