The Bimota DB6R. It's just so beautiful...
Here at Faster and Faster, we’re big fans of some of the older Bimota machines that were produced in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, when Japanese and other Italian manufacturers have caught up, and even surpassed, Bimota in the areas of motorcycle styling, chassis and suspension, the latter’s bikes don’t look all that special anymore.You have to admit, some of the 1980s/1990s Bimota magic is forever lost. But still, their eccentric, self-indulgent machines, and Bimota’s determination to carry on – their sheer belief in themselves, despite being such a small company – makes us admire them. And, hey, bikes like the Delirio DB6R still look so exquisitely cool, how can we not write about them...
The guys at Motociclismo tested the Bimota DB6R some time back, and here are some excerpts from what they had to say about the bike:
The Bimota DB6R is a very striking motorcycle, almost to the point of being exhibitionist. In an explosion of colours – red, silver and gray – it boasts of high-spec components that you’d find on very few motorcycles on the market.
Looks good, but with only 88bhp, it's an 1100 that won't beat even a CBR600RR...
Apart from some new components and the revised aesthetics, the DB6R also has a newDucati engine. While the ‘ordinary’ DB6 Delirio was fitted with the 992cc DS1000 Ducati v-twin, the DB6R gets the more powerful DS1100 unit. This 1078cc v-twin makes 88bhp at 7,900rpm. But in addition to the modest hike in power, what has really made the bike more rideable is the much improved fuel-injection, which has smoothened out the power delivery considerably, and made the power much more usable.
The DB6R’s clutch is light, and gearchanges are fast and accurate. However, if you’re riding in places where you can go really fast, the engine still feels a bit underpowered. It also vibrates quite a bit at higher revs, which can sometimes be annoying. The bike’s fuel capacity is 16 litres and since it does around 17km per litre of petrol, you can travel about 270km on one full tank of fuel.
In terms of agility, the DB6R is fantastic. With its 170kg dry weight and wide handlebars, the bike feels light and narrow. At high speeds, it’s very poised – the steering is very precise, the front end feels rock-solid, the chassis lends excellent composure to the bike and the Brembo brakes are absolutely first-class.
The one area where the DB6R could have done better is ergonomics. There are small things that can get annoying at times. Things like the steering damper, whose placement restricts access to the ignition and the instrument cluster, and the small-ish seat, which isn’t really very comfortable. Still, that, along with the 20,800 euros (about US$32,000) which the bike costs, is a small price to pay for a machine that’s as exquisite, as exclusive as the BimotaDB6R.
The DB6R’s clutch is light, and gearchanges are fast and accurate. However, if you’re riding in places where you can go really fast, the engine still feels a bit underpowered. It also vibrates quite a bit at higher revs, which can sometimes be annoying. The bike’s fuel capacity is 16 litres and since it does around 17km per litre of petrol, you can travel about 270km on one full tank of fuel.
In terms of agility, the DB6R is fantastic. With its 170kg dry weight and wide handlebars, the bike feels light and narrow. At high speeds, it’s very poised – the steering is very precise, the front end feels rock-solid, the chassis lends excellent composure to the bike and the Brembo brakes are absolutely first-class.
The one area where the DB6R could have done better is ergonomics. There are small things that can get annoying at times. Things like the steering damper, whose placement restricts access to the ignition and the instrument cluster, and the small-ish seat, which isn’t really very comfortable. Still, that, along with the 20,800 euros (about US$32,000) which the bike costs, is a small price to pay for a machine that’s as exquisite, as exclusive as the BimotaDB6R.
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