More DB 7 Photos
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Being a Bike Curmudgeon, I sometimes am a bit outspoken. I find the MV 'special editions' overpriced, overstuffed, and pointless. The CC is about $80,000 overpriced when you add the cost of the add on parts to what is essentially a stock, mildly-massaged drive train. They made a handful of real track models (the Pista comes to mind) but the CC is strictly for rich twits who don't have something else to do with their money. Right up their with the six figure Harley wannabes like the Confederate.
Want to spend your money on something with more lasting value and honesty? There are a couple of Harley KR-TT road racers coming up for sale in the Mid America auction in a week or so, real racers, real history, and made to work, not just blinged out.
My 2 cents and YMMV. Dave
Want to spend your money on something with more lasting value and honesty? There are a couple of Harley KR-TT road racers coming up for sale in the Mid America auction in a week or so, real racers, real history, and made to work, not just blinged out.
My 2 cents and YMMV. Dave
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190 Posts
Dave, you remind me of the old Dr. Seuss classic line: "Be who you are and do what you do; those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter."
I greatly enjoy all your perspectives about anything regarding motorcycling, even if I set my priorities differently. Your candid contributions are largely responsible for a rekindled Bimota flame for me.
It would be hard for me to dismiss the MV Limiteds with all the Harley-esque customs, though. Though some are "blingy", they have a solid mechanical foundation from the base F4s. Very reliable and usable as "real" bikes.
The CC pricing was a joke, along with the whole jacket/watch thing; but the bike itself is sublime, IMHO. I suppose I actually LIKE some of the Italian pretentious over-indulgence, but not from a "rich twit" mentality. (Pista = Grail, though).
The stand-alone fact for me is that your DB7 Carbonio is breath-taking and virtually incomparable. None are more gorgeous, few are much faster. Perfect!
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643 Posts
more DB7
A few more DB7 pic's with a choice of pipes. Im with wyd open on this, as I Like MV's. I agree the CC is overpriced, But there is something about a Tambo that cant be beat.
A few more DB7 pic's with a choice of pipes. Im with wyd open on this, as I Like MV's. I agree the CC is overpriced, But there is something about a Tambo that cant be beat.
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Beautiful; thanks for the pics, Jim. That DB7 has seen some lean angles 
Same here on the CC - when I first read about the bike, all I could think is Why? I rather take the standard F4 or the 312R an spend the "left over $$" on yet another bike (or two). But I have to admit, I'm a sucker for Special Editions. What more is the Ago edition than the standard F4? Yet I like it much better.
Isn't it fun, commenting on bikes that are way out of our -let me speak for myself only: my range?
RonB
Same here on the CC - when I first read about the bike, all I could think is Why? I rather take the standard F4 or the 312R an spend the "left over $$" on yet another bike (or two). But I have to admit, I'm a sucker for Special Editions. What more is the Ago edition than the standard F4? Yet I like it much better.
Isn't it fun, commenting on bikes that are way out of our -let me speak for myself only: my range?
RonB
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643 Posts
Ron sign me in
Put me on the "out of range list" I'm lucky enough to have a good friend that keeps feeding me these things for mods
Put me on the "out of range list" I'm lucky enough to have a good friend that keeps feeding me these things for mods
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28 Posts
Firstly I would like to say what a superb looking motorcycle the DB7 is.
But is it really $20k better than a 1098s??
I have had the pleasure of storing my mates 08 DB7 in my shed since he bought it new and I hope your ownership experience are better than he has had over the last 15 months.
He is at his wits-end trying to get the bike to handle, having talking to every suspension "Expert" in the country to help set the bike up it still handles like a billy-cart.
Rear shocker replaced and still no better.
Tacho broken and still no reply from the factory after 8 months of phone calls and emails that never get answered.
Rear chain guard broken due to being to close to the chain.
And just to top it off the Australian importer has gone broke!!!!
And just from my observations,
Wouldn't the factory use stainless springs on the clutch if you are going to have an open clutch cover?? the rusted spring look A++++
I do think they are a nice looking bike but are they just made to leave in the lounge room?????
My mate is rueing the day he bought the thing and wished he had never entered the dreaded world of the pig-handling Bimota.
