1998 Bimota YB11
1998 Bimota YB11
Bimota YB11 1998 technical specifications | |
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Condition: | Used |
Item location: | Norwalk, Connecticut, United States |
Make: | Bimota |
Model: | YB11 |
Type: | Sport Bike |
Year: | 1998 |
Mileage: | 3,000 |
VIN: | YB1100043 |
Color: | Red |
Engine size: | 1,000 |
Vehicle Title: | Clear |
You are interested? | Contact the seller! |
Description |
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This is a short story/road test from Roland brown of Fast Bike magazine:
Bimota's reputation as a manufacturer of top class super-sports bikes had been based on its advanced and lightweight chassis. This left the tiny Italian firm vulnerable during the mid-1990s, hen mass-produced Japanese superbike chassis had become so good that many were difficult to equal, et alone better. But Bimota continued to produce super-sports machines offering outstanding performance, otably the YB 11 Superleggera of 1996. Ironically, he YB 11 's twin-spar aluminium frame, ar from being futuristic in Bimota tradition, as closely based on that of the YB6 of several years earlier. But that took nothing away from the YB 11, hich was beautifully styled, itted with top quality cycle parts, nd had an uncompromisingly aggressive personality.
The YB 11 justified its Superleggera, r superlight, ame by scaling just 4031b (183kg), substantial 331b (15kg) lighter than the Yamaha YZF1000R Thunderace that supplied its 1002cc four-cylinder engine. Although the frame's main beams were unchanged from the YB6, he top cross-member was located nearer the steering head, dding rigidity. A sophisticated Paioli rear shock operated a new aluminium swingarm; Paioli also supplied the large-diameter front forks. Bimota made no internal changes to the 20-valve, iquid-cooled Thunderace motor, hich in standard form produced 145bhp. But the Rimini firm fitted a larger airbox, ed via ducts in the fairing nose. According to Bimota this added a few horsepower in conjunction with a new four-into-one pipe and reworked carburettors. Although the YB 11 shared its engine and chassis type with the YZF1000R, he two bikes feltdistinctly different.
The Bimota was more racy, ith firmer suspension, hinner seat and stretched-out riding position. The Italian bike's reduced weight gave a slight edge to straight-line performance, s the Superleggera had a power-to-weight ratio that no mass-produced rival could match. Vicious acceleration: A crack of the throttle sent the Bimota hurtling forward towards a top speed of 170mph (274km/h). Peak power was produced at 10000rpm. and the acceleration at high revs was vicious. But its Yamaha engine's greatest strength was mid-range response, nd that remained true of the YB11. Ii pulled with stunning urgency when the throttle was wound open even from below 4000rpm in top gear. Like most Bimotas. this was not a practical motorbike. Its suspension was too firm to work properly at low speed on bumpy roads, ut on smooth surfaces the bike handled superbly. Its Brembo brakes were wrist-punishingly powerful, nd its levels of steering agility, oadholding and Ground Clearance immense. Inevitably the YB 11 could not match the performance advantage that some of its predecessors had enjoyed over their mass-produced contemporaries.
Equally inevitably, he hand-built Italian bike was hugely expensive as well as impractical. But it was beautiful and rare as well as seriously fast, nd enough people were prepared to pay the premium to make the Superleggera a success.
Source: Fast Bikes by Roland Brown