DB7 sickness

[yelworC]

I cant quite get this bike ouf of my head. Its something special about it that i cant put my finger on. Now since im not a fat rich bastard i was wondering if the bike is going to ruin me in terms of running/service costs? And what about the quality? Will it start every time a push the button? Im used to Honda v-twins and there's never a problem with them. Also,is the bike useful for hard road riding or only for the track? I want to use it in real life,and i tend to drive my bikes pretty hard,for a road rider that is. (I try to copy Adrian Archibald's riding style )

[CAlexio]

Originally Posted by yelworC

I cant quite get this bike ouf of my head. Its something special about it that i cant put my finger on. Now since im not a fat rich bastard i was wondering if the bike is going to ruin me in terms of running/service costs? And what about the quality? Will it start every time a push the button? Im used to Honda v-twins and there's never a problem with them. Also,is the bike useful for hard road riding or only for the track? I want to use it in real life,and i tend to drive my bikes pretty hard,for a road rider that is. (I try to copy Adrian Archibald's riding style )

I'm not fat, & I haven't been called a bastard recently, but I worked hard so I could easily afford quite a few bimotas if I wanted so here's my answer:

Servicing costs are similar/equal to a ducati's since engine, suspension, brakes are the same basically. Bimota uses CAN wiring and similar ECU so starting should be similar to a ducati. It will probably NOT have the reliability or low costs of operation like a Honda, but you knew that already didn't you? Parts do take awhile to come by, but if you don't crash, and do your maintenance (valve changes, oil changes etc.) it is as great a bike as any to be ridden hard. If you can afford the valve changes, belt changes, maint. of a 1098 then you can afford the maint. on the db7.

Now that I've answered I'm going to go crash a d16rr and a db7 into each other for fun, while eating 2 large meatlover's pizzas & flicking everyone off as I pass.

[bimotard]

A small session of masochism.

[CAlexio]

bimotard, you must be really fat and a 200% bastard... now answer the OP (a poor skinny nice guy) and tell him about maintenance costs please.

[zvez]

Man I love the DB7 too, but bimota goes in and out of business so frequently it'll make your head spin, no probs on the non proprietary parts but things like bodywork and such........................ You can get some screamin deals on SB8Rs ca. 2000 from the last time bimota was business.

Chris

[daotoys1]

Since the DB7 engine is a Ducati 1098 unit, you can call and talk to your local Ducati shops to get quotes on both parts and labor/service charges. Parts are going to be more expensive and a bit harder to get. service will be at least double that of similar service on a Jap bike.

The real expense is Bimota specific compinents like frame, body work and the like. Bimota genuine parts are extememly expensive, and can be gotten, but usually after a very very long wait. Even the simplest little part can and will be back ordered and/or be special order only.

The suspension components can be sourced from the manufacturers and/or through their dealers...so it will be easier to deal with than the Bimota parts, but more expensive than Jap stuff because Bimota uses top of the line components.

Its true that Bimota has a very bad track record, and it is not as stable as the big manufacturers, so at any time Bimota can go belly up. If this happens then Bimota parts will be very very hard to get for sure.

I have 3 Bimotas from earlier models, and to be sure I can keep them running and in mint condition, I have been collecting parts for the last 10 years so I have my own parts inventory.

If you just have the Bimota as a collectors item, no problem. If you plan to ride the bike, no problem as long as its a current model, and Bimota is still in business.

If you plan to keep the bike for the long term, then parts will become harder to get as time goes on. If Bimota goes out business again then you will be in trouble, depending on how long it takes for a new owner to start up the business again.

If Bimota goes out of business and is then started up again by new management, not all older bikes will be cared for my the new owners, so you could loose your warranty, and/or parts, service, and customer service may be nill.

A lot of owners, dealers, and even importers that at one time were really into Bimota, now have a bad taste in the mouth from being screwed by Bimotas past few bankrupt experiences.

It is true that the newest Bimotas are fantastic bikes and in my opinion are of the best quality ever by anyone including Bimota itself.

I know alot of exBimota riders that will never own one again. I also know a lot of Bimota owners that will never sell their bikes. Personally I plan to keep going with Bimota. I plan to buy 2 or 3 of the new models in the near future. Simply because nothing in motorcycling compares to Bimota.