And to rub salt in to an open wound, there is still a couple on a showroom floor in Oz that have had there priced reduced by $10k to clear them, so that makes a second=handy worth less than used 1098s
But is it really $20k better than a 1098s??
I have had the pleasure of storing my mates 08 DB7 in my shed since he bought it new and I hope your ownership experience are better than he has had over the last 15 months.
He is at his wits-end trying to get the bike to handle, having talking to every suspension "Expert" in the country to help set the bike up it still handles like a billy-cart.
Rear shocker replaced and still no better.
Tacho broken and still no reply from the factory after 8 months of phone calls and emails that never get answered.
Rear chain guard broken due to being to close to the chain.
And just to top it off the Australian importer has gone broke!!!!
And just from my observations,
Wouldn't the factory use stainless springs on the clutch if you are going to have an open clutch cover?? the rusted spring look A++++
I do think they are a nice looking bike but are they just made to leave in the lounge room?????
My mate is rueing the day he bought the thing and wished he had never entered the dreaded world of the pig-handling Bimota.
And to rub salt in to an open wound, there is still a couple on a showroom floor in Oz that have had there priced reduced by $10k to clear them, so that makes a second=handy worth less than used 1098s
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605 Posts
Fair criticism, and every so often, every company builds a dud version of an otherwise good bike. My response is as follows:
Get your hands on the recent CYCLE WORLD comparison test of a DB7 and a Bayliss Replica 1098R. The Duc was actually more expensive than the Bimota and, despite a larger and substantially more powerful engine, the Bimota was only a hair slower on the track and, on the street, the different ECU focused on mid range more than top end power, allowed for better street response.
The tester observed that Ducati put its money into the engine while Bimota put their money into the suspension. I agree as the DB7 is my Superbike ride of choice (sold off the RC8 that had filled that niche) since I found the suspension capable of being set for very, very precise riding both everyday and when I revert to my teenage boy racer days -- we have some very good, winding and challenging country roads here is SE Wisconsin.
I have had no issues the Extreme Shock at the rear. My 'local' Bimota dealer (Bob Steinbugler in North Carolina) set it for my approximate weight and riding style and I had no problem, following directions as to how to adjust it, fine tuning for my precise taste after the first few hundred miles.
I have not had the QC issues you mentioned, nor is my experience with Bimota response been the same as your friend's. I received Tesi 3D serial #03. It developed a leak in the billet clutch master cycl. Bimota not only air freighted a replacement, but replaced the fuel tank entirely when a bit of clutch fluid had chewed through the clear coat on the left side. They also paid the bill for the local Ducati dealer to pick up, fix the bike, and return it.
Part of the problem in Oz may be a lack of local distributor and distance from the factory. Or perhaps it is their attitude. I know that I have had several very nice conversations with them, they seem genuinely in customer satisfaction, and the US market. Other owners of recent Bimotas here in the US have had a like experience.
So, perhaps your friend simply got 'a lemon.' I am sorry for him that there is no support and would have the same view of the marque as you if the company was ignoring our market in the same fashion. Hopefully that will change for you and the other folks in your country.
Sorry to hear the tale, but again, it does not seem typical of my experience or those of others here. Dave
Get your hands on the recent CYCLE WORLD comparison test of a DB7 and a Bayliss Replica 1098R. The Duc was actually more expensive than the Bimota and, despite a larger and substantially more powerful engine, the Bimota was only a hair slower on the track and, on the street, the different ECU focused on mid range more than top end power, allowed for better street response.
The tester observed that Ducati put its money into the engine while Bimota put their money into the suspension. I agree as the DB7 is my Superbike ride of choice (sold off the RC8 that had filled that niche) since I found the suspension capable of being set for very, very precise riding both everyday and when I revert to my teenage boy racer days -- we have some very good, winding and challenging country roads here is SE Wisconsin.
I have had no issues the Extreme Shock at the rear. My 'local' Bimota dealer (Bob Steinbugler in North Carolina) set it for my approximate weight and riding style and I had no problem, following directions as to how to adjust it, fine tuning for my precise taste after the first few hundred miles.
I have not had the QC issues you mentioned, nor is my experience with Bimota response been the same as your friend's. I received Tesi 3D serial #03. It developed a leak in the billet clutch master cycl. Bimota not only air freighted a replacement, but replaced the fuel tank entirely when a bit of clutch fluid had chewed through the clear coat on the left side. They also paid the bill for the local Ducati dealer to pick up, fix the bike, and return it.
