DB parts list

[Catimann]

Today it was sunny and I had a chance to take the bike to work. I parked it in a safe spot and came out to find it just as I had left it. So just as one would think all is fine I managed to knock it over into the wall. Not a hard hit but a slight crack in the fairing and a busted wind screen.

So I have been thinking about a parts list for DB's and now is the time to either find it or start it. So the easy way is for one of you to tell me "go to this link" but for some reason I think I am out of luck.

I think a post like this could be the place to do this or some other site perhaps. As it turns out we all know Bimota used the basic engine and then put together the rest from all sorts of manufacturers.

For example I know mirrors are from Cagiva and you can get them with out much trouble. So if you know where a part comes from then speak up and if you know where I can get a wind screen, please let me know.

[daotoys1]

I have a few bikes that are no longer in production and the manufacturers have gone belly up. I also have 3 Bimota SB8RS "Special" limited edition bikes 2000 model year.

Bimota parts can be both expensive and/or very hard to get.I waited 2 years to get a new replacement gas tank for example.

My solution was to slowly collect my own spare parts inventory. Engine items no big deal since Bimota uses other peoples engines and parts for these are fairly easy to get. The Bimota specific parts are the things you should collect. After collecting parts I now have 2 or 3 complete full sets of body work and another 1 or 2 take off/used sets of the same. I have 2 or 3 new gas tanks, a few new sets of wheels, brakes, exhaust, and many boxes of various Bimota parts that I bought from people selling off left over spares after they sold their bikes. Ebay has also been a good source, but I will only buy new Bimota parts from Ebay. I dont trust used parts because in my experience used items are often not worth the money and are often blemished and/or damaged.

If you just look over the bike you can easily make a want list. Any and all body work, and and all items that may touch the ground if the bike were to fall over and or crash should be included. Various nuts and bolts and cnc machined parts should be considered.

Its best to just constantly look for parts. They show up every once and awhile. If you were to order and/or buy new from a Bimota dealer the cost will floor you. For example, the retail price of the carbon fiber SB8R/SB8RS seat/tail section is about $4000 USD.

So over a few years time you can start a good collection for a few grand/thousand USD or more.

Another way to collect parts is to actually buy another bike of the same model. For example; I started with only one SB8RS. Once I found out how expensive and how hard parts were, I started looking for a second SB8RS. And when Bimota went out of business I actually found and bought a third bike. So I now have 3 SB8RS bikes and tons of parts.

I know this is extreme, but if/when I choose to sell the bikes, I can fairly easily sell off the parts I have also collected.

I have done this same thing with a few different exotics, only because parts are such a special problem. My BMWs for example I treat differently; other than some oil and air filters, and some spark plugs, I dont collect any parts because BMW parts are very reasonably priced and easy to get/order because BMW like many mainstream bikes have a very strong dealer/parts/service network all over the world. Bimota and other exotic manufacturers are a very different story.

So with your Bimota; for example; start watching Ebay and other websites and eventually you can find your hard to get Bimota parts, and little by little you can buy and build up your own private parts inventory.

No if you are collecting a rare exotic and not riding it/them, then there is less need to have spares since there is less chance of damage. However many collectors will tend to collect parts along with the bikes they collect. And collectors often network with other like minded collectors so as a group collectors help support each other by selling/buying/trading parts between them so they all benefit buy keeping their bikes in good condition.

You will find that owning a Bimota is a very different type of motorcycling experience. If you find that you do not like this, then dont buy/own/ride an exotic; just stay with the mainstream mass produced manufacturers where parts and support is very easy to come by.

Owning a Bimota is like owning a vintage/antique motorcycle because maintaining an old out of production bike is very similar in this regard (little or now dealer/parts/service or any other type of assistance except through collectors and/or a few speciality sources).

Most people do not want this. They buy an exotic and when they need a part or parts/service help they "s--t their pants" when they find out they cant get parts in a day or a week, and the closest dealer support may be hundred or even thousands of miles away. And parts instead of a few dollars or tens of dollars actually cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Its very much like comparing a Ford or Chevy to owning a Italian exotic sports car.....

Enough said

[daotoys1]

One more very important consideration; If you own/ride a Bimota, it is very much to your benefit to set the bike up as best you can to maximize the safety for you the rider but also to protect the bike too. This means that you should crash proof your bike as best you can, with fairing/crash bungs (you know, like the races use). Wheel/axle/spindle guards, as well as swingarm protectors also will help. Handlebar/clip on guards.....you get the idea.

Now the problem here is that to do this (crash proof a Bimota) you will most likely need to come up with you own parts and/or modify crash protection components made for other bikes, since Bimota crash protection does not exist for all models.

Moto Corse does make some crash protection for a few of the more recent Bimota items. I dont know, but there may be other sources. For my SB8RS bikes (and my Benelli Tornado TRE LE for example) I had to make my own crash protectors.....depending on the model of Bimota you own, you may need to search hard to find these things, and may need to also create your own designs.

I hope I have been of some help.

[Nick2208]

This might help. http://www.bikescreen.com/products.asp?cat=90 I also have a digital copy of the DB2 parts manual, that I can email if you need it. I'm not sure about availability, although I have heard that Bimota is planning to make older parts available. Whether that will actually happen...

Nick

[bimotard]

Originally Posted by Nick2208

This might help. http://www.bikescreen.com/products.asp?cat=90 I also have a digital copy of the DB2 parts manual, that I can email if you need it. I'm not sure about availability, although I have heard that Bimota is planning to make older parts available. Whether that will actually happen...

Nick

Yes, a friend from Barcelona, who has 8 Bimotas (The SB1 of the picture, for example), bought here a wind screen for his YB5.

[Catimann]

Well I think the ideas put forth are great but I was thinking along a diff. line.

For example a DB4 DB2 and VDUE head light are all the same and the orriginal is from Yamaha.

So if one has a list of the nonbimota specific parts and the place Bimota first found them, then life would be a little more simple.

Anyone heard of such a list?