Bimotas are hand made and hand built. There is no assembly line, they are built by 1 or 2 mechanics with great attention to fit and finish. Bimota only makes a few bikes every day. And most models are only made in the hundreds or less. No other road bike is built/made like this.

If you have never owned a Bimota and you are interested in getting one, I would say go do it. If the money is to much, then buy either a carryover new bike from earlier model years. And/or buy a good used low miles bike. There are a lot of new 2005, 2006, 2007 Bimota out there at dealers. There are a lot of like new Bimotas out there owned by collectors that occassionally come up for sale. There are many low mile used Bimotas always available. All you have to do is look.

Either way; buying a new or a used Bimota is a special experience, and I bet you will enjoy it even with the potential negatives.

Good luck....let us know what you buy...

[bimotard]

Originally Posted by daotoys1

Since the DB7 engine is a Ducati 1098 unit, you can call and talk to your local Ducati shops to get quotes on both parts and labor/service charges. Parts are going to be more expensive and a bit harder to get. service will be at least double that of similar service on a Jap bike.

The real expense is Bimota specific compinents like frame, body work and the like. Bimota genuine parts are extememly expensive, and can be gotten, but usually after a very very long wait. Even the simplest little part can and will be back ordered and/or be special order only.

The suspension components can be sourced from the manufacturers and/or through their dealers...so it will be easier to deal with than the Bimota parts, but more expensive than Jap stuff because Bimota uses top of the line components.

Its true that Bimota has a very bad track record, and it is not as stable as the big manufacturers, so at any time Bimota can go belly up. If this happens then Bimota parts will be very very hard to get for sure.

I have 3 Bimotas from earlier models, and to be sure I can keep them running and in mint condition, I have been collecting parts for the last 10 years so I have my own parts inventory.

If you just have the Bimota as a collectors item, no problem. If you plan to ride the bike, no problem as long as its a current model, and Bimota is still in business.

If you plan to keep the bike for the long term, then parts will become harder to get as time goes on. If Bimota goes out business again then you will be in trouble, depending on how long it takes for a new owner to start up the business again.

If Bimota goes out of business and is then started up again by new management, not all older bikes will be cared for my the new owners, so you could loose your warranty, and/or parts, service, and customer service may be nill.

A lot of owners, dealers, and even importers that at one time were really into Bimota, now have a bad taste in the mouth from being screwed by Bimotas past few bankrupt experiences.

It is true that the newest Bimotas are fantastic bikes and in my opinion are of the best quality ever by anyone including Bimota itself.

I know alot of exBimota riders that will never own one again. I also know a lot of Bimota owners that will never sell their bikes. Personally I plan to keep going with Bimota. I plan to buy 2 or 3 of the new models in the near future. Simply because nothing in motorcycling compares to Bimota.

Bimotas are hand made and hand built. There is no assembly line, they are built by 1 or 2 mechanics with great attention to fit and finish. Bimota only makes a few bikes every day. And most models are only made in the hundreds or less. No other road bike is built/made like this.

If you have never owned a Bimota and you are interested in getting one, I would say go do it. If the money is to much, then buy either a carryover new bike from earlier model years. And/or buy a good used low miles bike. There are a lot of new 2005, 2006, 2007 Bimota out there at dealers. There are a lot of like new Bimotas out there owned by collectors that occassionally come up for sale. There are many low mile used Bimotas always available. All you have to do is look.

Either way; buying a new or a used Bimota is a special experience, and I bet you will enjoy it even with the potential negatives.

Good luck....let us know what you buy...

+1
With the Bimota, is prohibited to fall.
At least in Spain, you can try the Bimota before to buy it.
I am a bit to diet.

[bradyh20]

Originally Posted by alexio

Now that I've answered I'm going to go crash a d16rr and a db7 into each other for fun, while eating 2 large meatlover's pizzas & flicking everyone off as I pass.

Possibly the funniest thing I've read all day lol...

[bimotard]

The only one Gobert in Spain and the only one Santamonica in Spain, together.

[bimotard]

A SB8R by Motocorse.