Part of the problem in Oz may be a lack of local distributor and distance from the factory. Or perhaps it is their attitude. I know that I have had several very nice conversations with them, they seem genuinely in customer satisfaction, and the US market. Other owners of recent Bimotas here in the US have had a like experience.
So, perhaps your friend simply got 'a lemon.' I am sorry for him that there is no support and would have the same view of the marque as you if the company was ignoring our market in the same fashion. Hopefully that will change for you and the other folks in your country.
Sorry to hear the tale, but again, it does not seem typical of my experience or those of others here. Dave
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28 Posts
Dave, I am glad the Bimota has been your dream bike/s and there is something special when dreams come true.
Please understand this is not about shitting on the Bimota more about hopefully one persons ownership experience.
I have seen and felt my mates pain, it went from total extascy to nightmare over the 15 months of ownership.
His previous ride was an F4 which i had the pleasure of riding and do believe they are a quality motorcycle but they too had there flaws as with all other marques on the road.
Maybe the DB7 is just not at home on the shitty Australian roads and would be more suited to the racetrack. (or the Lounge room!!!)
Please understand this is not about shitting on the Bimota more about hopefully one persons ownership experience.
I have seen and felt my mates pain, it went from total extascy to nightmare over the 15 months of ownership.
His previous ride was an F4 which i had the pleasure of riding and do believe they are a quality motorcycle but they too had there flaws as with all other marques on the road.
Maybe the DB7 is just not at home on the shitty Australian roads and would be more suited to the racetrack. (or the Lounge room!!!)
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605 Posts
I'm hardly offended by your comments. I do, however, ride all of my bikes and put a fair amount of miles on all of my Bimota. I don't understand those who put them in their living room to stare at them -- and I have seen a few Ducatis kept and not used the same way. To me, they are not art objects. Hell, I got funny looks riding my MV 750S America one day. Someone asked, "what happens if you crash it?" I said that wasn't a problem, I'd just blow my brains out
By the way, I owned a modern MV, two in fact, an F4 (which overheated and handled awkwardly) and a Brutale, aptly named and too damn high strung. Compared to them, my experience with my modern Bimota (DB5, now sold), DB6R, Tesi 2D and 3D has been as if they were Hondas as far as build quality and reliability.
Perhaps just dumb luck, or perhaps the fact that Bob at Bimota Spirit has been the source of each of my bikes and has been a dealer forever and has been meticulous in setting up and prepping each bike for me. Who knows, but I tend to view the latter as more probable than not. Maybe the solution is to have all of you move here or have the Aussie equivalent of Bob take over Bimota down there.
In any event, if they are turning out as bad as you relate, I do not disagree with your evaluation.
Good Luck. Dave
By the way, I owned a modern MV, two in fact, an F4 (which overheated and handled awkwardly) and a Brutale, aptly named and too damn high strung. Compared to them, my experience with my modern Bimota (DB5, now sold), DB6R, Tesi 2D and 3D has been as if they were Hondas as far as build quality and reliability.
Perhaps just dumb luck, or perhaps the fact that Bob at Bimota Spirit has been the source of each of my bikes and has been a dealer forever and has been meticulous in setting up and prepping each bike for me. Who knows, but I tend to view the latter as more probable than not. Maybe the solution is to have all of you move here or have the Aussie equivalent of Bob take over Bimota down there.
In any event, if they are turning out as bad as you relate, I do not disagree with your evaluation.
Good Luck. Dave
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28 Posts
I think you hit the nail on the head Dave.
Dealer support has been non-existence, but to be fair the Ducati dealers are helping cover warranty issues much to there despise and they are not really interested because they didn't sell the vehicle from new.
It would have been different if they did sell 1-200 of them, then you would expect the support to be there but I think 5 or 6 DB's have been sold in Oz(although I stand to be corrected) and half of those would be lounge-room queens.
Dealer support has been non-existence, but to be fair the Ducati dealers are helping cover warranty issues much to there despise and they are not really interested because they didn't sell the vehicle from new.
It would have been different if they did sell 1-200 of them, then you would expect the support to be there but I think 5 or 6 DB's have been sold in Oz(although I stand to be corrected) and half of those would be lounge-room queens.
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