Make Model	Bimota DB8
Year	2010
Engine	Liquid cooled, four stroke, 90°“L”twin cylinder, SOHC, desmodromic 4 valve per cylinder,
Capacity	1198
Bore x Stroke	106 x 67.9 mm
Compression Ratio	12.7:1
Induction	Electrically controlled gasoline injection and φ60mm throttle body
Ignition  /  Starting	Magneti Marelli  /  electric
Exhaust	2 in 1 in 1, stainless steel
Max Power	170 hp 125 kW @ 9750 rpm
Max Torque	13,4 kg-m  131,4 Nm @ 8000 rpm
Clutch	Wet multiple plates, hydraulic system
Transmission  /  Drive	6 Speed  /  chain
Frame	Welded 39NiCrMo4 tubing and machined 6082 aluminium alloy plates
Front Suspension	Marzocchi USD forks DLC fully adjustable
Rear Suspension	Extreme Tech Monoshock fully adjustable
Front Brakes	2x 320mm Brembo floating discs 4 mpistons radial Brembo callipers, radial pumps
Rear Brakes	Single 220mm floating disc, 2-piston Brembo calliper
Front Tyre	120/70 ZR17
Rear Tyre	190/55 ZR17
Seat Height	800 mm
Wet-Weight	178 kg
Fuel Capacity	16 Litres

Bimota has wrongfooted the world with its new DB8 by revealing it’s a dual-seat, more powerful 1198-engined yet cheaper version of the DB7. The DB8 had been strongly tipped to be a naked DB7 to rival Ducati’s Streetfighter, but that bike appears to be still in the works.  

Bimota says it wants the £20,300 (€23,000) DB8 to be its ‘entry level’ superbike, and expects to sell 250 of the biposto machine – making it in Bimota terms a volume seller. The £23,000 (€26,000) DB7 remains in production, but with the 1098 motor, which as a single-seater is all the firm says it needs. 

The DB8 manages to undercut the DB7 by using plastic rather than carbon bodywork, and an aluminium rather than structural carbon subframe joining it its oval section CroMo hybrid chassis. Slightly lower spec Marocchi and Extreme Tech suspension front and rear respectively complete the cost cuts.

The DB8 has gained 8cm nose-to-tail (though wheelbase remains the same) and 8kg, taking its weight to 178kg, countered by the bigger 1198 motor’s extra 8bhp and 6ftlb over the DB7. The rear seat allows for a useful bit of underseat storage.

“Bimota customers are used to being surprised with new and innvoative motorcyles offering unique design, good power and light weight – and many of them also have a wife or girlfriend that would like to come along. We are sure this design will be a big success” says the firm’s Anna Carla Cuneo.

Source MCN