V-Due on Ebay

[dnovo]

Reading up on the V-Due just posted on Ebay ( http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWAX:IT), something seems a bit odd. The original bikes did not work. They did switch to carbs after the injection puked, but they still had crankcase/crankshaft issues etc. The only ones I know of that ever worked properly-- and I know this first hand -- were a small number rebuilt with new crankcases, and a whole lot more. As the ebay write up admits, these were built or rebuilt in the 2003/4 era as purchased from the receiver and completely -- and properly -- rebuilt by someone other than Bimota. This would not be one of those.

This one is apparently one of the first generation bikes that Bimota tried to 'band aid' into running, but according to contemporary roadtests, that was to no avail. Many were sent to the track to race. And again, did not do real well there either. Was this one one of those? Looks like it.

The bodywork seems very banged up for a 'low mileage' bike and, but for the explanation in the listing about how this supposedly happened, I'd say one of the many ex-race examples that were shipped up and back to the track in a trailer, got banged around that way, are now filtering back out cobbled together for the street.

But the seller says no, and the price is very, very low. He may be completely honest and is just selling it at a bargain price. I have no way of telling, but I can say that if you want a street rider, you may be in for a surprise. I have tried to run other first generation V-Dues and they were miserable and nigh on impossible to ride on the street. Maybe a great garage queen, but a rider? I'd say not.

Dave

[WYD OPN]

Originally Posted by dnovo

Reading up on the V-Due just posted on Ebay ( http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWAX:IT), something seems a bit odd. The original bikes did not work. They did switch to carbs after the injection puked, but they still had crankcase/crankshaft issues etc. The only ones I know of that ever worked properly-- and I know this first hand -- were a small number rebuilt with new crankcases, and a whole lot more. As the ebay write up admits, these were built or rebuilt in the 2003/4 era as purchased from the receiver and completely -- and properly -- rebuilt by someone other than Bimota. This would not be one of those.

This one is apparently one of the first generation bikes that Bimota tried to 'band aid' into running, but according to contemporary roadtests, that was to no avail. Many were sent to the track to race. And again, did not do real well there either. Was this one one of those? Looks like it.

The bodywork seems very banged up for a 'low mileage' bike and, but for the explanation in the listing about how this supposedly happened, I'd say one of the many ex-race examples that were shipped up and back to the track in a trailer, got banged around that way, are now filtering back out cobbled together for the street.

But the seller says no, and the price is very, very low. He may be completely honest and is just selling it at a bargain price. I have no way of telling, but I can say that if you want a street rider, you may be in for a surprise. I have tried to run other first generation V-Dues and they were miserable and nigh on impossible to ride on the street. Maybe a great garage queen, but a rider? I'd say not.

Dave

Well said. (No reflection on this owner/bike.)

[Catimann]

Well someone liked it. Sold $19,000.

[martinvdue]

just a comment with regard to the very first v dues. i have one of the very first (104) and it is unpleasant to ride in city traffic as the first muffler after the expansion chamber and before the stingers "strangles" it. however on the open road it runs very well and has frequented my local race track in bears events (christchurch, new zealand) again with no problems, though it does run better with new racing fuel. it was the only one in nz but a second has just come in via a collector. martin