Bimota SB6R

Bimota SB6
Manufacturer	Bimota
Also called	SB 6, SB6R, SB 6 R
Production	600 units
Engine	Four stroke, transverse four cylinder, DOHC 4 valves per cylinder
Compression ratio	11.2:1
Top Speed	280 km/h / 174 mph
Ignition	Digital electronic
Transmission	5 Speed
Suspension	Front: Telehydraulic fork with 46mm stanchions and rebound, compression and preload adjustments Rear: Shock absorber with compression, rebound, preload and length adjustments
Brakes	Front: 2x 320mm discs 4 piston calipers Rear: Single 230mm disc 2 piston caliper
Front Tire	120/60 ZR17
Rear Tire	190/55 ZR17
Seat Height	755 mm / 29.7 in.
Weight	190 kg / 418.9 lbs. (dry),
Fuel Capacity	22 Liters / 5.8 US gal.
Manuals	Service Manual

It could reach a top speed of 280 km/h / 174 mph.

Engine

The engine was a Liquid cooled cooled Four stroke, transverse four cylinder, DOHC 4 valves per cylinder. The engine featured a 11.2:1 compression ratio.

Chassis

It came with a 120/60 ZR17 front tire and a 190/55 ZR17 rear tire. Stopping was achieved via 2x 320mm discs 4 piston calipers in the front and a Single 230mm disc 2 piston caliper in the rear. The front suspension was a Telehydraulic fork with 46mm stanchions and rebound, compression and preload adjustments while the rear was equipped with a Shock absorber with compression, rebound, preload and length adjustments. The SB6R was fitted with a 22 Liters / 5.8 US gal. fuel tank. The bike weighed just 190 kg / 418.9 lbs..

Photos

Overview

Bimota SB6R

The SB6R followed Blmota's traditional route of taking a powerful Japanese engine from an ill-handling chassis and putting it in a better one. Mainstream Japanese sportsters mostly handled very well from the early 1990s onwards, but the 1993 Suzuki GSX-R1100 was rather overweight. Bimota took its powerful, liquid-cooled 1074cc motor and built an exotic aluminum beam chassis round it. The best wheels, suspension and brake components were bolted on, and the whole lot was swathed in gorgeous single-seat bodywork, with a stunning underseat exhaust system. The Paioli forks, Öhlins shock and Brembo brakes provide excellent handling. The only problem was the SB6R's high price and inconsistent build quality.

The Bimota SB6 is one expensive motorcycle, around $35,000 thank you very much. That is a lot of money when the current crop of Japanese hotshots are so good these days, at half the price. But if you are thinking Bimota, you will probably be disregarding price as too much of a factor. You will be after an exotic Italian with a bit of flair.

The GSX-R 11 based engine is a gem with useable power from around 2500-rpm and upwards. I dipped the clutch at around 2500-rpm in first gear and the front wheel started rising, it can be kept on the rise by rolling the throttle on as it lifts. A word of warning though - make sure you also know when to roll the throttle back off, or you will be sat on your arse well before the tacho’ reaches it’s 11,600-rpm redline. The Suzuki engine is slightly modified by Bimota with their own cams and exhaust system. While the GSX-R 11 has low spec suspension and an enormous amount of flab (a bit like me really), the SB6 has a light, straight-connection frame, fully adjustable Öhlins shock and huge Paioli forks. This gives you a hot-rod hybrid with a Latin touch, which adds to it’s exotic flavour. The gearbox also comes from the GSX-R 11, which has always been one of the best in the business and performed faultlessly on test. The clutch didn’t seem to be up to the same high standards as the big Suzook’s great set-up though. Brembo stoppers are up to the task but are surpassed by both the R1 and ZX9R in the braking department these days. The SB6 is showing it’s age, where once it could boast unrivalled power and light weight, it is now left behind by the big bore blasters from the land of the rising sun in nearly every area bar street cred’. The Bim’s 190 kilograms (dry) puts it a bit on the porky side when compared to what we see from the current crop of Japanese sportsbikes in 1999. The SB6 is Bimota’s most successful model ever, with over 1300 units sold worldwide. I suppose this would be the kind of bike for you if you crave something exotic - but love the screaming rush of a 4-cylinder more than the softer delivery of a twin. There is also another important edge over the Desmo’ opposition, servicing costs. The SB6 utilizes one of the most common engines seen in motorcycling over the past ten years; this is reflected in the servicing coming out at around a third of the price than that of a 916. The Suzuki engine and gearbox have a record of indestructibility that is the envy of all manufacturers. Another thing it has over the Ducati, by a B-I-G margin. The SB6 does look better in the flesh than this photo represents, but is no outright stunner. The YB11, which will be featured here shortly, is a much better looking proposition to my dodgy eye. The twin exhausts exit from under the seat, ALA 916, which makes for a great looking rear end on the bike, while giving you a very hot rear end, and that doesn’t mean a good looking bum either. It is fortunate that the SB6 does not have a pillion seat, I fear a passenger would fry their buns very quickly if it did. For my money I would take a Blade or GSX-R 1000 - and accompany one of them with the electric start DR400. This would leave enough money remaining to keep the two bikes in tires and insurance for a year or so. It has lots of very trick bits which are no doubt very expensive to buy, but I still can’t quite get my head around the purchase price. Source MCNews.au

Make Model	Bimota SB6R
Year	1997
Production	600 units
Engine Type	Four stroke, transverse four cylinder, DOHC 4 valves per cylinder
Displacement	1074 cc / 65.5 cub. in
Bore X Stroke	75.5 x 60 mm
Compression	11.2:1
Cooling System	Liquid cooled
Induction	4x 40mm carbs
Ignition	Digital electronic
Starting	Electric
Max Power	113.7 kW / 156 hp @ 10000 rpm
Max Torque	120 Nm /12.2 kg-f / 73.8 lb-ft. @ 9000 rpm
Transmission	5 Speed
Final Drive	Chain
Front Suspension	Telehydraulic fork with 46mm stanchions and rebound, compression and preload adjustments
Rear Suspension	Shock absorber with compression, rebound, preload and length adjustments
Front Brakes	2x 320mm discs 4 piston calipers
Rear Brakes	Single 230mm disc 2 piston caliper
Front Tire	120/60 ZR17
Rear Tire	190/55 ZR17
Seat Height	755 mm / 29.7 in.
Dry Weight	190 kg / 418.9 lbs.
Fuel Capacity	22 Liters / 5.8 US gal.
Top Speed	280 km/h / 174 mph